LED Lights?

[shadowfax23]

Anyone of you has explored the option of using LED Lights for planted tanks?

[David Moses Heng]

ver expensive. Sloaris has them. If i am not wrong, the local dealer is aqua marin.

[ankank]

Anyone of you has explored the option of using LED Lights for planted tanks?

Last time I checked, LEDs, even the high-powered ones, were a far cry from FL tubes' energy efficiency, with an awful color spectrum. I would dare to say it's only suitable for very small tanks, and even there LEDs are easily outperformed by compact FL.

[tawauboy]

newer high power leds can match fl efficiency. leds need only 1/2 the fl light efficiency to product equivalent amount of light output. this is due to led emitting light only in their frontal 180 degrees arc.

latest white high power leds can provide ~100 lumens/watt. and this figure is still improving.

the main problem is heat generation and cost.

[shadowfax23]

This question came to my mind because I walked past a leading electrical applicances store and they were selling LED table lamps. They looked futuristic and really bright, suitable for my 1.5Ft tank. When placed over the water surface, it doesn't take up much space (the lamp I saw) compared to FL or PL lights.

I assume that should aid heat dissipation from water surface?
I read somewhere LED torchlights don't ever need to replace the LEDs, correct me if I'm wrong.
The lamps didn't really feel that warm either, I thought........

[AnA]

Yes, I have came across the LED lighting for aquarium as mentioned by Altum_lover76. But, it is very expensive. It should cost around $5k if I am not wrong.

Anyway, LED has replaced many application. Application like torch light, automobile lights....etc. But the application for planted tank is still questionable at this point of time. Please correct me if I am wrong. The light emitted from the LED seem a little blueish in colour; not very suitable for planted. Maybe more suitable for marine tank.

[Shadow]

If 'm not mistaken, the light from LED it self is not hot. The one that hot is the anode and cathode, basically the PN junction. Thus you probably have to heat sink your PCB

[David Moses Heng]

Yes, I have came across the LED lighting for aquarium as mentioned by Altum_lover76. But, it is very expensive. It should cost around $5k if I am not wrong.

Anyway, LED has replaced many application. Application like torch light, automobile lights....etc. But the application for planted tank is still questionable at this point of time. Please correct me if I am wrong. The light emitted from the LED seem a little blueish in colour; not very suitable for planted. Maybe more suitable for marine tank.

the 4 feet is about $4500+++. It comes with two panel of 25 x 25 LED and a on board processor / timer with if i am not wrong two fans for the cooling down of the system.

Nice piece of equipment but it is way too expensive.

[tawauboy]

leds do not stop working after a certain period of time. they degrade. current lifetime specification for led defines the lifetime as time taken for initial light output to reduce to 70%. this lifetime figure ranges from 20000 to 50000 hours.

white led produce light close to 6500k; similar to fluorescent. white leds are actually blue leds with a yellow phosphor.

while there is no heat emitted in the direction of light, led emit a lot of heat from the back. so there is a need of special printed circuit board, heat sinks and fans to keep the leds cool.