Ideas for LED supplementation

[Reefer Rob]

I'm also finding that some of my SPS have gone colorless under LEDs... but then some have never looked better.

Most likely in my case it is just neglect and way too much light. I've never cooked so many corals before.

Originally Posted by Milad

which LEDs are you using?
what colors are you missing?

Its all about knowing what wavelengths are going to bring out which colors. People using a cool white and royal blue combo will loose reds, oranges, pinks but their greens will explode.

check out the thread on full spectrum and OCW (Ocean coral white) LEDs.

If you are looking for color, thats the best place to check. Makes a huge difference.


FYI whoever is telling you its a technology thing is blowing smoke up your @$$. Light is light, it doesnt matter if its T5, MH, or LEDs. Its about the wavelengths. match the wavelength and locus of a MH with LEDs, its going to be the same light and will have the same effect.

But as the thread linked above will show you, MH are cookie cutter and you are stuck with their attributes. With a bit of testing (as the guys in that thread have done) you can take the right LEDs and the right ratios and produce some incredible colors in corals (AND FISH!)

Crap Milad, couldn't you have referenced a longer thread?

The OCW LEDs look interesting, but I'm half way through and I haven't got to the "I added the extra colors to the NW, RB LEDs and I'm totally amazed" posts yet.

Any feedback from people who have actually done this?

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I'm also finding that some of my SPS have gone colorless under LEDs... but then some have never looked better.

This kinda makes me think that we would all just be happy if we started a tank with LEDs rather than switching a tank to LEDs. There are definitely several SPS out there that we generally struggle to keep nice colors, and then think of all the brown SPS that we assume are just brown naturally. Maybe some of these corals that don't do as well as we would like under MH or T5 would be something crazy under LED?

A fine example is when you purchase a wild caught or ocean cultured SPS coral and move it to your tank. Chances are it will look much different in a few weeks under the new lighting. So if natural light vs MH or T5 is so different then maybe MH or T5 vs LED is also very different...who know? Time will tell!

[Milad]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

I'm also finding that some of my SPS have gone colorless under LEDs... but then some have never looked better.

Most likely in my case it is just neglect and way too much light. I've never cooked so many corals before.



Crap Milad, couldn't you have referenced a longer thread?

The OCW LEDs look interesting, but I'm half way through and I haven't got to the "I added the extra colors to the NW, RB LEDs and I'm totally amazed" posts yet.

Any feedback from people who have actually done this?

OCW is basically Deep Red, cool blue and Turquoise
That was introduced a few months before that thread was started. Half way through (about page 60000 billion) the OCW got introduced so instead of doing 3 individual stars, people started just getting the OCW because the way we placed the LEDs and the wavelengths we used, they produce a white light to your eyes and brighten up your tank. hence the "ocean coral white" name.

So what happens with the OCW is your tank gets brighter because some of the wavelengths of the Royals help produce the white and also anything around your tank and in your tank that is orange/red/pink will explode.