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LED lights for plants


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One of my friends has recently bought a small tropical tank with plants that solely run on a LED light, and her plant is doing fine. I have done a little research online on LED lights but there are mix reviews, so I thought i'll ask the experts here.

Does LED produce the same or even better growth?

LED light run on less energy and I have it in my head as less energy used = less energy converted to light for the plants to use. Is that true?

Does LED has the wavelengths needed for plant growth?

Thanks,

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Without going into too much detail, yes LED lighting is fine, actually EXCELLENT, for aquarium plants and does come in a range of wavelengths/colour temps/output levels. LED will use less energy, but output the same, or in many cases more, power than the average fluro. LEDs also have something like 50,000 hrs of life, before needing replacement.

Lighting in general, be it brake lights/indicators/headlights in cars, to domestic applications such as loungeroom downlights etc, is all heading toward LED lighting. Even the TV manufacturers are embracing the technology. At the moment, LED lighting for aquariums, at least in any sort of decent wattage or output, is still very expensive, but prices are tumbling by the day, as more manufacturers get on board. But, since they have such a long life expectancy, the cost can be offset by what you would usually pay to replace your lovely T5 HO globes every six to twelve months.

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WOW, thanks Ghengis for that great info, and Joan for asking. I bought a Fluval Edge aquarium and it has 2 x halogen lights just above the filter water-fall & they make the top water super hot. Because of their spotlight effect, they also leave very dark corners in the tank.

So, I rang around various local LED specialist shops and got prices of around $50 per globe, yikes!!!! I had no idea they are actually manufactured from crystals that are grown in labs, the outer part of the crystal being the lowest grade.

Anyway, I got some cheapy LED's on ebay ($30 for x 2 but they didn't have the little plastic lenses/covers over the crystals) and the darn things failed within a couple of days, from the moisture I dare say. Lesson learnt yet again about spending good money after bad!

However, when I have the money to buy some decent LED ones, it's great to know I can turf my plastic plants & get some real ones happening - didn't think you could under LED!

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I think BB meant that you get what you pay for. Sure, you could get away with cheapies, but (if it were me at least) you'd be spending every day wondering just when somehing is gonna go kaput. My suggestion would be to hold your pennies for now and just go with good ol' T5 Fluros. By the time you have saved enough money, the good quality LEDs may have come down to a reasonable price...

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Yup, that's exactly what I meant - no point in spending best part of $40 on globes to see them fade & burn out in a couple of days.

Conversely, I bought a little submersible fluro tube light around 10/12" long on ebay from Honkers for around $10/12 delivered via air & the darn thing works a treat, I love it!

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