DIY LEDS: Reports/Observations of Coral

[robojet]

I was hoping that a thread could be started to supplement the DIY LED write up thread with information regarding how folks tanks are doing under there DIY lighting. I know there are reports in the write up thread, but you really gotta search, since it is mostly a collaboration for the actual build. I was considering a DIY LED, but was curious how coral is doing under the light, and what type of lighting it was under prior to going with LED. Hope this catches on... thanks!

[sphil876p]

I have pics already so I will chime in....
Crummy camera and worse photographer :(
Pics are of my lighting regimen for my frag tank.
Just finished my LED array in the last couple of weeks :)

Old lighting 250W DE Metal halide retrofit w/electronic ballast
10k XM bulb..

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220688@N05/3714178832/" title="PICT0370 by sphil876, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2635/3714178832_011f54ffc7.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PICT0370" /></a>

Frag tank under the MH.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220688@N05/3713366095/" title="PICT0362 by sphil876, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2460/3713366095_f9de8c5092.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PICT0362" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220688@N05/3748165192/" title="PICT0333 by sphil876, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3748165192_2f4b93931a.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PICT0333" /></a>

Frag tank with LED Array installed Cree XRE white 18 Cree Royal Blue 10 total of 28 LEDs with 60 and 40 degree optics....

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220688@N05/3713377591/" title="PICT0417 by sphil876, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3713377591_c5f9eebcbb.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PICT0417" /></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/40220688@N05/3744625266/" title="PICT0414c by sphil876, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2552/3744625266_e2b99284a2.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="PICT0414c" /></a>

Hard for me to get good pics of this......

[robojet]

sphil876p... nice... I like the bluer color. How long have you had the LEDs up?

[sphil876p]

Mounted the fixture on the tank 7/12. It has been running 10 hours a day since the 12th. The LEDs really make the corals glow, but it is hard to get good pics.

[robojet]

Is there a problem getting pics because of the LEDs themselves?

[sphil876p]

Others have said that they have the same problem, but I have little photo skills and a cheap camera. :(

[timmmysli]

My tanks new and only just starting to starting to stabilize. I have a big hair algae problem which apeared as soon as I ramped up the light period.


As you can see I don't have enough blue in my setup. I'm starting to see some real growth which is cool.

http://i242.photobucket.com/albums/ff112/timmmysli/2weeks.jpg

Yeah taking a good picture is impossible when only the blues are on

[Plan>B]

Tagged.... I really hope this catches on, as it has stopped me with the DIY until I could see some before and after shots (thanks timmmysli) to compare. Any one running both to do a side by side for a given amount of time?

[Hookup]

Agreed, this is what is holding back so many people I know from going/trying LED's... They sound good on paper, but where are the results, and what about long-term results, say 1+year, 3+years??

[timmmysli]

Long term results will still be 1-3 years off as high lumen emitting leds are still rather new. Even then led technology is developing so fast my new DIY unit will be outdated in a matter of 6 months max

My cree's put out 110 lumens per watt max and theres already a xp-g led coming out this year that runs at 132 lumens per watt which is a huge increase.

[Plan>B]

this die off?

[robojet]

I'm still interested in seeing some results or observations made

[stugray]

If it helps any, I am using 6X Cool-White Cree Q4 XR-Es on my sump for growing macro algae.

Both the Cheato & Caulerpa are growing fine.

So that shows that there is good photosynthetic growth spectrum in there.

Stu