Just thought I would share with all you.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...d-to-be-highly-suitable-for-coral-aquaculture
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blo...d-to-be-highly-suitable-for-coral-aquaculture
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LED test suitable for coral growth
- Thread starter MadReefer
- Start date
Thanks for posting. I have been on the fence to buy a setup for a DIY project for the 15g.. just seems like overkill given my T5's, but I am tired of buying bulbs and it keep hearing stories of folks going back to T5's with added in LEDs.
Have they fixed the problem with LED's dimming over a short amount of time? I remember seeing those old HD 1watt LED fixtures as dim as anything after a year or so. I know it's not an apples to apples comparision, but i've even lost 8 LED bulbs I picked up for general house use - Phillips brand.
Have they fixed the problem with LED's dimming over a short amount of time? I remember seeing those old HD 1watt LED fixtures as dim as anything after a year or so. I know it's not an apples to apples comparision, but i've even lost 8 LED bulbs I picked up for general house use - Phillips brand.
Hmm interesting that you lost LED bulbs so quickly. Is it possible that your bulbs are overheating somehow? That's the only thing that really kills LED's. They're designed to last for years and years. Also, if you look at the data sheets for the DIY LED's you find everything you need to know about power output drop off over time, and all that lovely fun stuff. LED's are supposed to be much more consistent for longer periods of times then T5's and that's the appeal along with the efficiency/heat generation.
I know.. that's the theory behind them, but stuff happens and not all parts are equal. Btw, these were all in candle style light fixtures, so the base was down and pointing the light up, so I guess heat is possible given the heatsink positioning. But, since they sit 2 1/2 feet from the ceiling it seems unlikely.
Anyway, one of the biggest reason I can see for building yourself a DIY kit, besides cost and flexability, is that people state that you can replace bulbs when they go bad vs. having to trash the fixture or try to figure out how to take apart the fixture/design to rig a replacement.
So, if people are talking about replacing broken bulbs then i'm guessing that it happens. I also notice that there is no mentioning of a warrantee on CREE circuits.
Anyway, one of the biggest reason I can see for building yourself a DIY kit, besides cost and flexability, is that people state that you can replace bulbs when they go bad vs. having to trash the fixture or try to figure out how to take apart the fixture/design to rig a replacement.
So, if people are talking about replacing broken bulbs then i'm guessing that it happens. I also notice that there is no mentioning of a warrantee on CREE circuits.
I had my DIY leds for about a year and while they do grow corals I had to replace a few of mines because of saltcreep. I now have seal the solder joints with liquid rubber and they seem to be holding up better. I had t5 on a smaller tank 20gl and while it does grow better then my leds I still like the fact I won't have to worry about changing bulbs for a few years.
I'm guessing that you just had the led's pasted to an aluminum heatsink exposed? From what I have read, it seems like growth is dependent on how you mix and match the LED types (royal blue vs bright white vs violet vs white etc..)
So, for those that are running them.. how does the heat compare to the T5's? I am bad about changing bulbs so the biggest thing for me is really heat in a small room.