Halide vs. LED vs. T5! Which do you prefer and why?

Which option do you prefer for lighting?

  • LED

    Votes: 91 33.5%
  • T5

    Votes: 30 11.0%
  • Metal Halide

    Votes: 14 5.1%
  • LED/T5 combo

    Votes: 69 25.4%
  • LED/MH combo

    Votes: 18 6.6%
  • T5/MH combo

    Votes: 27 9.9%
  • MH/T5/LED combo

    Votes: 22 8.1%
  • Other (VHO, PC, Sunlight, etc.)

    Votes: 1 0.4%

  • Total voters
    272

Daniel@R2R

Living the Reef Life
View Badges
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
37,364
Reaction score
63,255
Location
Fontana, California
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
It's an endless debate, but let's discuss this again anyway. Do you prefer halides, LED's, T5's, or a combination of 1, 2, or even all 3? What are the pros and cons of each? Why do you use what you do? Why DON'T you like the others? Be sure to vote in the poll and weigh in with your thoughts.
 

DaveMorris

MACNA2016 Co-Chair
View Badges
Joined
May 9, 2009
Messages
786
Reaction score
562
Location
San Diego, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I am a huge fan of halides. Phoenix 14k to be specific. I have augmented mine with a StevesLEDs.com DIY kit with daylight, UV, and blue LEDs.
 

saltylife

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 14, 2014
Messages
357
Reaction score
183
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm running 3 x 250 watt xm 20k and 3 China leds over my 220. For almost two years I ran just LEDs but with my particular leds didn't get the best colors in the coral so I added the halides back and couldn't be happier with it.
 

Attachments

  • uploadfromtaptalk1408595071297.jpg
    uploadfromtaptalk1408595071297.jpg
    56.6 KB · Views: 1,963
OP
OP
Daniel@R2R

Daniel@R2R

Living the Reef Life
View Badges
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
37,364
Reaction score
63,255
Location
Fontana, California
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
I'm running 3 x 250 watt xm 20k and 3 China leds over my 220. For almost two years I ran just LEDs but with my particular leds didn't get the best colors in the coral so I added the halides back and couldn't be happier with it.

Sweet! Thanks for posting a pic of your tank, too! I hope others who weigh in to this conversation will post pics of their tanks as well!
 

Bps619

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jun 8, 2014
Messages
331
Reaction score
253
Location
San Diego
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Im new to reefing with three months into my 60 gallon tank. I'm running 2 AI Hydra 26's and so they are doing a killer job. The LEDs don't get that hot and my SPS frags are growing.
 

760mason

Active Member
View Badges
Joined
Jan 20, 2014
Messages
263
Reaction score
12
Location
Carlsbad. California
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
If I could afford the electric bill Halides with LED's..best of both worlds. I had to switch to 100% LED when I had my first kid. Halide + chiller = $250 + a month electric bill. No chiller smaller tank and LED's brought my bill down to $140. I did what I could to keep a tank in the house.
 

jackson6745

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Sep 15, 2012
Messages
1,412
Reaction score
1,145
Location
NJ
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
400w 20k Radium, 4 T5's, and 2 blue LED reefbrites running on my system. I can honestly say that I have the best lighting available in reef keeping (far from most expensive). Spectrum, intensity, and coverage is excellent. Running a single halide over a large cube is surprisingly efficient as well.

Not the best pic but you can get an idea of coverage and the bright appearance.
IMG_0859 by rich.colombo, on Flickr
 
Last edited:

SamsReef

Valuable Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 7, 2011
Messages
1,757
Reaction score
2,325
Location
Basking Ridge, New Jersey
Rating - 100%
1   0   0
Have gone from all halides to all LEDs to now a combo with metal halide, T5 and LED to supplement actinics. I am getting true colors and several corals who were dormant have really taken off.
 

wandoshane

Community Member
View Badges
Joined
Nov 28, 2013
Messages
28
Reaction score
0
Location
charleston sc
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
led/t5

I have had all of them and am currently running radions but am thinking about adding t5 for actinics. MH is not an option for me.
 

Koranangel32

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Aug 6, 2014
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
Massachusetts
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I was hoping someone could help me I'm new to this hobby I have a t5 light set up that I got from a friend it has 4 bulbs any suggestions on what I should have in it right now only fish in tank and one dunkin which has grown 3 heads since I had it. Any help would be nice
 

RDjoeSD

New Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
2
Reaction score
0
Location
San Diego, CA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I ran a 400W Radium 20k over my 36x36x20 112g. I agree with it being just amazing!

400w 20k Radium, 4 T5's, and 2 blue LED reefbrites running on my system. I can honestly say that I have the best lighting available in reef keeping (far from most expensive). Spectrum, intensity, and coverage is excellent. Running a single halide over a large cube is surprisingly efficient as well.

Not the best pic but you can get an idea of coverage and the bright appearance.
IMG_0859 by rich.colombo, on Flickr
 

tonymission

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
614
Reaction score
13
Location
Atlanta
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
400w 20k Radium, 4 T5's, and 2 blue LED reefbrites running on my system. I can honestly say that I have the best lighting available in reef keeping (far from most expensive). Spectrum, intensity, and coverage is excellent. Running a single halide over a large cube is surprisingly efficient as well.

Not the best pic but you can get an idea of coverage and the bright appearance.
IMG_0859 by rich.colombo, on Flickr

What fixture is that?

Here's my 90g under Phoenix 14k / 4 ati t5s and I run an 80g frag tank under radiums only.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1408657359.018944.jpg


We are setting up a 30g softie tank for my wife which we'll run a radion on since she doesn't want a chiller in the living room. :p
 

ReeferEric

Resident Reef Junky
View Badges
Joined
Jan 27, 2012
Messages
1,490
Reaction score
357
Location
Miramar, FL
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I'm a T5 user, but the frag tank with very little LED is changing my mind a little. Frag tank is T5 powered as well with royal blues at 10%.
 

Acro

Well-Known Member
View Badges
Joined
Mar 29, 2014
Messages
503
Reaction score
4
Location
Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Two radions with supplemental t5s. Not a fan of the white leds just yet.
 
Back
Top