MH vs. led (growth only) - Page 2

kenc87 · 03/09/2013, 07:13 PM

I never said LEDs can't grow coral, my own observation showed growth. I am saying that I have not seen led tanks that grow as well as mh. I have repeatedly said I would like to try the reefbreeders led but I'm cautious about growth.

Khemul · 03/09/2013, 08:01 PM

Nothing like lighting technology to bring out the emotions in people. At this point, lighting and powerheads are the reefkeeping equivalent of politics and religion. You can't do comparisons without people freaking out.

If growth is your primary concern, then go with the proven technology. LEDs are good and all, but as even the most die-hard fan will admit, they are still working out the kinks in it. So if your primary concern is what is definitely going to give the best growth then you go with what has been proven to give the best growth, rather then what is still being optimized to get the best results.

nynick · 03/09/2013, 09:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenc87

I never said LEDs can't grow coral, my own observation showed growth. I am saying that I have not seen led tanks that grow as well as mh. I have repeatedly said I would like to try the reefbreeders led but I'm cautious about growth.

I never said you did. I am just stating that led, mh or T5 doesn't really matter as long as the spectrum and amount is right. You could grow coral under candle light if you got a big enough candle that burns at the right color.

LEDs have taken on near mythical qualities lately, be it positive or negative....it is just a little doohickey that glows brightly, much like halides, and it comes in a million variants. Your milage may vary wildly.

novahobbies · 03/09/2013, 10:23 PM

Birdsnests, Jan 13th:

Birdsnests, March 9th:

These are under a set of cheap Chinese LEDs...the 120w blue and white dimmable. The color on these is washed out a little, but I'll be trying to add some red, green, and UV bulbs to see how these upper-level corals color up.

strgazr27 · 03/09/2013, 10:34 PM

Growth in the above pics is impressive but like soo many LEDs setups,
The color, especially in SPS specimens is lacking. They can and do grow corals. Softies and zoo's, acans and
Clams look great under them. But for SPS they don't seem
Tone able to bring the color out.

novahobbies · 03/10/2013, 12:01 AM

Yeah. The standard "blue & white" LED isn't great for SPS color, I agree. People forget that their "white light" MH or T5 bulb is a much broader spectrum than a cool white LED. LEDs are great for providing a very specific range of the color spectrum, and IMO blue and white LEDs just aren't quite enough. This is why I'll be experimenting a bit with a few red and green LEDs. I have 2 UV bulbs, but after some research and direct experience with a friend's LED-driven tank...I'll need to up my UV quantity a lot when I set these up.

I have seen an LED setup that included a few red, green, and UV bulbs to the mix, and the colors are more than comparable to a MH.

coralsnaked · 03/10/2013, 07:15 AM

Personally in frag tanks where I want growth and not viewing, I run only 6500k MH. Nothing grows corals faster. For viewing nothing beats 20k MH. LED makes for some nice blue viewing but try to photo under it compared to 20k MH and I think that'll tell the whole story. Right now I utilize MH , LED, PC, and VHO. PC and VHO going away soon I would think. But LED hasn’t buried MH.

LED ...very cool literally and figuratively.

MH ...really hot literally and figuratively.

Merry Skerry

nynick · 03/10/2013, 07:19 AM

I have seen tanks where they swiched out most of the cool white for warm white and this also had a big impact of coloration. Seems the warm white has a very broad spectrum from many manufacturers.

03/09/2013, 10:34 PM	#30
strgazr27 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Long Island, Suffolk County Posts: 189	Growth in the above pics is impressive but like soo many LEDs setups, The color, especially in SPS specimens is lacking. They can and do grow corals. Softies and zoo's, acans and Clams look great under them. But for SPS they don't seem Tone able to bring the color out. __________________ Tank Info : 60 Cube w GHs overflow and dual returns - Custom Stand and Canopy - AI Sol Blue - Vertex Omega 150 - 40G 'Fuge - 40G Sump in separate sump room.

03/09/2013, 07:13 PM	#26
kenc87 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Ypsilanti, MI Posts: 610	I never said LEDs can't grow coral, my own observation showed growth. I am saying that I have not seen led tanks that grow as well as mh. I have repeatedly said I would like to try the reefbreeders led but I'm cautious about growth.

03/09/2013, 08:01 PM	#27
Khemul Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL Posts: 988	Nothing like lighting technology to bring out the emotions in people. At this point, lighting and powerheads are the reefkeeping equivalent of politics and religion. You can't do comparisons without people freaking out. If growth is your primary concern, then go with the proven technology. LEDs are good and all, but as even the most die-hard fan will admit, they are still working out the kinks in it. So if your primary concern is what is definitely going to give the best growth then you go with what has been proven to give the best growth, rather then what is still being optimized to get the best results.

03/09/2013, 10:23 PM	#29
novahobbies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Deerfield Beach Posts: 395	Birdsnests, Jan 13th: Birdsnests, March 9th: These are under a set of cheap Chinese LEDs...the 120w blue and white dimmable. The color on these is washed out a little, but I'll be trying to add some red, green, and UV bulbs to see how these upper-level corals color up.

03/10/2013, 12:01 AM	#31
novahobbies Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Deerfield Beach Posts: 395	Yeah. The standard "blue & white" LED isn't great for SPS color, I agree. People forget that their "white light" MH or T5 bulb is a much broader spectrum than a cool white LED. LEDs are great for providing a very specific range of the color spectrum, and IMO blue and white LEDs just aren't quite enough. This is why I'll be experimenting a bit with a few red and green LEDs. I have 2 UV bulbs, but after some research and direct experience with a friend's LED-driven tank...I'll need to up my UV quantity a lot when I set these up. I have seen an LED setup that included a few red, green, and UV bulbs to the mix, and the colors are more than comparable to a MH.

03/10/2013, 07:15 AM	#32
coralsnaked Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Austin / Port Aransas, TX Posts: 1,479	Personally in frag tanks where I want growth and not viewing, I run only 6500k MH. Nothing grows corals faster. For viewing nothing beats 20k MH. LED makes for some nice blue viewing but try to photo under it compared to 20k MH and I think that'll tell the whole story. Right now I utilize MH , LED, PC, and VHO. PC and VHO going away soon I would think. But LED hasn’t buried MH. LED ...very cool literally and figuratively. MH ...really hot literally and figuratively. Merry Skerry

03/10/2013, 07:19 AM	#33
nynick Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 1,029	I have seen tanks where they swiched out most of the cool white for warm white and this also had a big impact of coloration. Seems the warm white has a very broad spectrum from many manufacturers.