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01/28/2009, 07:18 PM | #1 |
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LED's vs. MH
OK, here it goes. Opinions please, I had very good consultants set up a tank in my office and a chiller is somewhat out of the question. I chose LED's based on their advice but now a bunch of new stoney's aren't extending polyps at all. Everything else is doing great so anybody have experience with this.?????
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ocean17 Current Tank Info: 339 tall, 5 nano, 2- 270 raceways, dozens misc breeders |
01/28/2009, 07:22 PM | #2 |
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More info. Tank size, lighting specifics, etc please.
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01/28/2009, 07:24 PM | #3 |
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I can't imagine you could get enough light out of LEDs to support SPS. As for LPS, I'm suspicious here too.
Got lighting specifics? |
01/28/2009, 07:25 PM | #4 |
VictoriaConcordiaCrescit
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more info will be nice, but from the sounds of it get t5s.
LEDs aren't quite there yet in technology. T5 and MH are the top two. If you're worrying about getting a chiller with MHs than why not t5?
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Evan | DSA 135g Peninsula |
01/28/2009, 07:26 PM | #5 |
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led
339 deep 60w x 24 d x 43.5 t, Solaris I5
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ocean17 Current Tank Info: 339 tall, 5 nano, 2- 270 raceways, dozens misc breeders |
01/28/2009, 08:10 PM | #7 |
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my LFS guy has a tank with some LED's and he is not happy with results so far. Polyps are dying and about the only thing he is winning with are softies. good luck
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01/28/2009, 08:34 PM | #8 |
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43.5 tall is a stretch for LED's and maybe even T5's ( I dont use T5's so maybe someone else will chime in) IMO 400 mh's are your only choice for good SPS growth.
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See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank.. |
01/28/2009, 09:11 PM | #9 |
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i'm pretty sure you need to add some lights for SPS. +1 on the T5's if you don't want to spend more money/energy/cooling-fans. i saw a tank of the month running T5s with individual reflectors and it looked great!
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- Rev. Tank: 65G glass 48" long tank; Sump/Fuge: 30G. Lighting: LEDs+single T5 strip. Maintenance: ATO Kalkwasser + 10% weekly WC, daily feedings LPS+Softies dominated. |
01/28/2009, 09:19 PM | #10 |
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How long has it been set-up for?
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THAT'S WHAT SHE SAID!!! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•><((((º>´¯`•><((((º> Current Tank Info: 180 gal reef tank, Reef Radiance led lighting,20gal long sump,SuperReefOctopus,phosban reactor |
01/28/2009, 10:20 PM | #11 |
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My opinion, for what its worth, as you know is:
LEDs are (largely unproven in terms of SPS). Any tanks I have seen with good SPS growth and LEDs are either very shallow or a tank of PFO themselves. LEDs on a tank that tall are going to be highly questionable. While I think T5s are great, I also think they may be questionable on a tank that tall. I considered T5s strongly on my 30" tall tank, but then went with MH. I am happy I did. I do not like running chillers, but I do. The shimmer, sharpness, brightness, color choices, good SPS color and growth, etc. of MH can't be beat, IMO. Are MH more expensive.........in the long run, sure. If money were the issue, why would we have this hobby in the first place. I wish you much luck, if you switch to MH, I bet you can sell or find a use for the Solaris. As it is the American made I5, you likely wont have much trouble selling it. I would like to see how that light does on a 24 " tank, though. mark |
01/29/2009, 12:48 AM | #12 |
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wow 43"
with a tank that deep your going to have problems with anything but multiple 250w MH's . theres no way t5 or LED are going to penetrate that deep and still give a decent par reading. i have a friend who makes custom LED flashlights, the LED's that solaris uses are several years old and most likely from china like all the others, the only LED's i know of that might actually work for you are called a P7 there basically 4 led dies in 1 housing about the size of a half marble, unfortunately there $40 a piece but put out nearly 10w. also the color spectrum is very limited and your getting no UVA or UVB |
01/29/2009, 06:12 AM | #13 |
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Led
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ocean17 Current Tank Info: 339 tall, 5 nano, 2- 270 raceways, dozens misc breeders |
01/29/2009, 06:13 AM | #14 |
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led
sorry, trying to figure out the photo upload ocean17
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ocean17 Current Tank Info: 339 tall, 5 nano, 2- 270 raceways, dozens misc breeders |
01/29/2009, 08:29 AM | #15 |
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i have a 36" tall tank.. the only way you will be happy is with 250w MHs i would say ever go with 400's
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The fish made me do it.... Current Tank Info: in wall 170g starphire 48x24x36, 75 gallon sump w/dsb, MRC MR6 skimmer custom (in the works), 3-250watt MH 14k, 2-110 vho actinics, Aquacontroller jr, 1200gph closed loop, 2000gph return |
01/29/2009, 08:47 AM | #16 |
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LEDs can actually penetrate deeper than most of you guys would suspect actually, but i agree with one of the posters above who said they still have a way to go yet
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Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club) |
01/29/2009, 09:14 AM | #17 |
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IMO lack of polyp extension buring the photoperiod is not necessarily a concern if you determine that they are polyping in the dark like they do in nature. Before you panic, I'd wait about an hour or two after the lights go out and see if the polyps are out using a flashlight. If they are, then drop some plankton in there at night and don't worry about polyp extension during the day.
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01/29/2009, 09:31 AM | #18 |
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I would love to see pics of this 339 deep sounds like you went all out on it!
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01/29/2009, 09:44 AM | #19 | |
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Re: led
Quote:
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See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank.. |
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01/29/2009, 09:53 AM | #20 |
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i know of a guy with a 6ft tank which has 20 12watt led bars over it and its been running for several months and is doing well, however its 2ft deep, i could get some pics, but its part of another site and im unsure if it would be wise to post
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Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club) |
01/29/2009, 11:37 AM | #21 |
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Does this tank contain sps or softies? It would be cool to see pics.
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See "Red House" for pics!! I'm sick of following my dreams. I'm just going to ask them where they're goin', and hook up with them later. Mitch Hedberg Current Tank Info: Reef tank, 100 gal Lee Mar polished.. 60 sump.. 800 watts mh 20k radium..Ran on "Taiwan HQI Ballast" 330 watt VHO.. 48 watt compacts (dawn/dusk).. sps/lps tank.. |
01/29/2009, 11:42 AM | #22 |
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As others have mentioned, a 43" deep tank would require multiple 400W MH to get adequate light to the bottom, but the photos show some tall rock work so I'm sure some SPS corals would do ok placed at the top. It looks pretty bright in the photos.
As far as the lack of polyp extension, that could be an issue of flow and water params just as much as light. The tank does look new so it may just be an issue of tank maturity. If the corals are keeping their color (and not losing tissue), I'd just leave them be and make sure you are keeping your calcium alkalinity and pH in the proper range.
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insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009. |
01/29/2009, 11:43 AM | #23 | |
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Quote:
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Don't be afraid to ask questions, we in the new to the hobby are here to help you [For My Tank Spec,Photo Album,Articles and website, click on my name] MY Very Kindest and Warmest Regards , MIKE Current Tank Info: I have a 92 gal Corner Tank, and way too many pieces of equipment to list really, (proud member of the reef central corner club) |
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