Metal Halide / LED side by side comparison

[FL_Reefer]

That 1 doesn't work try this one, http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=IpJM-EIrPI0

 

[briany66]

Following also.

 

[Rob.D]

Just installed a Phoenix 14k bulb, the old bulb had no brand markings but was marked 10k, I find the 14k is much more appeasing.

I'm going to place frags and take pics over the weekend, so long as the wife allows me a break on the "honey do" list

 

[tyler1503]

I was thinking this would be a great test just the other day. Best case scenario, buy a mini colony from someone using t5's and frag it. That way you have the same corals from the same mother colony and being from a tank lit with t5s is you can see how long each coral takes to acclimate to the type of new light and any colour change Just an idea!

 

[Rob.D]

Lot of work done today, I emptied my frag rack and placed frags under the halide and LED. Next week I will cut frags and place the frags under the opposite lighting.

Some quick shots.

 

[Rob.D]

 

[Pete polyp]

You can cut extra frags and send them to me for a t5 comparison

There's some great looking stuff there!

 

[Rob.D]

You can cut extra frags and send them to me for a t5 comparison

There's some great looking stuff there!

Thanks bro, another 6 months and I'll have some frags to sell

 

[Flavum]

Great Color Rob!

Are those under LED or MH?

 

[Rob.D]

Thanks bro, all these are under led's, I'll have pics posted under halide by tomorrow.

Great Color Rob!

Are those under LED or MH?

 

[Rob.D]

Well after 5 months of lack-luster colors on my corals under the metal halide, I replaced it with a LED fixture. I know that a larger halide reflector with a better ballast and I could have spent $800 on a Giesemann MH fixture but my comparison was "cheap" vs "cheap". A buddy of mine had a used "Chinese" LED fixture and we traded some acro frags, it's not my preferred Ocean Revive fixture but it's doing much better than the old MH fixture.

Proof is in the pics!

 

[Rob.D]

^^^^This one was an ugly green under the MH, it's starting to show some nice colors.

 

[Rob.D]

This is supposed to be the famous Dustin's deepwater, but the jury is still out...

 

[Rob.D]

 

[Rob.D]

 

[ZIGGY63]

looking good their rob. seeing since my small tank project is sidelined and their is already an ocean revive under the tree. I might just buy another one and switch over to led sometime in the coming new year.

 

[RacingTiger03]

interesting.. but with 14K I'm not sure its entirely fair on the colors. Still surprising to see the ocean revive perform so much better! My corals LOVE my 20K 150w HQI DE halide *shrug*.

No acro's yet though... it'll be fun to see

 

[seased]

Looking good! Everything has great color

 

[d2mini]

One of these with a 20k Radium is relatively cheap and would have rocked your sps.

Radium 250W Cayman Sun with M80 BallastAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology

If you still want the crazy day-glo colors you can run blue led's for dusk/dawn.

 

[Rob.D]

One of these with a 20k Radium is relatively cheap and would have rocked your sps.

Radium 250W Cayman Sun with M80 BallastAquarium supplies&Aquarium lighting by Hamilton Technology

If you still want the crazy day-glo colors you can run blue led's for dusk/dawn.

I used MH when I first got in the hobby, I was content with color and growth but now that I've been using LED for the past year+, and running the MH/T5 combo on the second half of my tank, my final conclusion is that LED is the only lighting source for me. Also for $350 I can buy another 2 OR fixtures