why so many people trying to sell their LED light

[jackson6745]

Just curious if the LED guys ever tried running a glass UV shield under their light? The par on these LED units are comparable to halides and t5's for the most part. I don't see why there would be acclimation problems unless UV was burning corals?

 

[e.muehlbauer]

This has been a very interesting thread. After 12 or more years, I think its time to replace my PC unit. So I like the idea of LEDS, but looking at what's out there, its a pretty wide price range. Face it....I cannot afford high cost equipment. Nor do I want to spend hours of my time doing research, since at this stage of my reefing game I'm mainly doing maintenance, not adding anything. ( As I said, I can't afford to really get into this hobby full speed.) I'm beginning to think I'm probably better off just doing t5's....when the time comes to replace the unit...which probably won't happen until my unit actually dies......

 

[jdnumis]

+1

I agree with this. Many of his corals have been in his tank for a long time, too.

They have been there a long time with the Acan Led's.

 

[Oddomatic]

Everyone is going to have different opinions. Choose the lighting that you like best.

 

[James]

This has been a very interesting thread. After 12 or more years, I think its time to replace my PC unit. So I like the idea of LEDS, but looking at what's out there, its a pretty wide price range. Face it....I cannot afford high cost equipment. Nor do I want to spend hours of my time doing research, since at this stage of my reefing game I'm mainly doing maintenance, not adding anything. ( As I said, I can't afford to really get into this hobby full speed.) I'm beginning to think I'm probably better off just doing t5's....when the time comes to replace the unit...which probably won't happen until my unit actually dies......

I think someone like you (who is not in the hobby for the short term) is the ideal candidate for leds. Initial cost for leds is more, however, the electric bill is lower and not buying bulbs every year or less adds up over the long haul. They end up paying for themselves after a few years when T5's or MH's continue costing $ in bulbs every 8months - 1yr and extra kw's every month. That being said, you can't go wrong with T5's but if $ is indeed a factor, initial cost is not the best indicator of the true cost to own. Spending a bit more upfront will end up saving you a TON of money if you intend to use a fixture for more than a few years. HTH.

 

[prattreef]

Just curious if the LED guys ever tried running a glass UV shield under their light? The par on these LED units are comparable to halides and t5's for the most part. I don't see why there would be acclimation problems unless UV was burning corals?

Rich, I think the problem is two-fold. 1) Because Leds are made up of so many really tight unidirectional emitters they have the ability to burn corals in really small areas---kind of like focusing light with a magnifying glass into a hot spot and 2) unlike other types of light reefers are used to, you get just as much punch and intensity out of the blues as you do from the whites, so while the tank appears less bright, it really isn't and people crank them up too high too soon based on what their eyes tell them.

On a seperate but related note, the idea of giving your corals a period of 65k light while you arent around to enhance growth makes no sense with LEDs because you are really just cutting out the blue emitters to attain a spectral appearance and reducing your intensity in the process.

 

[sunny]

Rich, I think the problem is two-fold. 1) Because Leds are made up of so many really tight unidirectional emitters they have the ability to burn corals in really small areas---kind of like focusing light with a magnifying glass into a hot spot and 2) unlike other types of light reefers are used to, you get just as much punch and intensity out of the blues as you do from the whites, so while the tank appears less bright, it really isn't and people crank them up too high too soon based on what their eyes tell them.

On a seperate but related note, the idea of giving your corals a period of 65k light while you arent around to enhance growth makes no sense with LEDs because you are really just cutting out the blue emitters to attain a spectral appearance and reducing your intensity in the process.

+1

Read my post in fathom LED forum from 2 days ago.

Sunny

 

[ducati335i]

On a scale of 1-10 far as color goes.. LEDs are a 7 that's worse case.. T5 are a 10... In the future LEDs will be better for sure.... They grow the crap out of corals.. I have tanks w t5s and LEDs.. I just don't like how powerful they are.. No need for that! To each their own, but growth should def not be an issue

 

[reefer4eva]

I am currently in the process of buying an LED unit to replace the hqi unit I have for my 28 nano.my reason being is simple (1) my priorities are different now with a 16 month getting into everything.(2)I can't have the gearbox in the cabinet cause of heat issues,plus I have the chiller in there(3)lets be honest running a reef tank cost money between the cost of changing bulbs every 8 months and the cost of electricity to run metal halides is ridiculous.(4)if I can't get somewhat close results with LED's rather than metal halide's for a fraction of the cost than I'm happy with that!!you guys are way to picky!!i use to have a 90 gallon with every kind of coral in it you could imagine,when I was told by my new landlord I wasn't allowed to have a fish tank of that magnitude it broke my heart..so if anyone is questioning my knowledge cause I only have a nano tank..I had reef tanks since I was 15 and I'm pushing 40

 

[Reefcowboy]

^---- This.

All the lights everyone argues about are usually fine lights if the rest of your husbandry is up to snuff. t5s, Mh, leds are all great if the reefkeeper is competent.

That being said, as for the LED hating, If you are still anti-led I am not sure you have seen some of new Leds out there. The writing is on the wall and I know MH and t5 will die hard but arguing the technology of LEDs is not going to leap over other lighting in the near future is grossly underinformed (just look at the trends over the last few years). I dare anyone to mess around with the Vertex Illumina and not find a balance they love (all colors dimmable so you can get the exact look you want, if you like T5s with all those nice bulbs, I would bet you can match it or come closer than you think. Smoq's LEDs also look amazing in person. Those UV leds really caught up with the pop that t5's give to my eyes ( I feel the same way about them that I do when I first saw coral under actinic LEDs). /endrant

Let's see if we can keep this civil and not go the route of too many other lighting threads. :thrash:

I agree, and am just trying to express my opinion, no intention to criticize your argument. The problem is in every board there are the ones that know what they are doing, and know LEDs are washing away the colors of their corals. There are the led addicts/data and tech inclined ones that like to bring numbers up all the time, and say this model, that model etc.. And say how nobody knows how to dim the lights, mix colors, and other stuff. There is a big part that don't know what they're doing, and just get Chinese garbage out there, because the components are cheap and easy to assemble, and bleach their tank and bad mouth LEDs. The thuth is, IMO, there is not enough research and proof LEDs do what they claim to do as far as color. Something is not right and the main manufacturers know it. Generation after generation comes out and same crap is in, along with lots of money. People are pissed because they pay lots of money, are promised something they are not getting it. I'm sticking with my t5s until I see, not hear from people, but see results.

 

[James]

I agree, and am just trying to express my opinion, no intention to criticize your argument. The problem is in every board there are the ones that know what they are doing, and know LEDs are washing away the colors of their corals. There are the led addicts/data and tech inclined ones that like to bring numbers up all the time, and say this model, that model etc.. And say how nobody knows how to dim the lights, mix colors, and other stuff. There is a big part that don't know what they're doing, and just get Chinese garbage out there, because the components are cheap and easy to assemble, and bleach their tank and bad mouth LEDs. The thuth is, IMO, there is not enough research and proof LEDs do what they claim to do as far as color. Something is not right and the main manufacturers know it. Generation after generation comes out and same crap is in, along with lots of money. People are pissed because they pay lots of money, are promised something they are not getting it. I'm sticking with my t5s until I see, not hear from people, but see results.

I agree with you that there are a lot of people who "do not know what they are doing" and that is the reason they are upset after they spend a lot of money on lights thinking their corals will magically start growing and coloring-up with LEDs. Corals take months to adjust to new lights regardless of the type. As for something not being right and colors being off with coral under LED tanks, I admire someone who needs to see it with their own eyes and doesn't buy the hype. If you do that, it needs to go both ways, if you are reading about people who "know what they are doing" on boards but LEDs are washing their corals out, are those people you know personally and have seen? Who are they? That said, if you haven't seen LEDs with really nice growing corals and beautiful color, you have not seen the right tanks. I know of several people who are very successful with full LEDs. It all comes down to the reefer, not the light. There are a lot more vocal reefers out there who expect lights to do all the heavy lifting in keeping corals and expect that spending a lot of money will guarantee them success.... this is silly but it is what you are seeing.

I am bowing out of this conversation as I think my stance is well known, we could go round and round as others have done. I would suggest you find someone local to you who has LEDs and an established tank. It is more rare ( due to the time LEDs have been available) because a lot of successful reefers keep the lights they have that work on older tanks but there are plenty that are making the switch and plenty more who are starting new tanks with LEDs like I just have (you are more than welcome to come to Bay Ridge and visit me, there is at least one more reefer with LEDs on his tank from the start in this neighborhood and we could do a tank tour).

 

[jackson6745]

Rich, I think the problem is two-fold. 1) Because Leds are made up of so many really tight unidirectional emitters they have the ability to burn corals in really small areas---kind of like focusing light with a magnifying glass into a hot spot and 2) unlike other types of light reefers are used to, you get just as much punch and intensity out of the blues as you do from the whites, so while the tank appears less bright, it really isn't and people crank them up too high too soon based on what their eyes tell them.

On a seperate but related note, the idea of giving your corals a period of 65k light while you arent around to enhance growth makes no sense with LEDs because you are really just cutting out the blue emitters to attain a spectral appearance and reducing your intensity in the process.

Randy thanks for the explanation. This make sense to me however I would consider it an LED drawback. As long as the corals are able to acclimate to the light and not appear damaged or blotchy i guess it's not a big deal.

 

[jackson6745]

+1

Read my post in fathom LED forum from 2 days ago.

Sunny

I've been watching Tony Scoots T5 for life, had very nice things to say about your LED's LOL I was kind of shocked because he hates all leds. The fathoms must be pretty good:thrash:

 

[sunny]

I've been watching Tony Scoots T5 for life, had very nice things to say about your LED's LOL I was kind of shocked because he hates all leds. The fathoms must be pretty good:thrash:

What Tony saw was growth (which I attribute to AI so far since fathom is new).
He saw colors which is definitely Fathom LED thing. I can tell you that pop on the Tyree Setosa is awesome in my tank. I have not seen it like this bright under Halides, forget T5 ;-)

 

[Reefcowboy]

I agree with you that there are a lot of people who "do not know what they are doing" and that is the reason they are upset after they spend a lot of money on lights thinking their corals will magically start growing and coloring-up with LEDs. Corals take months to adjust to new lights regardless of the type. As for something not being right and colors being off with coral under LED tanks, I admire someone who needs to see it with their own eyes and doesn't buy the hype. If you do that, it needs to go both ways, if you are reading about people who "know what they are doing" on boards but LEDs are washing their corals out, are those people you know personally and have seen? Who are they? That said, if you haven't seen LEDs with really nice growing corals and beautiful color, you have not seen the right tanks. I know of several people who are very successful with full LEDs. It all comes down to the reefer, not the light. There are a lot more vocal reefers out there who expect lights to do all the heavy lifting in keeping corals and expect that spending a lot of money will guarantee them success.... this is silly but it is what you are seeing.

I am bowing out of this conversation as I think my stance is well known, we could go round and round as others have done. I would suggest you find someone local to you who has LEDs and an established tank. It is more rare ( due to the time LEDs have been available) because a lot of successful reefers keep the lights they have that work on older tanks but there are plenty that are making the switch and plenty more who are starting new tanks with LEDs like I just have (you are more than welcome to come to Bay Ridge and visit me, there is at least one more reefer with LEDs on his tank from the start in this neighborhood and we could do a tank tour).

James, thanks for the post, and I appreciate the explanation. I believe you know what you are saying and believe you had had good results. Your input is necessary to this topic, and I ask you to continue to express your point as we all want to improve the hobby, especially lights.

 

[cody0709]

I want to upgrade to LED but this is making me nervous about doing so!

 

[cono]

It made me really nervous to until I see the lights and what they do for corals and colors... if people like sunny and rkgozler( Richie) love them and are running them on there tanks... it hood enough for me


Sent from my DROID RAZR using Reefs

 

[vlamingi409]

because people buy LED fixtures without actually taking the time to research them fist..there is a lot of junk out there and if you don't do your due diligence to find a quality brand than shame on you

the sense I get talking to a lot of people is that they think if they throw some LED's over their tanks than they will automatically have success coloring and growing corals...not the case as many people are finding out

I agree, there are too many junk LEDs being sold. I just upgraded to the new Ecotech Radion PROs... loving them so far. Got them for $899, cheaper than some of those hyped-up high-end fixtures being sold.

 

[Imbarrie]

To really support this we would have to know who is selling their LEDs and why.
Are they selling to upgrade to better LEDs?
Or are they selling to upgrade to another light?
Are they running low quality LEDs and upgrading to a different kind of light of a higher quality?
There must be a reason and I think they are all going to be different.

Somebody mentioned to me there are people selling a lot of things a lot of the time, and the same statement can be said for tanks, skimmers and reactors. And we know there are no replacements for those.

 

[magicalmets]

I have notice a lot of people are selling there AI in this forum. I love my Radion and don't plan to switch but the best tanks I seen were under MH. Bottom line is its all a preference but keep up the lighting war.