to LED or not to LED that is the question

Onedesign1 · Aug 31, 2011

reefpets said:
From my understanding the PAR from an LED will be very high in one spot while just a couple inches over it can drop by 100 points or more due to the spot light effect.

This is very true if you measure an inch from the LED. under water and little distance away the mixing of the individual LEDs takes over and its not an issue. They can be very spotlight-ish with tight optics and hung low. As I said this is my biggest problem with many of commercial units. Overall...I cannot disagree with you when you say they are not perfected. Hell, when the DIY'ers know as much or more than most of the manufacturers its a good sign they are not perfected. If you want to learn about LEDs take a spin around reef central LED forums specifically the DIY section. Lots of info, hard measurements, experience, and facts. +1 on the chinese made ones comment too

LegoZ81 · Sep 2, 2011

Ok went LED before I had the a comeback king situation occur with the halides

Went SOL white for a few reasons:

If I can't pull the needed par with enough of a blue look when I ramp them up, I am NOT adverse to adding in DIY with royal blue strips with optics between the AI fixtures.

I already had 48 blue royal blue leds with my 2 - 48" reefbrite bars that I am still running.

My Halide ballast gave up the goat and I did not have a spare on hand.

I started with 4 vs 6 and they are 14" above the water as they are modular I figure i can add 2 more if needed. I do need to add length to the rails as 72" was the longest I could get. In hind site I should have ordered 2 48" but I really thought the 72's would work out better than it did.