Anyone miss MH lighting?

[X-37B]

Halide shimmer and Kessil shimmer are not the same. Anyone that’s run both should know this. With a Kessil, you have to almost kill the surface agitation to get a good shimmer. Or even better is to pair it with a nice flat LED bar or T5s. Kessil shimmer is so overpowering it makes me sick to look at it and I LOVE halide shimmer.

My own opinion after running most LEDs is Kessils are the most overrated LED out there. Not because they are bad in any way. They work and have some great pros. I run three of the Tuna Sun over my vivarium. Looks very natural IMO with lots of contrast, shadows, hot spots, etc…in a reef tank I find most of that to be a negative though.

Thanks! Having never seen Kessils myself I would say that it would be disturbing to my eyes too.

 

[Michael71]

You know one of the great things about this topic is you get a feel for whats important artistically to the hobbyist. Ultimately once you get spectrum and proper intensity to make sure your corals stay healthy and put on good growth, the rest if it becomes preference for the look. Is it the right color,do you get the pop, how much shimmer, how much shadowing... on and on. Whether it really works for the reef is based on the rockscape, the coral selection, your flow, the fish...love topics like this...whats even better, this is the first online community i have been in where people are not so closed off that they cannot entertain another preference...kudos to everyone here!!!!!

 

[t5Nitro]

I’m still rocking 400 watt radium’s. Just simply the best light out there (halide in general). If I could, I would put solar tubes above the tank and supplement it with LED bars instead. That might be the one winner.

 

[SpSDrew]

Halide equipment is out there too. I bought these 5 brand new in box reflectors that were sitting at a store for over 13 years. Check your local stores or other hobbyist that have them stored away

250/400 watt ballast from Amazon fired them right up with various bulbs.

 

[areefer01]

Halide shimmer and Kessil shimmer are not the same. Anyone that’s run both should know this. With a Kessil, you have to almost kill the surface agitation to get a good shimmer. Or even better is to pair it with a nice flat LED bar or T5s. Kessil shimmer is so overpowering it makes me sick to look at it and I LOVE halide shimmer.

My own opinion after running most LEDs is Kessils are the most overrated LED out there. Not because they are bad in any way. They work and have some great pros. I run three of the Tuna Sun over my vivarium. Looks very natural IMO with lots of contrast, shadows, hot spots, etc…in a reef tank I find most of that to be a negative though.

I only provided the video to show one example of Kessil shimmer. Not to drive the narrative to better, best, etc. Just an example if that makes sense.

 

[rtparty]

I only provided the video to show one example of Kessil shimmer. Not to drive the narrative to better, best, etc. Just an example if that makes sense.

I was simply pointing out that the whole “Kessil = halide shimmer” narrative isn’t correct IMO. Your video validates that

 

[PlumberDude]

Just removed 4 xr30 g5 blues for 4 250 watt radiums and 4 -blue reefbrite xhos.
Cant beat the halide shimmer and just a crisp look.

 

[PlumberDude]

Just removed 4 xr30 g5 blues for 4 250 watt radiums and 4 -blue reefbrite xhos.
Cant beat the halide shimmer and just a crisp look.

This is the aluminum rack i built.

 

[Tahoe61]

Yes. Twelve yr old image. I have a Hamilton pendant and ballast, with bulbs. I sincerely wish it were realistic to run them, but in Arizona without a chiller it's problematic. To me MH was and is the most aesthetically pleasing.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

miss how fast they grew coral. I also miss the same speed of growth i got from t5 which i may go back to

 

[bobnicaragua]

miss how fast they grew coral. I also miss the same speed of growth i got from t5 which i may go back to

My halides occasionally come down and I run T5 LED hybrid in my SPS tank. The coloration and growth are great.

My T5 never come down.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

My halides occasionally come down and I run T5 LED hybrid in my SPS tank. The coloration and growth are great.

My T5 never come down.

At first I was thinking going the Aquatic life route for my new 4 foot tank but after owning an ATI many years ago, the reflectors are so much better and may just get a full 6 bulb fixture. I am so not impressed by the PAR that my A360's put out. My quanta bar is much better. I used that with the the kessils.

 

[bobnicaragua]

Halide tank under blues

 

[GeoSquid]

Those halides are beautiful!

 

[Acroguy]

400W Giesemann spectras.
I also use a plasma light

 

[Michael71]

400W Giesemann spectras.
I also use a plasma light

Are you able to get anymore color pop out of those spectras.

 

[jackson6745]

Are you able to get anymore color pop out of those spectras.

I also run a spectra with 400w radiums. The pop is not like LED, but the photo is not like led either. Put a blue led spectrum and orange filter and everything looks crazy. In general, every non-blue/purple acro will have more pop under LEDs with a blue spectrum. The colors under halide are still there. Just different rendering. I generally don’t bother with tenuis under halides since their best colors are based off of led color rendering and high par blue led pull those pink hues very well.

 

[Michael71]

Yeah my phoenix 14k always made my corals look brown until i turned on my blue t5's which gave me the pop i was looking for. But that also depended on the corals....my shrooms always looked great under MH zoas/palys were marginal and needed to t5.

 

[Acroguy]

I also run a spectra with 400w radiums. The pop is not like LED, but the photo is not like led either. Put a blue led spectrum and orange filter and everything looks crazy. In general, every non-blue/purple acro will have more pop under LEDs with a blue spectrum. The colors under halide are still there. Just different rendering. I generally don’t bother with tenuis under halides since their best colors are based off of led color rendering and high par blue led pull those pink hues very well.

I dobt really care about that blue pop, I have Blue LED strips installed for that but I actually care more about the overall health of the coral and growth. And the shimmer like on an actual reef. Nothing comes close to Halide shimmer or Plasma. Some Acros actually look better under daylight spectrum. I am using giesemanns crystal 400 W bulbs. So pretty white light.

 

[Michael71]

Awesome, i have been pondering the geisemann spectra for a new 100gl cube build so appreciate the pic. Have been wanting to see them in action.