LED light?

[Ponder]

I was under the assumption LED's were simply for nighttime effect, even in reef systems. Something just for your viewing pleasure. Especially since a lot of people turn thier lights off at night since 24 hour lighting is not good for aquarium inhabitants. I thought it was just a way to prolong viewing without affecting the fish and corals and such adversely. I didn't think it was supposed to be something for growth or anything like that?

 

[wackydan]

I was under the assumption LED's were simply for nighttime effect, even in reef systems. Something just for your viewing pleasure. Especially since a lot of people turn thier lights off at night since 24 hour lighting is not good for aquarium inhabitants. I thought it was just a way to prolong viewing without affecting the fish and corals and such adversely. I didn't think it was supposed to be something for growth or anything like that?

Go here for your answers.

Link

 

[loaches r cool]

I dunno about all LEDs but the ones used for fiber optic communications only have a spectral output that is like 40-80nanometers wide. Meaning basically they are only 1 color. I think you'd have to have a wide assortment of different ones to get a full spectrum.

I have seen the same about most LED's. However, its kinda a misnomer that plants need full spectrum lighting. Like in the link wackydan provided, plants mostly need red light, along with blue being next on the list. Here is a link to wikipedia on chlorphyll and the light specturm and all that good stuff http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chlorophyll

I often think that when bulbs say 'full spectrum' what they really mean is just they have a 'peak' in red, green, and blue, or maybe just 3 seperate peaks or more, instead of just one or two. I havent really looked into that but most full spectrum bulbs dont look anything like the spectrum of sunlight. Also some plant bulbs dont even say full spectrum because they are not, they are just plant bulbs designed with plant spectra in mind. But full spectrum bulbs will usually grow plants well and look good for viewing both plants and fish in your tank.

Also dont forget if using purely LED lighting that you'll probably need some conventional lighting if you want to view your aquarium well since pure red probably wont be the best viewing light.

I was under the assumption LED's were simply for nighttime effect, even in reef systems.

LED is just another form of lighting. It doesnt have to only be for one specific purpose. Its become popular recently, you see it on expensive car tail lights, aftermarket auto stuff, flashlights, and more. LED lighting has simply only been known for 'moonlighting' that is not to say you cant use it for other things. The main difference here in moonlighting and using it for primary illumination is probably like a factor of 1,000 or much more.


If it is true that [aquatic] plants will do well with just red LED lighting or maybe a couple other colors mixed in there like blue and purple then I say its possible to use LED lighting for aquariums just not sure how financially feasible it is. Its not very common and the prices are high. You can do it DIY but it will be a pain in the butt. For example I have a bag of 100 ultra-bright red LEDs that I am going to make some custom tailights with... but that is a ton of soldering and still only produce 1/30th the lumens of a single common flourescent tube.