Blue led better for zoas than daylight bulbs - Page 2

650-IS350 · 08/20/2012, 10:32 AM

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php

Crazyfingerz · 08/20/2012, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 650-IS350

http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php

This is very informative article, everyone should take a read, it would clear up a lot of questions.

heckeng · 09/06/2012, 10:32 PM

I have had AI Sols for 6-8 months and they were amazing, but half of my zoas liked them, and half did not. It was not possible for me to get the intensity balanced to make all of my colonies happy and quite a few colonies died off. The blue LEDs do make just about every coral look amazing but at this point, I think LEDs need to be used very carefully. I have since sold my Sols and gone back to halides and things are coming back around. If you are using LEDs with success, more power to you, I wish I could have done that as well.

A. Grandis · 09/06/2012, 11:12 PM

You're not alone!

Many people are coming back to T5s and Halides everyday!
To me halides were the best, but the heat brings the electric bill high with the chiller working and everything else.
The T5s are great because they have the intensity and amazing spectrum possibilities.

Because of posts like yours is why I never even attempted to try LEDs.
I believe its not worthy in the long run, except for the small savings on electric bill.

Grandis.

650-IS350 · 09/06/2012, 11:28 PM

mine happy under Kessil A350 Blue tunas

A. Grandis · 09/07/2012, 12:47 AM

Yeah, at the same time some reports are towards the LEDs...
I know...

Grandis.

Crazyfingerz · 09/07/2012, 06:34 AM

So far some the majority of my zoas have been doing well with the blues, while some seem to not be doing as well. But only time will really tell

kara13 · 09/16/2012, 09:53 AM

My zoas have totally taken off since switching to the kessil a350w. I have the blue at about 30% and white at 50% and everything is real happy.

alex gonzales · 09/16/2012, 10:51 AM

Huge savings on electric bills!

jwolcott · 09/19/2012, 07:25 PM

Just replaced over 120 watts of blue and white led with 1 150 ocean blue kessil on my 30 gallon, I do mostly zoas. I run it from 7am until 9 pm. Everything appears to be happier with less wattage and more blue.

Commandoe · 09/20/2012, 12:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crazyfingerz

This is very informative article, everyone should take a read, it would clear up a lot of questions.

I agree, thanks for the Info!

Maconbits · 09/20/2012, 12:34 AM

I think on the smaller tanks led is fine, I just can't build up the guts to toss them on a display large tank yet and plus the price hurts very badly lol

kara13 · 09/21/2012, 01:59 PM

I'll have to check my electric bill this month and compare. I hope it's lower!

kevin32 · 09/21/2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trinidiver

seems like you owe me some big $$$$$$,
The blue LED's brings out the color in everything. Everything pops in colors you've never seen before.

x2

Blue led are awesome!!

A. Grandis · 09/21/2012, 05:50 PM

Well LEDs are getting better everyday and soon we'll have something really good, we know that...

The Radion XR30W Pro is a very good choice with it's stronger UV and blue part of the spectrum. That's something we needed, the UV end!

Their prices have to get better too, and that will be a great thing, if so!!

Grandis.

likefish · 09/26/2012, 09:45 AM

i started a thread with not much luck on blue LED and their intensity. I have a strip of DIY bridgelux blue and royal blue mix spanning my 4' wide 24" deep tank. There are 18 3W bulbs. I have had to turn them down to about 30% to keep from bleaching the corals higher up in my tank.

The blues are the only change i have made and the reduction in power improved the bleaching problem. Unfortunatly my tank appears dim now when teh rest of my lights are not on. (I have 2 ati blue bulbs, 1 coral plus and 1 purple plus).

These 3W blue led's pack some power! How much i do not know but they are capable of bleaching corals at 12" of depth.

Comments / arguments appreciated!

organism · 09/26/2012, 03:30 PM

I have LED's over my tank that's turning into a mainly zoa tank, and with 20 royal blues and 4 cool whites everything looks amazing. I was talking to a coral vendor a few weeks ago who farms a lot of his corals under 100% blue LED's and they look awesome, also a ton less heat and much lower power bill. To each their own, but the argument that LED's still have a long way to go or don't offer much spectrum options (which they already do in every spectrum you want) is kind of moot at this point.

650-IS350 · 09/26/2012, 03:33 PM

Quote:

ton less heat and much lower power bill

big reason I went with LEDs and aint going back.

A. Grandis · 09/26/2012, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by organism

I have LED's over my tank that's turning into a mainly zoa tank, and with 20 royal blues and 4 cool whites everything looks amazing. I was talking to a coral vendor a few weeks ago who farms a lot of his corals under 100% blue LED's and they look awesome, also a ton less heat and much lower power bill. To each their own, but the argument that LED's still have a long way to go or don't offer much spectrum options (which they already do in every spectrum you want) is kind of moot at this point.

Yes, and at the same time some very good reports are still happening, like yours and that vendor you've mentioned.
I just want to wait for the right time to switch. My T5s are great and the bill is not THAT high. Besides, the LEDs are still expensive to just try them out. I like the shimmering though!

Grandis.

organism · 09/27/2012, 03:11 PM

They're really cheap if you diy your own fixtures, I think mine cost like $200ish for a 34 gallon solana, which with t5's or halides would've cost me that much by now just in bulbs alone

And you're right, the shimmering is awesome!

got2envy · 09/27/2012, 03:44 PM

I tried a Par 30 bulb on my zoa tank for a moth and lost a few frags and color on some colonies...I switch back to 150w 14k Pheonix and they bounced back with in a month.

MH4LIFE

NiTr0x911 · 09/27/2012, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by got2envy

I tried a Par 30 bulb on my zoa tank for a moth and lost a few frags and color on some colonies...I switch back to 150w 14k Pheonix and they bounced back with in a month.

MH4LIFE

By Far my favorite light,have had better coral growth and love the look.

A. Grandis · 09/30/2012, 07:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by got2envy

I tried a Par 30 bulb on my zoa tank for a moth and lost a few frags and color on some colonies...I switch back to 150w 14k Pheonix and they bounced back with in a month.

MH4LIFE

That could be an adaptation problem or a poor choice of LEDs, I would presume.
The "change back" I've heard from other people would include the preferences for their corals/zoas growth and colors, as well.
But again, some others just love their LEDs!!!
Some people love the LEDs for months and still come back to T5s and/or MHs.
Go figure!!

Once some can achieve success with the LEDs we know they can be considered and it could be a matter of choice. The new UV LEDs are something that called my attention though!

I didn't get anyone to really convince me how LEDs could be closer to the natural light than MHs or T5s. To change only because of my electric bill is not worthy. But I live in an island and the first time I saw LEDs on aquariums was at the MACNA 2010. We don't have the "good new aquarium stuff" around here very often and the shipping is a killer!!!!!!

I'm still sticking with my T5s for now...

Grandis.

08/20/2012, 10:32 AM	#26
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brisbane, Bay Area Posts: 13,293	http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2006-03/cj/index.php __________________ Charles , AKA " DELSOL650 "

09/06/2012, 10:32 PM	#28
heckeng Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 244	I have had AI Sols for 6-8 months and they were amazing, but half of my zoas liked them, and half did not. It was not possible for me to get the intensity balanced to make all of my colonies happy and quite a few colonies died off. The blue LEDs do make just about every coral look amazing but at this point, I think LEDs need to be used very carefully. I have since sold my Sols and gone back to halides and things are coming back around. If you are using LEDs with success, more power to you, I wish I could have done that as well. __________________ 90 gallon Zoa/Ricordia tank, 6x54w ATI dimmable Sunpower, SRO 1000int

09/06/2012, 11:28 PM	#30
650-IS350 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Brisbane, Bay Area Posts: 13,293	mine happy under Kessil A350 Blue tunas __________________ Charles , AKA " DELSOL650 "

09/07/2012, 06:34 AM	#32
Crazyfingerz Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 302	So far some the majority of my zoas have been doing well with the blues, while some seem to not be doing as well. But only time will really tell __________________ Always looking to move foward, yup yup Current Tank Info: 120gal DT, 30gal sump.

09/19/2012, 07:25 PM	#35
jwolcott Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Oakley, Ca Posts: 87	Leds Just replaced over 120 watts of blue and white led with 1 150 ocean blue kessil on my 30 gallon, I do mostly zoas. I run it from 7am until 9 pm. Everything appears to be happier with less wattage and more blue.

09/06/2012, 11:12 PM	#29
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,850	You're not alone! Many people are coming back to T5s and Halides everyday! To me halides were the best, but the heat brings the electric bill high with the chiller working and everything else. The T5s are great because they have the intensity and amazing spectrum possibilities. Because of posts like yours is why I never even attempted to try LEDs. I believe its not worthy in the long run, except for the small savings on electric bill. Grandis.

09/07/2012, 12:47 AM	#31
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,850	Yeah, at the same time some reports are towards the LEDs... I know... Grandis.

09/16/2012, 09:53 AM	#33
kara13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 99	My zoas have totally taken off since switching to the kessil a350w. I have the blue at about 30% and white at 50% and everything is real happy.

09/16/2012, 10:51 AM	#34
alex gonzales Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 191	Huge savings on electric bills!

09/20/2012, 12:34 AM	#37
Maconbits Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 56	I think on the smaller tanks led is fine, I just can't build up the guts to toss them on a display large tank yet and plus the price hurts very badly lol __________________ 34g DSA Neo Nano Mixed Reef 8g IM Nuvo Nano ~Macon Fish Look Easy~ Current Tank Info: 34g neo nano mixed reef and a 8 nuvo nano

09/21/2012, 01:59 PM	#38
kara13 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 99	I'll have to check my electric bill this month and compare. I hope it's lower!

09/21/2012, 05:50 PM	#40
A. Grandis Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Honolulu Posts: 1,850	Well LEDs are getting better everyday and soon we'll have something really good, we know that... The Radion XR30W Pro is a very good choice with it's stronger UV and blue part of the spectrum. That's something we needed, the UV end! Their prices have to get better too, and that will be a great thing, if so!! Grandis.

09/26/2012, 09:45 AM	#41
likefish Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: central florida Posts: 250	i started a thread with not much luck on blue LED and their intensity. I have a strip of DIY bridgelux blue and royal blue mix spanning my 4' wide 24" deep tank. There are 18 3W bulbs. I have had to turn them down to about 30% to keep from bleaching the corals higher up in my tank. The blues are the only change i have made and the reduction in power improved the bleaching problem. Unfortunatly my tank appears dim now when teh rest of my lights are not on. (I have 2 ati blue bulbs, 1 coral plus and 1 purple plus). These 3W blue led's pack some power! How much i do not know but they are capable of bleaching corals at 12" of depth. Comments / arguments appreciated!

09/26/2012, 03:30 PM	#42
organism wears sex panther Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 3,918	I have LED's over my tank that's turning into a mainly zoa tank, and with 20 royal blues and 4 cool whites everything looks amazing. I was talking to a coral vendor a few weeks ago who farms a lot of his corals under 100% blue LED's and they look awesome, also a ton less heat and much lower power bill. To each their own, but the argument that LED's still have a long way to go or don't offer much spectrum options (which they already do in every spectrum you want) is kind of moot at this point. __________________ I don't always grow frags... but when I do, I prefer Dos Acros

09/27/2012, 03:11 PM	#45
organism wears sex panther Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: los angeles Posts: 3,918	They're really cheap if you diy your own fixtures, I think mine cost like $200ish for a 34 gallon solana, which with t5's or halides would've cost me that much by now just in bulbs alone And you're right, the shimmering is awesome! __________________ I don't always grow frags... but when I do, I prefer Dos Acros

09/27/2012, 03:44 PM	#46
got2envy hello fishy fishy Join Date: May 2007 Location: Mid-Cities, TX Posts: 878	I tried a Par 30 bulb on my zoa tank for a moth and lost a few frags and color on some colonies...I switch back to 150w 14k Pheonix and they bounced back with in a month. MH4LIFE __________________ January 2011 NTOTM Some people are like Slinkies... Not really good for anything, but they still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs. Current Tank Info: 10g SPS nano, 40g long mixed reef