How bad can these Led`s be?

I've been trying to get cheato to grow in my refugium for SEVERAL months and it never grows. My nitrates are 10+ atm and feel like it should be growing like crazy bit it doesn't. I'm thinking it's a lighting issue. I am running a Coralvue t5 fixure that has a set of 7 watt bulbs in it. It sits perfectly on my little sump and doesnt take much room.

I've tried replacing the bulbs a couple months ago but that didn't seem to help.

I was thinking maybe I could retrofit some leds into my current fixture but then I got looking on ebay.

I ended finding this little fixure:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-12-200-...43b0c7f7f7



$26 SHIPPED, that's far cheaper than what I could retro or build from scratch.

How bad could it be? It's only for growing cheato.

 

So this is funny, after posting this I realized I had the PAR meter sitting here. I checked the PAR of my light and I got 18 at the surface of the water and a whopping 2 down where the cheato is.

No wonder it wasn't growing!

 

Wouldn't it be better to find a hydroponic light for the chaeto rather than a single bright aquarium light?

 

I've always had best luck with a clamp lamp and a screw in ccfl. Cheato responds best to low color temp anyways. I would really recommend just going with that! But I know how we are with little tech gadgets! lol

 

I've looked at the "hydroponic" versions and they use red and blue led's vs. white and blue. Kinda weird.

I've also used the clamp lamp with screw in power compacts for years, they do work well I just don't have room for anything even close to that size.

I basically gotta have something that will straddle my 11" wide sump and not cost much.

 

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=390407500133&index=8&nav=SEARCH&nid=71738609283

How bout this?

It measures 12x12 though

 

That's what I was thinking. Might give them a shot. I just don't want to spend more than $30 on a light just to grow cheato.



Might give this a shot:

http://www.amazon.com/LEDwholesaler...grow+light

I have amazon prime so shipping is free.

 

Or not after reading the reviews of them burning out.


I'm starting to think maybe a DIY from rapidled or similar might be a better choice. Then I can just gut my current light and retrofit them in.

For around $30 I can get a driver, (5) Phillips 3 watt 5k led's, 10" piece of aluminum tubing.

 

I have a clamp on lamp and a LED bulb from menards, my cheato, mangroves and pod's were very happy with that setup for 2 years. then I added biopellets 2 months ago and ever since the cheato has been shrinking at a rapid pace. I used to worry about putting too much food now im scared im starving the tank. R u still running your pellets?

 

Nope, they clumped up on me daily and I got rid of them months ago.

My nitrates are 10+ so it should be growing like crazy. Pretty sure it's just a lack of light because there are definitly nutrients available.

Ended up ordering some Led's and a driver from Steve's led's. I should be able to install them inside the shell of my current light w/o too much difficulty.

I need a project anyway.

 

what reactor and pellets were you using? I have the BRS reactor and dr tims bio pearls. its been up 2 months and i havent had it clump once.

 

I was using BRS pellets and TLF Phosban 150 /w mesh mod along with a MJ 1200 Utility pump. Worked great for months, then got super sticky and clumped constantly.



Ended up modding the old light.



Here's the before. 2-6 watt T-5's that basically read 0 PAR at the bottom of my sump.





The after. 5-Phillps 3 watt 5k Leds Bright as HELL!





Hopefully these make cheato grow mo' betta

 

Looks good bro.

 

Looks stock right?



Tada!