The Great LED Debate

Discussion in 'Reef Breeders' started by Reef Breeders, Aug 20, 2012.

to remove this notice and enjoy 3reef content with less ads. 3reef membership is free.

  1. Reef Breeders

    Reef Breeders 3reef Sponsor

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    620
    I said I would start a place to debate LED lighting, metal halide, T-5, etc., and what you think is best. Please keep this civil, state the facts, you experience, etc.
     
  2. Click Here!

  3. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    Had Halides = Expensive for electricity and bulb replacement. LED now since February = less heat, less electricity, and no bulb replacement.... great growth and color.... SPS dominated. Nuff said.
     
  4. Thatgrimguy

    Thatgrimguy Flying Squid

    Joined:
    May 15, 2011
    Messages:
    3,026
    Location:
    North Biloxi, MS
    haha, well played Logan!
     
  5. Biocube

    Biocube Giant Squid

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2011
    Messages:
    3,499
    Location:
    Northern, IL
    SO far I am very pleased with my LEDs, I know it's only on a BC29 but I think my coral growth and color have really improved over my old PC bulbs.
     
  6. skurious

    skurious Sailfin Tang

    Joined:
    Jun 22, 2009
    Messages:
    1,720
    Location:
    Cedar Rapids, IA
    2 ai sols over a 40 breeder, good color, control, and growth. no cost after initial price other than the electricity bill which isnt much.

    Ive only had LEDS on all my tanks, so i dont have much to say on other types.
     
  7. Ryland

    Ryland Stylophora

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2010
    Messages:
    962
    Location:
    Southeast Iowa
    Quick shot of an end view of my tank. DIY LED's

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Click Here!

  9. Reef Breeders

    Reef Breeders 3reef Sponsor

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    620
    Thanks Scott, someone had to do it, right? ;D I am seeing a lot of nice LED tanks already!
     
  10. steve wright

    steve wright Super Moderator

    Joined:
    Feb 17, 2009
    Messages:
    11,284
    Location:
    shenzhen Guangdong PRC
    with any debate of this nature there is always a bias in favour of whatever type of lighting is being used by a particular contributor


    there are not many people who are using all 3 types of lighting over 3 tanks of the same dimensions , housing very similar stocks of corals, with identical parameters and maintenance routines

    thus there is no control as such
    just a collection of opinions based on the relative sucess experienced by any individual using a particular lighting source

    thus in reality this becomes a debate about "who is happy with the lighting they have"

    which in general anyone who replies, probably is

    there are some great tanks using LED
    some great tanks using MH
    and some great tanks using T5s

    there have also been a number of fine looking tanks using T8s, T10s before them, and Power compacts

    I agree that LED is still in its early years in terms of development, and as such I would expect to see more TOTM set ups using LEDs in the future

    Lighting is 1 factor involved in the keeping of the inhabitants we all enjoy
    other factors also influence how those inhabitants look , grow, prosper etc
     
    2 people like this.
  11. Reef Breeders

    Reef Breeders 3reef Sponsor

    Joined:
    Nov 22, 2010
    Messages:
    620
    Steve, I agree with you 100%. There is no one way to keep a reef tank
     
    1 person likes this.
  12. barbianj

    barbianj Hammer Head Shark

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2009
    Messages:
    2,634
    Location:
    Port Washington, WI
    Haha, isn't that 99% of what we do, Steve?

    I switched from T-5's to LED's. The color isn't exactly what I ultimately want, and I didn't get dimmable fixtures, but I know that future units will only be better (and they were super cheap). I'll get better lights when the time comes, but for now, I'm very happy with the type of lighting that I've chosen. ;)