Explain your lighting choices

[mkengr45]

I know LED are all the rage...but the absolute best sps tanks I've ever seen have used metal halide. I've gone back and forth, but now use a combination of AI LEDs and metal halide.

Now days too many tanks are so juiced up with blue/purple LEDs I can't even tell what the heck some things are. I like seeing at least a good balance in color.

[350gt]

Leds are far from perfect... But getting close with every gen released..

[mkengr45]

Leds are far from perfect... But getting close with every gen released..

Pretty much nailed it Tony. With every revision and release of new generation LED fixture we are getting closer to perfection. MH isn't perfect by any means but it's just been used for so darn long that there is lots of history and data and optimization of bulbs/ballasts/reflectors etc. There was a time when an optimized MH was considered pretty much the pinnacle when it came to lighting.

Now there is newer technology that will eventually be optimized to the max over time.

[polarbear]

I have a brand new one that I can sell you for $15 if your interested in trying it out. It's 48in and 54w

Interesting.
Right now I actually have a 1:1 ratio of 11k to actinics but the bulb I have is called a Gieseman AquaBlue and recommended ratio is 2:1 or 3:1 (1 being the actinic). Should I try the ATI Blue Plus in place of one of the Actinics? Like 2 Giese AquaBlue: 1 ATI Blue Plus : 1 Giese True Actinic?

[ramsey]

Pretty much nailed it Tony. With every revision and release of new generation LED fixture we are getting closer to perfection. MH isn't perfect by any means but it's just been used for so darn long that there is lots of history and data and optimization of bulbs/ballasts/reflectors etc. There was a time when an optimized MH was considered pretty much the pinnacle when it came to lighting.

Now there is newer technology that will eventually be optimized to the max over time.

There's also less tweaking required with MH. Just put it over your tank and make sure your tank doesn't get too hot. With LEDs, it's a lot easier to burn your corals or not give them enough light. I made this mistake with my Radion. I had it peak at about 80% and things weren't looking too hot. I moved it down to 40% and have slowly ramped up to 60% peak and everything's doing great. I think most people that claim LEDs killed their corals blasted them with too much light.

[350gt]

There's also less tweaking required with MH. Just put it over your tank and make sure your tank doesn't get too hot. With LEDs, it's a lot easier to burn your corals or not give them enough light. I made this mistake with my Radion. I had it peak at about 80% and things weren't looking too hot. I moved it down to 40% and have slowly ramped up to 60% peak and everything's doing great. I think most people that claim LEDs killed their corals blasted them with too much light.

With the sols i found a sweet spot with the whites at 60 and blues @ 80-90%... Only peaking for 2-4 hours...

With the vegas, ive been tinkering this whole time and i think alot has to do with the 5w CW leds. They are just too **** powerful!...

I have my whites set to peak at 15%......



Everything is happy and looking great.... iMO. I've meaning to take some pics, just havent had time with a newborn and all....

[350gt]

Oh and i toasted a few things coming from the sols to the vegas... I was trying to use similar settings and that didnt work... Lol


But Ramsey is right, MH is very easy to use if you can deal with the drawbacks... I would argue with chris about MH being too easy..... Thats why kIng(leroy) went back to using them....

[Reef_Freaks]

Europhyllia I have a ATI BLUE PLUS brand new in the box just sitting around I have all LEDs so no need for it I'm sure we work something out I don't need it so I'm not worried about it


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[350gt]

You do realize her last post in this thread was in 09'

[Reef_Freaks]

lol no I didn't lol I guess I was bring delusional from a 8 hour drive yesterday and them doing a 175 gallon water change then setting up christmas lol


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