WMAS Discussion Forum : LF LED instead of T5HO

WMAS Discussion Forum : LF LED instead of T5HO http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:59:42 +0000 Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:07:52 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=43126 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : Come see my LEDs that are just...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=380439&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#380439 Author: Laird
Subject: 43126
Posted: October 16 2010 at 7:07pm

Come see my LEDs that are just the whites and blues and tell me you don't get all the colors to come out. ]]> Sat, 16 Oct 2010 19:07:52 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=380439&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#380439 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : My tank has just as much color...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375950&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375950 Author: thefu
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 15 2010 at 5:44pm

My tank has just as much color as the above photo...at least to my eyes and those that have seen it. The reds, yellows and oranges pop like crazy on my superman and poker-star montis, red planet, and bird of paradise birdsnest. Cameras do not work like people's eyes. I do not know exactly why it is harder to photos of LED lit tanks, it just is. It is not that it can't be done, I just see less good photos of tanks I know look way better in person.

If you wanted to add other colors of LEDs, you could do it easily and you could adjust the spectrum with dimming. Many new commercial fixtures are doing this. I have not yet seen any will wow me in comparison to the standard AquaIllumination or properly built DIY fixture. Again, I think T-5 with some LED for shimmer will always have the best color balance for a while, but I like the cost advantage (heat, bulbs, power) and environmental advantage at the price of a bit less spectrum that doesn't really bother me...this is even more the case the larger you go in aquarium size.

Oh, and back to the thread topic. LED would be a great solution in this application even if it did not meet your personal strict needs on spectrum coverage. Most that would see the tank would consider it perfectly lit I am sure.

Edited by thefu - September 15 2010 at 5:46pm]]> Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:44:41 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375950&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375950 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : Does anyone have any fixtures...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375944&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375944 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 15 2010 at 5:24pm

Confused

Does anyone have any fixtures that have more than white and blue?
Sorry, but if it doesn't take good pictures then it's not going to look good to ordinary people.
It's gotta make the tank look colorful like this with a tad more fluorescent greens and reds:

Edited by Mark Peterson - September 15 2010 at 5:26pm]]> Wed, 15 Sep 2010 17:24:54 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375944&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375944 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : Crazy Tarzan is right, the best...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375801&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375801 Author: thefu
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 2:50pm

Crazy Tarzan is right, the best set ups use two or three colors and dimming on each color then you can get the color balance you like. Also, you can read all you want online and see pics online, but in reality you have to see it in action on someones tank and play with the dimming and then make up your mind if is right for you (LEDs are notoriously hard to photograph). I have a simple setup on my sons 14g rimless nano and I have a much bigger configuration on my 210 with dimming controlled electronically via my Apex controller. I can instantly change the lighting look from my iphone while standing in front of it. I do think that you can get a much fuller spectrum with something like T5 but I really like the flexibility, power consumption, and lack of bulb replacement costs.

If anyone ever wants to come over, see my tanks, and chat about LED options, just send me a PM.

Or, if you want to learn more online, just google utah aquarium led

]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:50:03 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375801&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375801 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : Mark, the cree's are about...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375794&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375794 Author: Crazy Tarzan
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 2:27pm

Mark, the cree's are about the size of a quarter mounted on discs. You can group them together to help with spot lighting.

Consider this--you can get Royal Blue (RB), Cool White (CW 6500k+) and Warm White (WW ~2500-4000k), and put one of each in groups of 3, and wire each color separately with a dimmable ballast. They you simply install dimming controls on one end of the fixture and fin tune the color to what you want, while picking up most of the light spectrum.

I know if I run only my CW my tank looks very much like when you are in the shallows snorkeling in the ocean and the colors change noticeably from when I'm running both CW and RB together.

]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 14:27:53 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375794&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375794 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : from what ive seen the degrees...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375786&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375786 Author: rwccomptech
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 1:59pm

from what ive seen the degrees of the optics should help with the blending alot, hopefully if i need to i cause just add an acrylic/ glass lens and bevel it a bit to help with the blending]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:59:59 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375786&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375786 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : Oh that's what I call the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375784&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375784 Author: Mark Peterson
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 1:53pm

Oh that's what I call the light spectrum. Wavelength is one word, that's why I couldn't figure it out.

The biggest concern I have right now is that individual LED's emit only sufficient intensity of such a narrow band of the spectrum/WL map that it would take a lot of different colored LED's to give the light that I want not only to give proper color rendering of the coral but also provide the right wavelengths needed to thrive.
]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 13:53:18 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375784&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375784 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : LOL! This thread just went right...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375776&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375776 Author: Ryan Thompson
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 12:46pm

LOL!

This thread just went right downhill in like 4 posts.

To rwc,

Good luck getting your LEDs to blend properly with them scattered all around. A good high powered UV LED costs about 45 bucks for each one. It has also been proven that UV is not needed for coloration of corals.

The major drawback to LEDs is that they are so limited in spectrum. Couple that with LEDs being a point source light and you have issues with the light blending properly. You will get spotlights of color all over the tank. I've seen people try to add red and other colored LEDs and they never turn out right.

I hope LEDs take over aquarium lighting but until they can create an LED with a much broader spectrum, they will always fall short in my opinion.

But I don't know anything about the subject of lighting.]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:46:03 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375776&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375776 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : this is just weird.... "ask...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375775&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375775 Author: bur01014
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 12:30pm

this is just weird....

"ask questions that you can answer yourself".....

where am i?

Edited by bur01014 - September 14 2010 at 12:32pm]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:30:13 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375775&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375775 <![CDATA[LF LED instead of T5HO : ouch!! I guess we are all experts...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375772&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375772 Author: Lewy
Subject: 43126
Posted: September 14 2010 at 12:24pm

ouch!! I guess we are all experts at something.]]> Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:24:58 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=43126&PID=375772&title=lf-led-instead-of-t5ho#375772