Growth from LEDs

[marinelife]

I am at the year mark for my tank running with just LEDs here are some growth pictures.

May 07, 2010

November 19, 2010

From 1 26 2011

Feb 14, 2011

From 3 19 2011

June 19, 2010

November 19, 2010 - you can see both corals in the picture above.
On the first picture notice the growth at the base as well.

I am running
48 XP-G R5 Cool White LEDs
48 XR-E Royal Blue LEDs with 60degree optics
2 BoostLED Par30 s with 3red and 2 white leds

 

[marinelife]

Jan 26-2011

Feb 14, 2011

March 19, 2011

August 16, 2010

November 19, 2010

From 1 26 2011

Feb 14, 2011

March 19, 2011

 

[the6goat6man6]

What LEDs are you using, I just got some and burned everything. Hard lesson. I got the Evolutions

 

[marinelife]

I built my own with Cree LEDs
48 XP-G R5 Cool White LEDs
48 XR-E Royal Blue LEDs with 60degree optics
2 BoostLED Par30 s with 3red and 2 white leds

 

[the6goat6man6]

Cool, I wanted to build my own. but I figured for the price, warranty, and not haveing to do the work (I get very busy at times), I couldn't go wrong. Plus they were recommended and I did alot of research.

But thats awesome you built your own and are having such good results!

 

[marinelife]

yeah you have to watch the pre-made ones some are overpowering.

 

[the6goat6man6]

I even went with a lower wattage, 100wx2 over a 4ft tank(70gal). I was looking at 2 200w! I had no clue they would do what they did. But now I know and now I know what I have to do in the future, after I get the what ever is goingon straight?! I think I am going through a mini crash, snowball!

 

[Adonijah]

Marine, how much did your light build cost you in total?

 

[marinelife]

Heatsinks: 3 10.080 x 14" Heatsinks from heatsinkusa.com - $180.07 Shipped
LEDS: 4 x 24 LED kits which include the following items - $980 shipped

Parts used
Drill Bits: #30 for LED screws, 11/64" for Fan holders, 17/64" for Hangers
Screws are a Self Drilling Phillips 6-20 x 1/2
Washers are a number 6 nylon.
22 Gauge wire from Radio Shack
Thermal Compound from Radio Shack
Under $100

 

[Adonijah]

Whoa, I though LEDS were the cheap way to go..

 

[Skimmy]

I even went with a lower wattage, 100wx2 over a 4ft tank(70gal). I was looking at 2 200w! I had no clue they would do what they did. But now I know and now I know what I have to do in the future, after I get the what ever is goingon straight?! I think I am going through a mini crash, snowball!

honestly, theres nothing wrong with that light fixture, it was merely the fact that it wasnt acclimated properly to your system...
I dont think it had as much to do with your individual scenario as your tank upgrade did.
I suspect some other aspect of your upgrade/tank move disturbed the equlibrium somewhere, then adding powerful LED's without acclimation simultaneously had more of an impact because your corals were already in a weakened state... also, there may be some errant parameter in your system that you havent discovered yet. but good luck man, hopefully it all comes around soon.

 

[the6goat6man6]

Heatsinks: 3 10.080 x 14" Heatsinks from heatsinkusa.com - $180.07 Shipped
LEDS: 4 x 24 LED kits which include the following items - $980 shipped

Parts used
Drill Bits: #30 for LED screws, 11/64" for Fan holders, 17/64" for Hangers
Screws are a Self Drilling Phillips 6-20 x 1/2
Washers are a number 6 nylon.
22 Gauge wire from Radio Shack
Thermal Compound from Radio Shack
Under $100

Holy cow fish, thats way more than the Evolution LEDs!

 

[NWDiver]

Thanks for the growth pictures, very useful for folks thinking about moving to LED!

 

[user 2204]

LED's are not necessarly cheaper in the short term. Long term they're very cheap as you don't have to replace bulbs every 8-12 months, which can be very costly depending on the lighting.

 

[the6goat6man6]

LED's are not necessarly cheaper in the short term. Long term they're very cheap as you don't have to replace bulbs every 8-12 months, which can be very costly depending on the lighting.

Agreed!

 

[Somethings Fishy]

great job with documentation!

 

[marinelife]

Holy cow fish, thats way more than the Evolution LEDs!

I used 3 watt Cree LEDs, Evolutions are 1 watt I think

 

[the6goat6man6]

yes they are, not sure why. But I think that was so you get more spread with more lights, rather than 1/3, 1 light can't make up the spread of 3 lights spaced evenly? I think, that was my thought on that. I could be way off