well. What do you think are the chances that some types of LED lamps will become comparable in
importance to metal halide lamps and fluorescents for growing corals?
Professor Sanjay
Joshi (right) in
conversation with
KORALLE editor
Daniel Knop.
Professor Sanjay Joshi: The high cost in relation to performance has limited the broad acceptance of LEDs in the hobby. But, as with any new technology, it takes a while for costs to drop,
and they are now not too far from those of conventional metal halide and fluorescent lighting,
especially when you start to consider other factors, such as energy usage. We are seeing a lot of
new medium-sized setups with LEDs. In fact, I have changed the lighting in my three smaller
aquariums (less than 50 gallons/200 L) to LEDs. I am waiting for the day when it becomes
cost-effective for my 500-gallon ( 2,000-L) tank. I can see this happening in the near future.
CORAL: Technically speaking, LED lamps can make it easier to set up far smaller tanks with bright
lighting. Do you expect that LEDs will contribute to the further development of nano reef tanks?
Professor Sanjay Joshi: Yes, the current state-of-the-art LEDs and lower initial costs for lighting smaller aquariums make them almost ideal for this application. The biggest problem with
small aquariums using conventional lighting is the heating of the water, perhaps necessitating
a cooling unit. Using LEDs, there is no need for cooling, and this makes the nano aquarium
simpler and cheaper to set up and run, thus increasing its potential for widespread use. In addition there should be no need for lamp replacement, thus making smaller aquariums even
cheaper to operate in the long run.
CORAL: Based on your experience, are there any types of zooxanthellate invertebrates that do not
do well in general under LED lamps?
