The difference that LEDs can make

**Cliff** · 11-29-2011, 10:34 PM

I just remembered that I had some old pics to compare with so I thought I would post them.

Here are some pics of my clove polyps under T5 lighting. I had two actinic bulbs, one Fiji purple two super blue (18K), and one white bulb (18K)

Below is the same clove polyps three months later under LEDs. They grew along the side of the rocks and on top of some of them. Right now I have 3 aqua illumination SOL fixtures, each with eight 3W white cree bulbs, eight 3W super blue cree bulbs, and eight 3W royal blue (actinic) bulbs. Right now I’m running the with the white at 40%, blue at 80% and the royal blue at 75%.

Now, this is not a completely objective comparison, but it is close. The clove polyps did not change color over time, at least I did not notice it if they did up until the time I added the LEDs. There was a noticeable change in appearance that happened the minute I turned on the LEDs for the first time. When the room is filled with natural sunlight (before the lights come one) the clove pulps still look the same to me.

I would assume that not all of the differences in the photos is due to the LEDs, but most of it would be. I know the rock looks different but that would be due to the dry rock becoming live over time along with the coralline algae growth on it more than it would be due to the lighting change. I did take each before and after pic with a different camera which is why the after pic has a little more clarity to it. I used the same,(or at least what I believe to be the same) settings on the after camera as I did on the before camera. I would assume the difference in after camera would affect how the color is being displayed by a small amount.

I don’t really have any other picks with corals which did not change color on their own as a part of normal growth. These pics are the closest to the color differences that I can visually see. This is why that in the future, all lighting that I buy will be LEDs.

**Goes to 11!** · 11-29-2011, 10:43 PM

Completely cool Clove compare/contrast Cliff, Congrats!

Nothing like shining a bit of light on the subject.

Also, Alliteration is cool!

**gm72** · 11-29-2011, 10:44 PM

That's just awesome!

**sheamurai** · 11-29-2011, 10:51 PM

Wow, thats a stunning difference, Cliff.

I will be keeping my eye out for deals on used LEDs now fer sure.

**smaug** · 11-29-2011, 10:54 PM

Some cloves look totally different under leds. At my lfs I almost bout a clump of cloves that had stunning amber coloration and truly looked like the were made from living gold. Iasked the girl to turn off the blues in the led light and have just a small mix of blue with the rest white . Those cloves turned into the blandest looking things ever!

**Ellen4God** · 11-29-2011, 11:06 PM

Wow! Crazy difference!

**labnjab** · 11-30-2011, 04:32 AM

Awesome cloves. Wanna sell some, lol. I haven't seen anything like that locally

I too have noticed a great difference since switching to led. I went from metal halide so it wasn't quite as drastic as coming from t5, like yours...but the colors on everything seem to really pop and all together look better. Sadly I still can't get my camera to take any pictures that due it justice...maybe I'm buy a film camera and see if that does any better, lol

Have you noticed a difference in tank temp or evaporation Cliff? I know you had t-5, but t-5's actually give off a little bit of heat. Our tank never fluctuates more then .2 degrees since switching to the leds and we went from 2-3 gallons a day evaporation down to 1/2 a gallon a day

**genocidex** · 11-30-2011, 04:49 AM

wow.... so cliff.... are you coming to the light side of leds? XD i love seeing awesome results like this makes me love them more (leds that is)

but those cloves looks spectacular.

**Cliff** · 11-30-2011, 10:15 AM

Originally Posted by labnjab

Have you noticed a difference in tank temp or evaporation Cliff? I know you had t-5, but t-5's actually give off a little bit of heat. Our tank never fluctuates more then .2 degrees since switching to the leds and we went from 2-3 gallons a day evaporation down to 1/2 a gallon a day

As I also added a enclosed canopy at the same time, I have noticed a difference. The enclosed top along with the reduced heat has cut down the evaporation a lot. I went from about 1.5 to 2 gallons to about 1 gallon. I also have noticed a more stable temp never changing more than about 0.5F

**feenxfire** · 12-29-2011, 04:54 AM

What a stunning difference! I will definitely be looking further into this. I wonder if there is a list that documents different color combinations working best and worst for specific coral.....