Ideas for LED supplementation

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

They have a mix of 70/40. Right now they're in my canopy, so no choice on height. I'm working on that. The disco doesn't really get me anymore, I've gotten mostly used to it. But I do plan to try different heights, but have wife imposed restrictions on how that can be done

Oh, you got the ones with the 40s in them. That's even worse! Bah, it's not the wife's tank...

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

Bah, it's not the wife's tank...

Agreed. MY tank is in HER livingroom.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Reefer Rob

Oh... Ok I thought you said some of your corrals had lost color. In my case some of my corals lost flesh

Well, more changed color. If you look at Seacare's banner that scrolls across the top here, you can see a pink with blue milli. I had it like that in my tank for months, until switching to LED. Now's it's a really nice solid blue milli.
and my efflo at the bottom of the tank is duller than it was but that could be intensity related.

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Agreed. MY tank is in HER livingroom.

Tell her that her room is the KITCHEN!!! HAHAHAHA

[mike31154]

Originally Posted by Delphinus

Glad I'm not the only one who finds the colour separation a bit of an issue. Every LED tank I have seen has had this and once I notice it, no matter how nice everything else may be, I get a little disappointed feeling.

I wonder how the multichip pendents compare though. These still intrigue me. I still would like to try a few and replace one of my Radiums at a time and then run in parallel to see how they stack up. I'm saving my pennies for this at this time, although it probably means I'm pre-empting a possibly more-better investment of a controller (yeah I run everything old skool still) in the meantime.

My DIY build uses 3 rows (9 per row) of 10 watt multi chip LEDs spaced about 4 & 1/2 inches apart. Mixture of cool white, white, blue & royal blue. I use no optics & the LEDs are just over 6 inches above the water. I see no disco effect or colour separation with this configuration. Fixture has been up & running since beginning of April this year. I only have a few SPS & they're doing fine, although they're not exactly prize colonies. Switching from MH/T5HO combo doesn't appear to have affected the growth rate or look of my SPS pieces. LPS, softies & other livestock are doing great. No way I would consider going back to the MH/T5 fixture.

If I had it to do again, I might go with fewer, larger multi chip LEDs with optics, hung higher above the tank. Mainly due to simplicity and less wiring etc. I'm certain that the single chip 3 watt LEDs on stars will eventually be phased out & eclipsed by fixtures with the larger multi chips such as those on some Orphek & Kessil models. Multi colour, multi chip LEDs are already available & development is underway on chips that are more specific to reef aquarium needs with the colour mix. Since the different colour LEDs are closely packed together on a single chip, colour separation is virtually eliminated. The biggest drawback at the moment is that a single 100 watt or larger multi chip is pretty costly & if you cook it, you'll be out a few $$$s.

A certain Mr. Wilson who owns a reefing shop in Ontario & posts regularly on RC is at the forefront of this type of development having had a multi chip custom designed for some pendants he built. A tank in his shop is lit with these pendants running large multi colour, multichip LEDs. Says it's a bit too blue for something he'd hang over his tank at home, but apparently it's a look folks are attracted to when they walk into a shop? Below is the photo from his photobucket album.



So yeah, for the patient folks out there, won't be long & more choices for custom colour multi chip high power LED pendants should be hitting the shelves. As mentioned, Orphek, Kessil & several other manufacturers already offer fixtures of this type. Haven't checked the prices lately, but probably in line with the other high end players like EcoTech, AI, et al. Or if you want to tackle a DIY, many of the multi chips are readily avaible on fleabay & other online vendors. That's where I scored all my 10 watters.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Myka

Tell her that her room is the KITCHEN!!! HAHAHAHA

No, my room is the kitchen, I prefer she doesn't go in there. Maybe I should move the tank to the kitchen? lol

[Bblinks]

Brad, I think you should try 3 X 24inch fiji pinks to supplement in between the sols. It will be the most cost effective way. I also need you to come by one day and check out my tank. I bumped the whites to 80% at the peak and 100% for both blues, to be my surprise I am getting more colors out of some of the paler ones. To be honest I love my sols and if I can get the red spectrum covered then they should be fine. you need to come by!!!

[TimT]

Originally Posted by Myka

Tell her that her room is the KITCHEN!!! HAHAHAHA

Oh that sounds dangerous... frying pan incoming. On the positive side you would never have to worry about Radiums or sps again ;-)

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Bblinks

Brad, I think you should try 3 X 24inch fiji pinks to supplement in between the sols. It will be the most cost effective way. I also need you to come by one day and check out my tank. I bumped the whites to 80% at the peak and 100% for both blues, to be my surprise I am getting more colors out of some of the paler ones. To be honest I love my sols and if I can get the red spectrum covered then they should be fine. you need to come by!!!

What color is your pink and blue milli?

I have mine at 85/100/100, so very close with brighter white. I should be over first week of December. I should stop by

[Bblinks]

Mostly blue with a bit of red....hence the T5 fiji pink.