LEDs - Good, Bad or just another addiction?

[pecan2phat]

I have also read that Pacific Sun is in the final testing stage for an updated software release for the newer models with the LCD screen and an firmware update for the original BT EX Pythons.
Seems like they are correcting some bugs and adding Profilux like features such as different color temperature for different times of the day.

 

[JHOV2324]

Great THREAD :grouphug: :beer:

 

[Raul]

I have heard that led bulbs loose like 30 percent of their power within their first year...

Is there any thruth to this?

 

[albano]

Alfie (albano) runs dual 72" I5s on his 300g 36" wide tank, maybe he can chime in on his experiences also.

Sorry, no help here...NO WATER, yet, in my 450g 40" wide tank, but I'm working on it! Very happy with 72" I5 solaris, on my 170G 27" tall tank...been using it for 5-6 months, everything still looks good, with good growth (no SPS). Day whites are at 75%, day blues are 100%...due to a problem with the hood, the unit is probably 10" above the water...which will not be the case with the 450g.

 

[azazel]

No, it's not true.. No matter what LED (power led) you mean, almost all types/brands can work about 10.000 hours with light stream drop no more than 10%.

For example - Seoul Semiconductor LEDs - nothing special on the market:

As you see, if your LED works at maximum power 12h/24 - it will take over 2 years to reach 10.000 hours. So after over 2 years your led will lose about 10% of its "light power'

 

[Raul]

Does this apply to power, intensity, par, ect ect?

What im asking is if there is anything that I should be worried about before the "10 years" it will take before I have to replace the unit....

With that model you gave 60,000 hours/by 8 hour light cycle/ 365 days in a year Its going to take 20+ years before the led is at 50%.... so where does the 10 years everyone is talking about come in?

I hope this post makes sense lol

No, it's not true.. No matter what LED (power led) you mean, almost all types/brands can work about 10.000 hours with light stream drop no more than 10%.

For example - Seoul Semiconductor LEDs - nothing special on the market:

As you see, if your LED works at maximum power 12h/24 - it will take over 2 years to reach 10.000 hours. So after over 2 years your led will lose about 10% of its "light power'

 

[azazel]

Par, Lumens, lux, candelas etc - no matter. It is only calculations - there is no POWER LED in the world, that has chance to really work 60.000 hrs

LEDs when used with all rules, are theoretically immortal , Its all about how the lamp is made. Good project will work, bad one - will burn out leds too early.

 

[afgun]

I don't know what junction temperature that 50% degradation chart is calculated at, but assuming you don't drive the lamp at 100% all of the time that it's on and it's properly cooled, I would suspect you'd go a lot longer than 50k hours before output is down to 50% of new.

What would be interesting is a monthly measure of Lux and PAR with current drive rates and measures of temperature... to know how the lamps degrade in actual use conditions.

If someone local doesn't have a PAR meter I'll buy one for my Deimos. Wonder if anyone has a Lux meter local for me to borrow...

 

[azazel]

Charts like that are made for nominal values. For 1Watt LED bulbs, it is 350mA of current and about 120-125* Tjunction.


another example - Citizen LED http://ce.citizen.co.jp/lighting_led/pdf/en/ref_rel/CL-L102-C3_LifetimePrediction_P463_0409.pdf

Most important thing with leds is thermal management. If you are able to keep led structure as cool as possible - it is bigger chance to achieve calculated lifetime.

Yes, youre right, With smaller than nominal current, or with nominal current but modulated (PWM method) you can extend leds lifetime because of less heat on junction.

 

[mori30]

Hi mori30,
Looking at the Panorama fixtures, they run $760 for a 27.5" unit with 72 one watt LEDs. I don't know if they started offering the option of the 453nm modules and definitely haven't seen or read where you can even control any of the six individual LED strips. That being said, you not only have a non-controllable fixture but also cannot do basic things like manual color temperature adjustment or sunrise/sunset for blues only.
The Panorama does not seem like a good choice IMO, if you do not need controllable features, I would take a look at the EcoLamp.
I would look into the Pacific Sun 90w units because your 75g is not too deep or tall.

ok i was thinking the same after i saw all the stuff u guys say about controls and stuff like that. so now i really do want to be able to control the lights specially iam falling in love with the weather simulation program, that some of this lamps have,, now i JUST got a 110X tank as well. and its 31" tall. my 75gal its 21" tall so there its a diference of about 10 inches would u still recommend the PS 90w? and for both 75 and 110 how many modules?

thanks for the answers guys

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

There is one thing that is driving me nuts about these lights. Nobody seems to give you a straight answer to this question: I have "x" tank what fixture will be sufficient for it?

 

[rafal07013]

my opinion:

48" tank: if you have mixed corals and no light demending SPS - go with 1 master and 1 slave 90W unit.

48" tank SPS: 1 master and 1 slave 120W unit.

also in the near future you will see 48" version of LED and T5s.

72" tank: go with 3 120W units or 60" Deimos.
72" tank: if you have truly SPS heavy go with 1 master and 3 slave units and use them perpendicular to the front glass.

smaller tanks like 40g etc - either one 90W or 120W unit.

I hope it helps. I have 210g tank and will go with Deimos unit.

There is one thing that is driving me nuts about these lights. Nobody seems to give you a straight answer to this question: I have "x" tank what fixture will be sufficient for it?

 

[rafal07013]

it depends on the corals you plan to keep. for SPS you will need stronger light so I would go with 120W in both cases. if the light is too strong, you can lower the intensity, but you cant do 120 from 90, but you can do 90 from 120W. also, if want to see light in action - Absolutely Fish will have the units on display when the current order will come in so stop by take a look for yourself.

ok i was thinking the same after i saw all the stuff u guys say about controls and stuff like that. so now i really do want to be able to control the lights specially iam falling in love with the weather simulation program, that some of this lamps have,, now i JUST got a 110X tank as well. and its 31" tall. my 75gal its 21" tall so there its a diference of about 10 inches would u still recommend the PS 90w? and for both 75 and 110 how many modules?

thanks for the answers guys

 

[lmichael]

hello,

when i want to grow up sps in my 115 gallon tank i need 3 120W Units? The size of my tank is 120x60x60 centimeter.

thx
michael

my opinion:

48" tank: if you have mixed corals and no light demending SPS - go with 1 master and 1 slave 90W unit.

48" tank SPS: 1 master and 1 slave 120W unit.

also in the near future you will see 48" version of LED and T5s.

72" tank: go with 3 120W units or 60" Deimos.
72" tank: if you have truly SPS heavy go with 1 master and 3 slave units and use them perpendicular to the front glass.

smaller tanks like 40g etc - either one 90W or 120W unit.

I hope it helps. I have 210g tank and will go with Deimos unit.

 

[rickytsui]

i just got led on my 30g to see how i like it but so far i love the light btw i dont know how to post pics up on mr so i ask wingo to post up the pics for me

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

i just got led on my 30g to see how i like it but so far i love the light btw i dont know how to post pics up on mr so i ask wingo to post up the pics for me

Np. Here you go.

Were the pics taken at the light's max intensity?

 

[rickytsui]

yeah this one is on max but is way whiter in person i suck taking pics

 

[mori30]

48" tank SPS: 1 master and 1 slave 120W unit.

its that 48" deep or wide?

cause i need to know the depth value,, my 110x its 48" wide but its 31" high

if 2 x 120w master & slave will get me enough light AT the bottom of the tank? then thats what i will get.

edit: i also have a 75gal witch its 48" wide 21" high, will 2 x 90w will do to get enough par at the bottom?

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

yeah this one is on max but is way whiter in person i suck taking pics

If your camera has a function in the white balance, try to set it to higher temperature like 10,000K and shoot with P setting. That may help to lower the blue tone and may be more correct towards the real color.

 

[rafal07013]

michael - go with two units (1 master/1 slave). in case you feel it is not enough order 3rd one. i may even wait for 120cm unit with T5 suplementation.

hello,

when i want to grow up sps in my 115 gallon tank i need 3 120W Units? The size of my tank is 120x60x60 centimeter.

thx
michael