Has Anyone used LED Supplimental Actinics and Metal Halides?

FishyFishy! · #1 06-13-2012, 06:20 PM

I have 3 250W pendants mounted in my canopy on my new reef build. I'm looking into Actinic Supplimental lighting now. I really love VHO lighting for some odd reason, and was going to do some retrofit kits, but now I'm thinking I might try out LED.

My main question is, how many LED's would I need to have good supplimental lighting?

I've been looking at these units from Rapid LED, which have a 48" heatsink, and 24 LED's. I would buy 2 of them and place them on either sides of the halides. Would 48 LED's do the trick?

http://www.rapidled.com/24-led-actinic-supplement-kit/

FishyFishy! · #2 06-13-2012, 06:39 PM

I actually just saw that Ecoxotic has new 24W 48" stunner strips available on Modular LED as well. I could use 2-4 of these as well. Any suggestions?

NU-2reef · #3 06-13-2012, 06:53 PM

I'll be doing the similar with halide and LED but I don't think the stunner strips will do much other than moonlight effects. I'm thinking of a few par38 style bulbs or ecoxotic panorama pro strip on both sides of the halide. I think ecoxotic made the panorama pro for uses that most people hoped the stunner strips would do. I'll do my homework when the time comes but thought I'd share my thoughts.

Cheers.

RuGlu6 · #4 06-13-2012, 07:14 PM

Stunner strip does not say how many watts these LEDs are but it might do more then just moonlight imo.

Here is less expencive alternative, its 18W per 45" strip and only $64.
Hard to say if 2 or 4 may be enough for suplemental lighting
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Submersible-p/56223.htm

SeaHorse_Fanatic · #5 06-13-2012, 07:25 PM

Yes, with my Aqualight Pro, I actually used two blue LED strip lights (17w each) instead of the PC actinics. Worked really well & colours popped.

Din Gior · #6 06-13-2012, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeaHorse_Fanatic

Yes, with my Aqualight Pro, I actually used two blue LED strip lights (17w each) instead of the PC actinics. Worked really well & colours popped.

What kind LED strip do you use?

FishyFishy! · #7 06-13-2012, 08:17 PM

Yeah I'm really looking something to rival T5's or VHO's. It's tough to compare wattages because they are so different. 48 3W Cree Royal blues would be pretty bright I think (In the Rapid LED option)

NU-2reef · #8 06-13-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RuGlu6

Stunner strip does not say how many watts these LEDs are but it might do more then just moonlight imo.

Here is less expencive alternative, its 18W per 45" strip and only $64.
Hard to say if 2 or 4 may be enough for suplemental lighting
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Submersible-p/56223.htm

I have stunner strips and trust me they are not noticeable with halides on. As a moon light it works fine.

FishyFishy! · #9 06-13-2012, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NU-2reef

I have stunner strips and trust me they are not noticeable with halides on. As a moon light it works fine.

I also have one of those aqua traders LED strips, and I use it as moonlight only on a small tank. You can barely see the blue light in a dark room when the lights are off. So those are out of the question.

But as for the stunner strips, I suppose the panorama pro ones are supposed to be a lot better, but you pay a good price for them.

I should also mention this will be on a 155 Gallon 6 foot bowfront SPS reef, so they are gonna have to be decent lights.

Madmak · #10 06-13-2012, 09:14 PM

When you pick up the tang and wrasse you can see how my Halides, T5s, and PCs mix for color. I have 3 150W halides, 4 96W actinic PCs, 6 blue plus 2 purple plus, 2 actinic, and 2 aquablue special 39W ATI T5s on a 6' tank. I too think the ultimate light will likely be a mix of halides and LEDs some day.