LEDs... New Technology making it to your Reef?

ufans · 01/12/2008, 04:54 PM

Anyone using the new advances in LEDs on your reef?

... even for accent lighting to take the place of T-5 or CF actinics?

Snowboarda42 · 01/12/2008, 05:56 PM

Once it comes down in price, I think we'll see much more of it.

Putawaywet · 01/12/2008, 06:39 PM

Yep, price is still way too steep for me to jump into the game and risk having a better fixture come out 6 months after sinking money into one.

They've got my attention though, and I could easily see myself owning one at some point in the future.

Brett

FEEDERFISH · 01/12/2008, 06:57 PM

I will only use LEDs for Moonlights

ufans · 01/12/2008, 09:06 PM

I am really interested in using LEDs to "tweak" the color rather than as a replacement of them primary lumen output. Such as .. provide the blues and reds that will help corals and visual appeal. Moonlights are an easy choice and have a proven record... BUT .... I want more !!!

And... the $$$ ??? Think of how much you could save running 12VDC@~2amps vice 500-1000W of MH. Not to mention the elimination of the heat problems...think of those 100+F days when you don't have to turn off your lights.

therman · 01/12/2008, 10:03 PM

I toyed with this idea and bought all the LEDs to use them in place of actinics. In the end I got t5s for some reason. Not all that impressed with the colors from t5, so I might add them down the road.

Don't really have the time to do all the crafting to rig them onto my pendant at this point, and the wiring would get kind of ungainly. If I had a canopy it would be a totally different story. FWIW I got Luxeon III royal blues to do it, the fluorescence is insane from them

Maybe once the Luxeon Rebels come down in price and on stars with optics in royal blue I'll try again.

Also FYI, the solder pads on K2 stars SUCK, that was another stumbling block that discouraged me.

-Tim

Paulairduck · 01/12/2008, 11:26 PM

Have not seen a LED that's worth it, T-5's the way to go. Little heat, efficient, and the right bulbs give you great par, Geissmann, ATI and KZ

01/12/2008, 04:54 PM	#1
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	LEDs... New Technology making it to your Reef? Anyone using the new advances in LEDs on your reef? ... even for accent lighting to take the place of T-5 or CF actinics?

01/12/2008, 05:56 PM	#2
Snowboarda42 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Warshington Posts: 1,094	Once it comes down in price, I think we'll see much more of it. __________________ 40B Mixed Reef 100% Captive Grown Corals See, that's the trouble with the world today. Not enough danger to kill off stupid people before they get old enough to breed. Bring back lawn darts! -PrivateJoker64 Current Tank Info: 40B, 20L Sump/Fuge, Mag 9.5 Return, 2x Hydor Koralia #2's, 150W 14K HQI, 139W T-5, Euro-Reef RS-80P Mesh Modded, 40LB LR, 80LB LS, 54x Turnover, Mostly SPS, Some Softys Too.

01/12/2008, 06:39 PM	#3
Putawaywet 20 and over club Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Long Beach, CA. Posts: 2,720	Yep, price is still way too steep for me to jump into the game and risk having a better fixture come out 6 months after sinking money into one. They've got my attention though, and I could easily see myself owning one at some point in the future. Brett __________________ She ain't broke, but can we fix her more better? Current Tank Info: A big box of water with some stuff in it.

01/12/2008, 06:57 PM	#4
FEEDERFISH Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Waupun, Wisconsin Posts: 1,060	I will only use LEDs for Moonlights __________________ --Roads?..... Where were going...... We don't need.......Roads --Doc. Brown Current Tank Info: Custom AO 30 Gal Starphire Display , 2x150DE Hamilton Reefstar - Reeflux 12k / XM 15K, IceCap 430 24" T5-UVL Super Actinic, Aqua C EV-180 w/ Mag 9.5, Closed Loop on a Panworld 40px, Return Mag 12

01/12/2008, 09:06 PM	#5
ufans Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Fairfax Station, VA Posts: 681	I am really interested in using LEDs to "tweak" the color rather than as a replacement of them primary lumen output. Such as .. provide the blues and reds that will help corals and visual appeal. Moonlights are an easy choice and have a proven record... BUT .... I want more !!! And... the $$$ ??? Think of how much you could save running 12VDC@~2amps vice 500-1000W of MH. Not to mention the elimination of the heat problems...think of those 100+F days when you don't have to turn off your lights.

01/12/2008, 10:03 PM	#6
therman biodiversity enthusiast Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Whitehouse, OH, USA Posts: 1,107	I toyed with this idea and bought all the LEDs to use them in place of actinics. In the end I got t5s for some reason. Not all that impressed with the colors from t5, so I might add them down the road. Don't really have the time to do all the crafting to rig them onto my pendant at this point, and the wiring would get kind of ungainly. If I had a canopy it would be a totally different story. FWIW I got Luxeon III royal blues to do it, the fluorescence is insane from them Maybe once the Luxeon Rebels come down in price and on stars with optics in royal blue I'll try again. Also FYI, the solder pads on K2 stars SUCK, that was another stumbling block that discouraged me. -Tim

01/12/2008, 11:26 PM	#7
Paulairduck I LOVE FREE FRAGS!!! Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Chino Hills Posts: 2,909	Have not seen a LED that's worth it, T-5's the way to go. Little heat, efficient, and the right bulbs give you great par, Geissmann, ATI and KZ