LEDs after 1 and 2 Years?

Oscar · #1 05-10-2012, 12:47 PM

There are lots of LEDs coming on the market and lots of raves after their initial install. But what about the longer term? What do your corals think of LEDs after 1 or 2 years? Do you still get the growth your MH or T5s were providing?

MarkoD · #2 05-10-2012, 01:11 PM

i get better growth in 6 months with LEDs than i did in a year of Metal Halides

Nano · #3 05-10-2012, 01:48 PM

I can't speak long term yet, but already 3-3 1/2 months into leds as Marko said, I have wicked growth on everything compared to 6 months with T5's, it is short term, but I believe it is a testimonial to the growing power of LEDs

EDIT

The colors are also a million times better as well, and LEDs aren't going to brown out your corals like MH will

Oscar · #4 05-10-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nano

The colors are also a million times better as well, and LEDs aren't going to brown out your corals like MH will

Funny you should mention the browning out. There is one thread on Reef Central that talked about browning out of SPS after a year of LEDs. That is what prompted me to ask the question. Although LEDs have been advancing rapidly and perhaps LEDs from 2 years ago are not comparable to today's versions?

Or there were other variables at play with the browning out?

mike31154 · #5 05-10-2012, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oscar

Funny you should mention the browning out. There is one thread on Reef Central that talked about browning out of SPS after a year of LEDs. That is what prompted me to ask the question. Although LEDs have been advancing rapidly and perhaps LEDs from 2 years ago are not comparable to today's versions?

Or there were other variables at play with the browning out?

LEDs from 2 years ago most definitely don't compare to today's versions. You only need to look back a few months to see what Cree has been doing with their 3 watt X series in terms of efficiency. Wait a few months or a year and there will likely be another quantum leap or two. It's a bit like the processor speed wars of a few years ago between Intel & AMD. Things have slowed down a little in advancements there, but I think the LED game still has a way to go. We're only now seeing affordable LEDs show up at retailers to replace the CFL lamps in our homes. Once the manufacturers really get tooled up, prices will invariably drop. A DIY LED fixture will be as easy as getting a bunch of standard light sockets & screwing in LED lamps. You can already do that with the PAR38 spotlights available. Still a bit pricey though & selection is not as good as it could be.

As far as browning out, lots of factors there other than lighting. Switching from one light source to another has it's risks if not done properly though. Thing with LEDs is that they generally don't light up the tank as brightly in our eyes as MH or a bank of HO Fluorescents, but with the right mixture of emitters of the correct spectrum & sufficient wattage, you should get very good growth. You have much more flexibility in colour choice with LEDs, plus the option of nearly infinite control/dimming.

I've only been running my DIY LED effort for a bit over a month, but would never go back to MH or HO fluorescents. Controllability & power savings are huge advantages.

reefgirl189 · #6 05-10-2012, 05:06 PM

Although I've been having some growth with my LEDs (2 months in), I don't think it's anything to write home about. My T5's were almost as effective.

On the plus side the LEDs are giving growth to the corals I care about (the nicer zoas I have). And not so much to the ones I don't (kenya tree).

Aquattro · #7 05-10-2012, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nano

LEDs aren't going to brown out your corals like MH will

huh?? How do MH brown out corals?

Nano · #8 05-10-2012, 03:15 PM

well any sps I bought was under MH, and was brown until a few weeks under leds, I dont know if its "browned out" per say, but it does seem to drown out the colors. might just be my experience though

Aquattro · #9 05-10-2012, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nano

well any sps I bought was under MH, and was brown until a few weeks under leds, I dont know if its "browned out" per say, but it does seem to drown out the colors. might just be my experience though

I would say it's more likely a nutrient problem. Lighting of any type doesn't guarantee colors in SPS. If you got a frag from a MH tank and it was brown, it wasn't due to lighting (unless the bulbs were 2 years old). I have over 100 pieces of SPS under MH, and not a brown piece in the tank.

MarkoD · #10 05-10-2012, 03:34 PM

Browning out could be because of the amount of light, not type of light