Anyone miss MH lighting?

[Ancient Mariner]

Still running MH's since 2002. BUT I wouldn't miss them if I could change them out! I replaced the tank and restarted my reef in 2019 and I was very ready to switch to LED but did not because I wasn't sure about the durability of LED's in the enclosed space (in the floor joist just inches above the surface of the water) of my reef with high heat and humidity. Plus I knew that 2 400W MH's were proven in my system and grew Acropora very well. I cannot change out light fixtures without totally breaking down and removing the tank. So I stuck with what I knew would work and last. I do have LED envy thinking about how much money and electricity I could be saving (I have to run a chiller as well because of the high heat generated).

 

[X-37B]

Some pics for halide fans from.my 120.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Yes, I miss the shimmer as well. Any leds creating that affect?

The LED's with glitter lines almost necessarily have have a feature i don't want: an internal cooling fan (or low output). That's because you need to pack the led's into a small space to have a near point source of light. i don't care for lighting fans due to noise.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Sorry, but they will have to pry my Internal Combustion V8's out of my cold dead hands!

As long as you are comfortable with slower acceleration. Even my wife’s electric car can accelerate faster than a 1970 corvette. Lol

 

[rtparty]

As long as you are comfortable with slower acceleration. Even my wife’s electric car can accelerate faster than a 1970 corvette. Lol

Unless it’s a 69 Camaro, you couldn’t give me an ICE today

 

[Z Burn's Reefing]

As long as you are comfortable with slower acceleration. Even my wife’s electric car can accelerate faster than a 1970 corvette. Lol

What does acceleration matter if it looks like a jelly bean or refrigerator? I suppose I could stomach a Taycan.

 

[bobnicaragua]

As long as you are comfortable with slower acceleration. Even my wife’s electric car can accelerate faster than a 1970 corvette.

I’ll drive an electric car if it can run metal halides!

 

[rtparty]

I’ll drive an electric car if it can run metal halides!

If power goes out, you can have the electric vehicle power your entire house including the halides

 

[GeoSquid]

I've been looking around for metal halide fixtures and there definitely isn't as many options around as there used to be. One of my main issues, probably, is that when I switched over to led I bought the cheap black box versions. The light is brite and the corals grow well but it just seems flat compared to the halide shimmer. And then there are the disco colors on the sand I see with most led's.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I've been looking around for metal halide fixtures and there definitely isn't as many options around as there used to be. One of my main issues, probably, is that when I switched over to led I bought the cheap black box versions. The light is brite and the corals grow well but it just seems flat compared to the halide shimmer. And then there are the disco colors on the sand I see with most led's.

Unless you order from Geisemann in Germany, I think Reefbrite is the only option left for fixtures.

I run Reefbrite fixtures, ballasts, and now their twin arc bulbs. They run cooler than older halide gear. I’ve been happy with them.

 

[Seancj]

As long as you are comfortable with slower acceleration. Even my wife’s electric car can accelerate faster than a 1970 corvette. Lol

It's a '69. It's a weekend cruiser, not a hotrod.
The F type is 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. That's enough to scare the bejeezes out of me!
I don't need any faster acceleration.

 

[areefer01]

I miss the look of metal halide. Anyone revert back to them after LEDs? If so, what do you think or why not?

Do not miss them.

 

[PPBlimpy]

i am back in the hobby after 15+ years and i do miss halides, don't miss the heat.

i have thought about going back to halides on my new build. 4x250w and supplement with t5

are VHO a thing anymore?

 

[jackson6745]

i am back in the hobby after 15+ years and i do miss halides, don't miss the heat.

i have thought about going back to halides on my new build. 4x250w and supplement with t5

are VHO a thing anymore?

VHO are done.

 

[56longroof]

Sorry, but they will have to pry my Internal Combustion V8's out of my cold dead hands!

Ditto

 

[Faurek]

Its a shame there were no more advances, cooler and more efficient halides would be awesome.

i am back in the hobby after 15+ years and i do miss halides, don't miss the heat.

i have thought about going back to halides on my new build. 4x250w and supplement with t5

are VHO a thing anymore?

Unfortunately you are better off buying LED's at this point, they do work well enough.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It's a '69. It's a weekend cruiser, not a hotrod.
The F type is 0 to 60 in 3.3 seconds. That's enough to scare the bejeezes out of me!
I don't need any faster acceleration.

To be honest, I'm certain my wife would never be interested in flooring the accelerator unless it was a Jurassic Park scenario...

 

[bobnicaragua]

Its a shame there were no more advances, cooler and more efficient halides would be awesome.



Unfortunately you are better off buying LED's at this point, they do work well enough.

Reefbrite fixtures and ballasts are cooler than traditional halide gear.

Hamilton, aqua bright solutions, and reef brite bulbs all run cooler. Radiums run hot.

My temp goes up 1 or 2 degrees F after 6 hours of halides. All you need is a fan.

 

[Veinz]

Just setup a 225g and put a 60” MH T5 light fixture on it. I didn’t even bother wanting to try LEDs. I love it but I’m old school (2) 250w 20k MH, (2) 80w Actinic (2) Super Blues it makes me happy lol

 

[56longroof]

Reefbrite fixtures and ballasts are cooler than traditional halide gear.

Hamilton, aqua bright solutions, and reef brite bulbs all run cooler. Radiums run hot.

My temp goes up 1 or 2 degrees F after 6 hours of halides. All you need is a fan.

Where did you find Hamiltons?