Light frustration

Is there a readily available tool that could be used to measure PAR so one could tell if the LEDs acquired are good enough for the desired purposes?
 
authmal said:
Is there a readily available tool that could be used to measure PAR so one could tell if the LEDs acquired are good enough for the desired purposes?
Click to expand...

All you need is the LED data w/ "Our hydroponic LED fixtures offer superior spectrum levels which are suitable for any type of plant growth, high par spectrum peaks at 629nm/658nm/430nm/458nm with full daylight spectrum to nourish plants for complete growth development."
or $1000............ ;) of course your tank w/ look purple..
http://www.lightexports.com/servlet/the-8520/grow-led-fixture,-hydroponic/Detail
 
Oddly enough this company seemed to have the right idea.. Too bad that they seem to have poor QC/ marketing ect and I'm not sure that this orig concept is even current in production.. at the current level of LED design they MAY HAVE been able to make a go of it.. ;)
http://www.amazon.com/AquaTop-SkyLED-Aquarium-LED-Light/dp/B005JEP1LU/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top
Searched for a 36" w/ the 3 switches... no luck..
They do have an interesting heater though:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200-W-DUAL-...169?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35bf12bdc1
 
LED's are coming but they have one big problem -Way too complex for the average bonehead planted tank owner (myself included).

Until LED's get as simple as buy a 5000-6000K bulb of X wattage over X size of a tank, I'll stick with my florescents.

Yeah it's been a long day but was I the only one who's eye's glazed over one most of this thread? BTW I wouldn't mind one of those hydroponic LED lights to see how well my oregano grows. :-) There are a lot of hydroponic stores around where I live in Cali. Amazing how many people like to grow tomatoes and oregano.

Authmal - yep a PAR Meter they run around $300 USD online.
 
THE V said:
LED's are coming but they have one big problem -Way too complex for the average bonehead planted tank owner (myself included).

Until LED's get as simple as buy a 5000-6000K bulb of X wattage over X size of a tank, I'll stick with my florescents.

Yeah it's been a long day but was I the only one who's eye's glazed over one most of this thread? BTW I wouldn't mind one of those hydroponic LED lights to see how well my oregano grows. :-) There are a lot of hydroponic stores around where I live in Cali. Amazing how many people like to grow tomatoes and oregano.

Authmal - yep a PAR Meter they run around $300 USD online.
Click to expand...

Seems this is the answer (e
xcept to us tinkerers..) got to admit it is not only interesting but close to affordable...;)
http://www.buildmyled.com/freshwater-planted-tank/
 
Thought I'd post a wee update since I started here:
Brief synopsis.. 2=10W "red" LED's 3= actinic/white hybrid 10W Led's.. Dimmers to both. Added a 15=1w "warm white" LED (mixed lot of colors apparently 3000-3500k) non-dimmable driver;
balancedmix.jpgjustblue.jpgjustww.jpglightbar.jpg

balancedmix.jpg justblue.jpg justww.jpg lightbar.jpg
 
I don't know if those color temperatures are high enough to promote good plant growth. I think that needs to be in the neighborhood of 6500k.
 
authmal said:
I don't know if those color temperatures are high enough to promote good plant growth. I think that needs to be in the neighborhood of 6500k.
Click to expand...

Best if I explain this a bit.. The 30W hybrids are basically 66% "Actinic blue" and 10,000k White..
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-10W-Re...193?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5898393d91

The red is:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2pcs-10W-Re...193?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5898393d91

W/ just these 2 it grew hair algae like crazy... but that is another story (Olive Nerites is the answer)

The 3500k 15W total is "color fill" w/ a tail in the carotenoid pr hopefully.. The photos were to show potential spectral "mixes" (A loose tern considering the large point sources of the 10w's w/ 110 degree optics..

The "red flame" is currently offshooting at the base and the lanceolate leaf shaped Hgrophyllum is finally expanding (was practically dead and rotted from petco originally)

The light is an experimental system and subject to changes.. ;) I'll keep this up to date now that the algae is controlled and tank has reached a current stability point..

Granted these chips may or may not be as advertised.. since they were "cheap" compared to this:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-40mil-1...383?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f24361397
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
AquariaCentral.com
Top Bottom