LEDs for actinic supplement?

fmelindy · 12/20/2009, 08:28 PM

I have 2X250W MH's right now , running bulbs that are just not blue enough to make the corals "pop". So I want some supplementation but I don't need any extra heat. Is LED best for this application, or should I just go with T5? Also, space is at a premium as the reflectors for the MHs pretty much take up my entire canopy (so t5s are not really all that great a solution due to the size of the reflectors). So anyway, should or can I use LEDs for actinic supplementation and if so, which fixture should I buy or should I just DIY (this doesn't scare me, btw)?

90reefernyc · 12/20/2009, 09:52 PM

I saw this brand leds called aqua rays in person, they looked really good. Its an led strip with 5 leds you can use for supplementing.

Johnny C · 12/21/2009, 12:16 AM

Current USA Powerbrites (the 460nm model) will make your corals pop and provide a nice shimmer effect. HTH

fmelindy · 02/01/2010, 07:18 PM

just trying to revive this topic for some extra opinions. Anyone else have an opinion, I still haven't pulled the trigger on any of the obvious choices.

Mustang Boy · 02/02/2010, 12:39 AM

what light fixture is it because i know nanotuners/nanocustoms was making 3 LED actinic supplements that fit into the grove where the legs mount to for the Sunpods.

lighthouze08 · 02/02/2010, 01:33 PM

i tried different leds including the powerbrite, just not bright enough for me and i didn't like the color that much, yes it made the color pop a bit more than t5 bulbs but not much more. Ended up going with T5 Giesemann pure actinic bulb and i'm very happy with it

davocean · 02/02/2010, 05:29 PM

The ecoxotic stunners are my favorite LED accent strip out right now.
Really compact, well sealed, put out a decent amount of light.

ultreef · 02/03/2010, 12:02 AM

Does anyone have any picture of LED being used as supplement to halides? I was always under the impression that the halides will way out power the LED unless you had quite a big of LED in there.

Some pictures would be perfect and please indicated your halide setup, watt and kelvin. Then what kind of LED you are using. Thank you.

jtma508 · 02/03/2010, 08:46 AM

The commonly used LED's I've seen are the blues (~470nm) or the royal blues (~460nm) . Real actinics are closer to 420nm. I've not seen anyone using LED's in that range.

CJO · 02/03/2010, 09:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by davocean

The ecoxotic stunners are my favorite LED accent strip out right now.
Really compact, well sealed, put out a decent amount of light.

I just got a single stunner UV (403nm) strip to try out on my tank. I couldn't see much of a difference with the halides on (2x 150W HO w/ 14k Phoenix bulbs), but it made a huge difference with the moon lights. A candycane coral I had looks like it is glowing! I think that a few more would make a noticeable difference, even with the halides.

CJ

I-am-Mike · 02/03/2010, 09:21 AM

ecoxotic has panorama strips with 12 1w leds might check them out I am waiting for the price to drop a little they just came out a couple months ago I am going to do a 22g shroom tank with led only.

lucidheights · 03/08/2010, 01:45 AM

has anyone tried reef brites?

overklok · 03/08/2010, 06:36 AM

I ordered the reefbright 48 inch actinic, I am waiting for it to arrive. I will post the results.

ibnozn · 03/08/2010, 10:33 AM

I use two PowerBrite modules bolted on to a 14K 150W DE in a Current OuterOrbit pendant. They shift the color well enough to make the colors pop nicely but I wouldn't say they increase the lighting intensity all that much.

I'm curious side by side which is brighter, the Stunner or the PowerBrite?

People are starting to use PAR38s for actinic too, just to confuse this even more.

wakeboardgeek · 07/21/2010, 10:39 AM

Reviving this because I'm in the same boat. Any other opinions/experiences?

stonecold · 11/19/2011, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ultreef

Does anyone have any picture of LED being used as supplement to halides? I was always under the impression that the halides will way out power the LED unless you had quite a big of LED in there.

Some pictures would be perfect and please indicated your halide setup, watt and kelvin. Then what kind of LED you are using. Thank you.

Bumping this thread back as I am thinking of adding LED as supplements to my MH. Pictures/experiences will be much appreciated.

newtank · 11/21/2011, 04:31 PM

Yep in the same boat, 32" deep 7 footer. Looking into the reefbrites 72", it seems most affordable and should reach the depth. May pull the trigger on this soon...

ccolt1 · 03/05/2012, 10:37 PM

Any Pics??

mess7777 · 03/06/2012, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by overklok

I ordered the reefbright 48 inch actinic, I am waiting for it to arrive. I will post the results.

Reefbrite Blue is really nice for the pop effect. A local LFS had one over a Chalic filled tank and it was awesome just by itself. Really intense flourescents.

cdivine · 03/06/2012, 10:20 AM

I use Two 48" ecoxotic stunner strips over my 220 gallon tank and I really like them.
These are the blue/magenta strips. I also have a smaller royal blue stunner strip and most people seem to like the blue/magenta strip vs. the solid royal blue.

Playa-1 · 03/06/2012, 01:30 PM

I'm tagging along with interest.

12/20/2009, 08:28 PM	#1
fmelindy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St. John's, NL, Canada Posts: 116	LEDs for actinic supplement? I have 2X250W MH's right now , running bulbs that are just not blue enough to make the corals "pop". So I want some supplementation but I don't need any extra heat. Is LED best for this application, or should I just go with T5? Also, space is at a premium as the reflectors for the MHs pretty much take up my entire canopy (so t5s are not really all that great a solution due to the size of the reflectors). So anyway, should or can I use LEDs for actinic supplementation and if so, which fixture should I buy or should I just DIY (this doesn't scare me, btw)?

12/20/2009, 09:52 PM	#2
90reefernyc Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: New York USA Posts: 249	I saw this brand leds called aqua rays in person, they looked really good. Its an led strip with 5 leds you can use for supplementing. __________________ Click on my little red house to see my 270 build thread...!!!! Current Tank Info: 270 Gallon AGE tank, 400 gallon complete system, GHL Profilux controller, Sfiligoi lights, Fauna Marin Ultra-Lith system

12/21/2009, 12:16 AM	#3
Johnny C Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Buffalo, NY Posts: 4,140	Current USA Powerbrites (the 460nm model) will make your corals pop and provide a nice shimmer effect. HTH __________________ "...the sea, once it casts its spell, holds one in its net of wonders forever" -Jacques Cousteau

02/02/2010, 01:33 PM	#6
lighthouze08 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: VA Posts: 843	i tried different leds including the powerbrite, just not bright enough for me and i didn't like the color that much, yes it made the color pop a bit more than t5 bulbs but not much more. Ended up going with T5 Giesemann pure actinic bulb and i'm very happy with it __________________ _____________

02/02/2010, 05:29 PM	#7
davocean Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 14,655	The ecoxotic stunners are my favorite LED accent strip out right now. Really compact, well sealed, put out a decent amount of light. __________________ There's a fine line between owning your tank and your tank owning you! Current Tank Info: SCA 120g RR Starfire, Tunze silence 1073.02 return, 40g sump w/ fuge, SWC Extreme 160 cone skimmer,Geismann reflexx 4xT5, 2x Panorama Pro LED strips, Vortech MP40QD

02/01/2010, 07:18 PM	#4
fmelindy Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: St. John's, NL, Canada Posts: 116	just trying to revive this topic for some extra opinions. Anyone else have an opinion, I still haven't pulled the trigger on any of the obvious choices.

02/02/2010, 12:39 AM	#5
Mustang Boy Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Tampa, Fl Posts: 1,088	what light fixture is it because i know nanotuners/nanocustoms was making 3 LED actinic supplements that fit into the grove where the legs mount to for the Sunpods.

02/03/2010, 12:02 AM	#8
ultreef Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Vancouver Posts: 110	Does anyone have any picture of LED being used as supplement to halides? I was always under the impression that the halides will way out power the LED unless you had quite a big of LED in there. Some pictures would be perfect and please indicated your halide setup, watt and kelvin. Then what kind of LED you are using. Thank you.

02/03/2010, 08:46 AM	#9
jtma508 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: MA Posts: 1,232	The commonly used LED's I've seen are the blues (~470nm) or the royal blues (~460nm) . Real actinics are closer to 420nm. I've not seen anyone using LED's in that range.

02/03/2010, 09:21 AM	#11
I-am-Mike Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Yakima Wa. Posts: 17	ecoxotic has panorama strips with 12 1w leds might check them out I am waiting for the price to drop a little they just came out a couple months ago I am going to do a 22g shroom tank with led only.

03/08/2010, 01:45 AM	#12
lucidheights NYRC member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Jackson Heights NY Posts: 349	has anyone tried reef brites?

03/08/2010, 06:36 AM	#13
overklok Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 130	I ordered the reefbright 48 inch actinic, I am waiting for it to arrive. I will post the results.

03/08/2010, 10:33 AM	#14
ibnozn Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 162	I use two PowerBrite modules bolted on to a 14K 150W DE in a Current OuterOrbit pendant. They shift the color well enough to make the colors pop nicely but I wouldn't say they increase the lighting intensity all that much. I'm curious side by side which is brighter, the Stunner or the PowerBrite? People are starting to use PAR38s for actinic too, just to confuse this even more.

07/21/2010, 10:39 AM	#15
wakeboardgeek Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Southern Maryland Posts: 373	Reviving this because I'm in the same boat. Any other opinions/experiences?

11/21/2011, 04:31 PM	#17
newtank Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Peru In Posts: 319	Yep in the same boat, 32" deep 7 footer. Looking into the reefbrites 72", it seems most affordable and should reach the depth. May pull the trigger on this soon... __________________ Just because you can... doesn't mean you should. Current Tank Info: Newest new tank- 300G DEEP

03/05/2012, 10:37 PM	#18
ccolt1 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Las Vegas NV Posts: 323	Any Pics??

03/06/2012, 10:20 AM	#20
cdivine Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: South Bend, IN Posts: 45	I use Two 48" ecoxotic stunner strips over my 220 gallon tank and I really like them. These are the blue/magenta strips. I also have a smaller royal blue stunner strip and most people seem to like the blue/magenta strip vs. the solid royal blue.

03/06/2012, 01:30 PM	#21
Playa-1 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Laguna Niguel, CA Posts: 7,497	I'm tagging along with interest.