I am now a true believer that LEDs do and can grow Acropora corals or corals at that. And my clams seems to love it also.
Here are some growth pics that I took of the same acro (don’t know what kind it is since I got it brown from a $10 frag rack) but, it grew and color up quite well under the DIY LEDs that I build for my new tank.
Don’t mind the Aiptasia, those will be taken care of before it goes into my new tank.
Aug 13 2012
Aug 31 2012
Sep 16 2012
Oct 8 2012
Lookin real nice A
Nice A, good growth, great color and minimal electricity usage… and if they go the 10 years without needing replaced like they say, why would you buy anything else…
not to mention the “shimmer” and insane fluorescents from the coral !
I’m glad you’re getting good results YahoO
I can’t wait to diy one… one of these days :
:
Thanks Bill and John. Yea, first I was skapticle about using LED. Now, it’s working very well for me, no more hot MH. Actually, now my tank is cold and I have to start using my heater early this season.
A, have you tested the par with your new leds? i’m curious how the numbers compare to our other led members.
and, you probably already said it somewhere, but are you using strictly leds for the 420 actinic spectrum as well, or do you have supplemental lighting for that?
if you havnt checked par, i’ll send the meter home with you from the nxt meeting ::
Wow, that is fast growth. of course it also really helps that you have good chemistry and healthy biology.
[quote=“saltcreep, post:5, topic:5876”]
A, have you tested the par with your new leds? i’m curious how the numbers compare to our other led members.
and, you probably already said it somewhere, but are you using strictly leds for the 420 actinic spectrum as well, or do you have supplemental lighting for that?
if you havnt checked par, i’ll send the meter home with you from the nxt meeting ::[/quote]
No, I haven’t done the par reading yet. Please bring the meter to the meeting, I’ll test it.
The light are all LED no other supplemental lightings. I just told the company that I bought the chips from that I want 14-18K look to the lighting. And they just send me the spectrum chip (10K, 65K, 45K, RB, 420NM, Green, Pink) and I just arrange it to my liking.
[quote=“kaptken, post:6, topic:5876”]
Wow, that is fast growth. of course it also really helps that you have good chemistry and healthy biology. [/quote]
Thanks Ken. Yes, I believe water chemistry does help with their liveability. By the way, I up my biopellet from the recommended level a little. Now my nitrate is at 5-10 ppm from 20 ppm after all these years.
A… did you ever dose vodka or sugar before the pellets… if so i’m wondering if you had any results, or if it was just a pain to dose daily?
Thats good A, your nitrates are dropping. you got me curious, so i just tested the nitrates in the frag tank. looks like zero. or 1 ppm. just the slightest darkening yellow. i think my pellets are working too.
Hey A, would you do me a favor and do some growth picture sequences of those frags i gave you. those should be good.
[quote=“saltcreep, post:8, topic:5876”]
A… did you ever dose vodka or sugar before the pellets… if so i’m wondering if you had any results, or if it was just a pain to dose daily?[/quote]
I never did dose vodka or sugar but, I did add vinegar to the kalkwasser mix before when I use to manually mix the batch. It helps make the kalkwasser more potent and of course the bacteria build up. Then I was having cyano break out so, I stop the vinegar all together, stick with just kalkwasser and got the TLF reactor for it. IMHO John if you looking for a bacteria nitrate reducer, a reactor is the only way to go. Save time and money and I think it really does work. Let me know if you want to go that route, I can show you some tricks on the cheap TLF reactor that works.
[quote=“kaptken, post:9, topic:5876”]
Thats good A, your nitrates are dropping. you got me curious, so i just tested the nitrates in the frag tank. looks like zero. or 1 ppm. just the slightest darkening yellow. i think my pellets are working too.
Hey A, would you do me a favor and do some growth picture sequences of those frags i gave you. those should be good. [/quote]
That is good to hear Ken. I forgot to ask you what brand or type of bio-plastics are you using. I was just drooling and mesmerized when I was at your house to ask.
Also, thanks for the frags. I sure will with the pics. By the way all are doing well in the tank.
Great to see someone that is using LED lighting with such great results. Very smart move,IMO, switching to LED’s. >IDEA<
Continued success!!! :BEER
[quote=“houndsbayman, post:11, topic:5876”]
Great to see someone that is using LED lighting with such great results. Very smart move,IMO, switching to LED’s. >IDEA<
Continued success!!! :BEER[/quote]
Thanks John. And I wouldn’t go back to anything else.
I am using TLF bio pellets. A. so far so good.
Awesome growth.
I am using the china ebay LEDs but have good acro growth.
I am also running TLF biopellets with 0 ppm nitrates and minimal algae growth. I love biopellets 
I’ll take some updated pics of my SPS growth today or tomorrow and post them up too.
I believe carbon dosing can work as well. but the problem ive stated before is we might only dose once a day. that causes waves and swings in the bacteria/nutrient balance. biopellet Rxs run continuouusly and smooth that curve out. so they would be more effective by maintaining balance. less hassle too.
Yes, the addition of the newer 400-430 nm UV LEDs and some red and green spectrums have completed the LED PUR curves. Before this year they were lacking, which is why something like VHO 420 actinics were needed to fill the gaps. but judging by some of the new LED builds here in the club, LEDs can now cover the light needs of corals pretty good.
I agree with both of your statement Ken. It is a lot easier to run a reactor in a long run, less maintainace.
As for the LEDs; I have seen recently overseas companies that are making affordable LEDs fixtures, are making full spectrum fixtures with it being dim able as well. Not just those white and blue LEDs that you typically sees. Of course those high ends like ecotech radion has been around but, look at the rediculous price for one.
Hey all just wanted to let you know i posted some growth pics here:
http://delreefclub.org/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=28&topic=6125.60
Didn’t want to double post a long picture post