Opinions About LEDs

[JoeLoach1976]

Tom,

I came upon these LEDs some time back. Thought I might use them for a low-light planted tank.

http://www.current-usa.com/lighting/truelumen-pro-led-striplights

What is the current thought about LEDs? Do you need as much light with LEDs as with other forms of light? What about PAR?

Thanks!

 

[Gbark]

Hi

Obviously im not Tom,

I was trying to find the article in PFK about LED for you, but can't find it. Anyway the consensus i have come across is steer clear from LED for planted tanks.

Now Tom will come along and correct me

~G

 

[Gerryd]

Hi,

I am fairly certain that Tom is in fact switching to LED for all his tanks in the future.....

I will let him confirm however

 

[Matsyendra]

In the video in that link, at about 1:21 does anybody know what that amazing looking plant is in the middle of the tank? Green at base and red at top, is the red part a flower?. Beautiful, I think I need one of those.

 

[Htomassini]

I sell both current, ecoxotic and my own brand of lef lighting, so I will post PAR readings of all of these. I am using the ecoxotic and truelumen at the store to light up the fish merchandising tanks.

 

[DukeNJ]

LEDs are fine for planted tanks. You just have to choose ones suitable.

I have two LED fixtures - a Marineland Double Bright on one tank and an Archae led on a nano. Both are growing plants fine and look great with a bright, clean white color....not blue, not yellow, crisp white.

I dont know if either would grow a carpet in a large tank, but I have a variety of plants in my tanks and plants are healthy.

 

[AquaticJim]

Do LED's have the ripple effect of light waves like metal halide does?

 

[Tom Barr]

I'm actually working with a guy who;'s not far from me making some nice pendent LED's for replacement for all my tanks.

I might have 9:1 white mix with Blue. the whites will be all Cree's 6000K and then some nice 8000K, then maybe a red/blue and a green, but mostly all the whites, I want to add and remove different colors ona white base that can run the entire growth without the added colors, since the tank will have ample white.....I can dim those down and mix and match the red/blue/green combos.

I'll also have a nice controller with each and the fixtures will be white.

I'll let folks know the guy who does the building and then test and measure the fixtures as I get them made.
100% guarantee if you ain't happy.

He can offer a no# of options for planted tanks or reefs etc.
Prices are excellent also.

AquaticJim yes.....they do have that most favorite of the light effects, ripples.

 

[Htomassini]

The Led that I am carrying is a 48" fixture with 8k white 3 watt cree's, with a dimming power supply. On a 20" tank I can get 40-50 par at substrate. Will post pics as soon as I have them un packed, selling for $295 with 3 yr warranty.

 

[DukeNJ]

Look forward to the result and info Tom.

 

[DukeNJ]

Any update Tom? Who's our LED guy? Thinking its time for a custom fixture and working with someone with planted tank experience wold be nice.

 

[nazrm]

http://www.barrreport.com/showthrea...ant-to-make-it-yourself-Good-builder-availabe

He posted this not long ago

 

[DukeNJ]

Thanks nazm. I did stumble into that right after my post.

So how are the upgrade projects going? Any results to share yet?