LED Lighting

Anyone have any thoughts/experience using LED lighting. I have recently seen it being used on the aquariums at the local Walmart, seems like pretty interesting lighting.

Funny you should ask this. I was just at Aquatics Unlimited in Greenfield, WI tonight and I was talking to one of the store employees about a tank they were selling with LED lighting. They said that it doesn't grow algae as much as with a regular light. I don't know if that's because the light is less intense, or a different wavelength, but either way it might be cool to try!

Brian

I think LED lighting is generally used aesthetic purposes. It's possible that there are some being used to grow plants, but they are most likely very expensive. LED lights emit a very narrow spectrum, So the light would need to be adjusted to the type of plant, and would most likely cut algal growth, again depending on the spectrum.

I do have the Current usa lunar lights (led's) and they look SWEET at night in my 10g tank (theres a neat shimmering effect) and in my crested gecko terrarium.

edited to add:
Oh yeah, LED's would penetrate to the bottom of the tank, will less light being wasted out the side. With more lumens per watt, they'd be the most environmentally responsible choice. Oh and they last WAY longer and don't have mercury in them, so if you just need to see your fish its probably the way to go.

Edited by SlimSanta, 14 October 2009 - 02:29 AM.

It is being used with freshwater and saltwater. Lot's of DIY info in the links below.

freshwater planted
http://www.plantedta...ed-fixture.html

saltwater reef
http://www.nano-reef...howtopic=186982

Oh yeah, LED's would penetrate to the bottom of the tank, will less light being wasted out the side. With more lumens per watt, they'd be the most environmentally responsible choice. Oh and they last WAY longer and don't have mercury in them, so if you just need to see your fish its probably the way to go.

Their environmental benefit is likely a product of extended bulb life. They don't produce more lumens per watt than T5s or MH lighting. A significant amount of the energy used to power LEDs is turned into heat. I think I read that LEDs have higher PAR ratings at the same wattage, but I'd have to double check that.

Given the present cost of metal halide and T5 lighting vs the pre-built LED lighting outside of DIYers it's really only a matter of curiosity for those with a lot of money to spend. I did see a really awesome display of a fixture that was mimicking lighting patterns over some ocean. However, it looks like a really fun DIY project for a small tank. Unless you really like working with electronics I suspect that a large array will quickly land you in solder hell, but for a half dozen diodes it is probably manageable and a worthwhile project.

I agree with Clayton if you have a smaller tank and like to DIY it's a viable option. The manufactured LED lighting units for tanks, specifically for large tanks, are very costly. Some can be programmed to vary light color and intensity. You could create just about any light condition you desire with the right LED and driver combo.

Currently I have to underwater light fixtures that suction to the sides or wherever for moon lighting. They each have 4 LED's in them. http://www.drsfoster...50&pcatid=15550 that is what I have but in blue. Looks awesome at night.

Their environmental benefit is likely a product of extended bulb life. They don't produce more lumens per watt than T5s or MH lighting. A significant amount of the energy used to power LEDs is turned into heat. I think I read that LEDs have higher PAR ratings at the same wattage, but I'd have to double check that.

Right, I was talking about aesthetic lighting, however. If you're going to be pushing >150 watts then, of course, MH is going to be more efficient. LED's and t5ho's put out nearly the same amount of light, and t5's get hot too. At lower wattages is when the LED's become more efficient.

Again, for lighting small tanks for aesthetic purposes (such as a 20g stream/darter tank), LED lighting is the more energy efficient choice.

But for growing plants, well yeah HPS, MH, and HO flourescents are superior.

Their environmental benefit is likely a product of extended bulb life. They don't produce more lumens per watt than T5s or MH lighting. A significant amount of the energy used to power LEDs is turned into heat. I think I read that LEDs have higher PAR ratings at the same wattage, but I'd have to double check that.

Given the present cost of metal halide and T5 lighting vs the pre-built LED lighting outside of DIYers it's really only a matter of curiosity for those with a lot of money to spend. I did see a really awesome display of a fixture that was mimicking lighting patterns over some ocean. However, it looks like a really fun DIY project for a small tank. Unless you really like working with electronics I suspect that a large array will quickly land you in solder hell, but for a half dozen diodes it is probably manageable and a worthwhile project.

Clayton,
I am curious about where you heard or read that "significant amount of the energy used to power LEDs is turned into heat. I am just converting to LEDs and none of my LEDs are giving off any heat.

Bill

To be honest I don't have a link handy that shows heat/lumen output from any given LED. There are lots of reviews comparing light output of common lighting to LEDs. Metal halide still seems to be the most efficient of the commonly available aquarium lighting. More of the power put into the bulb comes out the other end as light, instead of being given off as heat.

Every electronic device gives off heat, so all LEDs are giving off heat. Depending on how much energy is actually being fed to the diodes and how the heat is being managed it may not be significant, but it is there. I believe it is due to the lack of a perfect conductor. The energy that can't pass through gets bled off as heat. I'm not an electrician or a physicist, so my explanation is likely a bit thin.

LEDs have a couple of advantages to conventional bulbs when it comes to dealing with heat though, so the fixtures as a whole are cooler than conventional bulbs of the same wattage. Instead of coming from the bulb the heat is given off by the back of the diode which is usually facing up for aquarium purposes, so you can slap a heat sink on it to aid in heat transfer out of the device. You've also got an array of little heat sources vs one big heat source. Higher surface area means faster transfer of heat to the ambient air, so the heat is less likely to build up.

To be honest I don't have a link handy that shows heat/lumen output from any given LED. There are lots of reviews comparing light output of common lighting to LEDs. Metal halide still seems to be the most efficient of the commonly available aquarium lighting. More of the power put into the bulb comes out the other end as light, instead of being given off as heat.

Every electronic device gives off heat, so all LEDs are giving off heat. Depending on how much energy is actually being fed to the diodes and how the heat is being managed it may not be significant, but it is there. I believe it is due to the lack of a perfect conductor. The energy that can't pass through gets bled off as heat. I'm not an electrician or a physicist, so my explanation is likely a bit thin.

LEDs have a couple of advantages to conventional bulbs when it comes to dealing with heat though, so the fixtures as a whole are cooler than conventional bulbs of the same wattage. Instead of coming from the bulb the heat is given off by the back of the diode which is usually facing up for aquarium purposes, so you can slap a heat sink on it to aid in heat transfer out of the device. You've also got an array of little heat sources vs one big heat source. Higher surface area means faster transfer of heat to the ambient air, so the heat is less likely to build up.

You had my curiosity so I did some research into Metal Halide and LEDs. I found several articles comparng the two and have provided the links below. The one was written in 2007 and so the information is dated. I have also added an article comparing LEDs to incandescent and flourescent bulbs. I am presently installing LED strips on my racks to light the tanks. The strips are doing a great job and uses quite a bit less energy.

http://www.aquarists...ight-of-choice/

http://www.lunaracce...ide-lights.html


http://www.energysta...e#led_different
http://www.lunaracce...ide-lights.html


Bill F.

Just coming into the concept and the discussion. Are LEDs something you can pick up in the hardware store and adapt to your fish tank lights?

How is the light quality? Can you grow plants under LEDs?

I am presently installing LED strips on my racks to light the tanks. The strips are doing a great job and uses quite a bit less energy.

Very cool. Are you using a pre-manufacturered light strip(Have a link?) or did you build them yourself? What kind of wattage per tank size/depth are you finding necessary to get good lighting for general viewing?

Just coming into the concept and the discussion. Are LEDs something you can pick up in the hardware store and adapt to your fish tank lights?

How is the light quality? Can you grow plants under LEDs?

Most hardware stores will probably have some LED accent lighting stuff available and if you're just trying to put some light in a fish tank for viewing, then those would probably work. An electronics store or a bigger hardware store might have some of the high powered LEDs that people tend to use on fish tanks to actually grow plants or corals, but I've never seen them stocked at any of the bigger chains. There are places you can order them online.

Assuming you get LEDs that put out enough light and in the correct spectrum, then yes you should be able to grow plants. Just be aware that like every other bulb out there there are different types of LEDs. So if you've got light hungry plants you'll probably need a pretty high powered group of LEDs in the right color. A couple of 1/4 watt LEDs likely won't do a very good job of mimicking high sun conditions in a tropical area.

Very cool. Are you using a pre-manufacturered light strip(Have a link?) or did you build them yourself? What kind of wattage per tank size/depth are you finding necessary to get good lighting for general viewing?



Most hardware stores will probably have some LED accent lighting stuff available and if you're just trying to put some light in a fish tank for viewing, then those would probably work. An electronics store or a bigger hardware store might have some of the high powered LEDs that people tend to use on fish tanks to actually grow plants or corals, but I've never seen them stocked at any of the bigger chains. There are places you can order them online.

Assuming you get LEDs that put out enough light and in the correct spectrum, then yes you should be able to grow plants. Just be aware that like every other bulb out there there are different types of LEDs. So if you've got light hungry plants you'll probably need a pretty high powered group of LEDs in the right color. A couple of 1/4 watt LEDs likely won't do a very good job of mimicking high sun conditions in a tropical area.

I am install pre-built LED strips that are bought at Menard's. The strips' manufacturer is Zilotek and here is a website about them. Different name, but same light. The sight came up when I did a google search for Zilotek. The lights come in two strip lengths. I am using only the 16" length. What is nice you can plug them into each other to form one continious string. I am going to put two of them on a 10 gallon with plants to see how plants grow under them. I will start a different thread with my experiment. I do know that under one of the strips I have Hornwort growing slowly, so plants will grow under them. By the way these are bright white, not the yellow that I have normally seen. If I was to guess, AND THIS IS A GUESS, they are close to 5000K. That is comparing them to known flourescent light bulbs.

http://www.zilotek.c..._striplight.htm

When I get the ten setup I will take pictures of it and describe what I am doing in a separate thread. I personally think with 2 or more you can grow plants. These lights do give the dancing shadows that you get with Metal Halide. Not as prominent, but noticable. This is on a 20L tank.

Bill F.

I am install pre-built LED strips that are bought at Menard's. The strips' manufacturer is Zilotek and here is a website about them. Different name, but same light. The sight came up when I did a google search for Zilotek. The lights come in two strip lengths. I am using only the 16" length. What is nice you can plug them into each other to form one continious string. I am going to put two of them on a 10 gallon with plants to see how plants grow under them. I will start a different thread with my experiment. I do know that under one of the strips I have Hornwort growing slowly, so plants will grow under them. By the way these are bright white, not the yellow that I have normally seen. If I was to guess, AND THIS IS A GUESS, they are close to 5000K. That is comparing them to known flourescent light bulbs.

http://www.zilotek.c..._striplight.htm

When I get the ten setup I will take pictures of it and describe what I am doing in a separate thread. I personally think with 2 or more you can grow plants. These lights do give the dancing shadows that you get with Metal Halide. Not as prominent, but noticable. This is on a 20L tank.

Bill F.

YEAH BUDDY! The shimmering effect makes a tank look like a scene from a nature documentary.

Keep us posted on the results of your experimentation.

This has got me wondering, there's got to be a fairly simple and inexpensive way of measuring the spectral output of lights. That would help with adapting hardware store solutions to work.

YEAH BUDDY! The shimmering effect makes a tank look like a scene from a nature documentary.

Keep us posted on the results of your experimentation.

This has got me wondering, there's got to be a fairly simple and inexpensive way of measuring the spectral output of lights. That would help with adapting hardware store solutions to work.

I will definitely keep posting on my experiment. The LED lighting is starting to get down in price where i can afford to experiment with it.

Couple more articles on LEDs.

http://www.earthled.com/flseries.html

http://www.ledlightb...20cde662e1b1ff5

Bill F.

Here is another LED bulb that has really come down in price. I remember when they were $150.00+ about a year ago. I haven't compared the specs to any standard florescent tubes yet.

http://www.ledlightb...products_id=280


Bill F.

Here is another LED bulb that has really come down in price. I remember when they were $150.00+ about a year ago. I haven't compared the specs to any standard florescent tubes yet.

http://www.ledlightb...products_id=280


Bill F.

Now that's cool. Don't even have to upgrade the hood!

I've been waiting for LED lighting to come down in price to where I would want to experiment with it. I don't think it's quite there yet, based on reading the above, but I'm glad to know it is getting close! I had put the idea in a back folder of my brain for a while.

Do you think the LED fluorescent replacement would shimmer like the other LEDs? I honestly don't know why some bulbs do that and fluorescents don't. I've always admired the shimmering, but lack the spousal approval for such a setup.

Shimmer effect, I think it has to do with LED's and MH being a point source versus a wide area source where fluorescent and CF are concerned.

Now that's cool. Don't even have to upgrade the hood!

I've been waiting for LED lighting to come down in price to where I would want to experiment with it. I don't think it's quite there yet, based on reading the above, but I'm glad to know it is getting close! I had put the idea in a back folder of my brain for a while.

Do you think the LED fluorescent replacement would shimmer like the other LEDs? I honestly don't know why some bulbs do that and fluorescents don't. I've always admired the shimmering, but lack the spousal approval for such a setup.

The one thing about LED replacement bulbs, is you bypass all of the starters and ballasts. You could actually go buy the ends and make your own strip lights using LED bulbs.

Bill F.