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- Feb 10, 2017
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Well, my first and only led fixture didn't keep my bubble tip happy and that's really what's important to me. I switched to CF and it's thriving like crazy! So, that is what is making me hesitant to buy another LED fixture. They are so expensive that I want to try to get the correct and best one first.
So, yes, I'll over analyze it ... a lot! ;-) So far in my small tanks since I've only had "easy" corals with CF lights, but want to be able to step it up a notch given the size of my future aquarium. I do have some time before I can pull the trigger anyways.
I saw for the first time yesterday (after posting above) a Kessil spotlight with strip leds. We both liked the shallow water light look. Reminds me of scuba diving in the shallower water. And that may also be why I liked the MH lights so much and if I do go LED I'll probably do a combo with the spot lights and led strips.
I used to have a setup of 3-400watt 20K radium bulbs with 320watts of T12 URI actinics over my 255. I switched to 4 6100 Mitras LED fixtures and I have never looked back. The corals did have a little bit more pop and color out of my MH setup. There is no doubt about it. I don't think you can get better color than that setup.....that being said. My electric bill is allot cheaper and I don't have a chiller on the aquarium anymore. I just purchased an upgrade to my led's to the 6300. It will give me more actinics and more intensity in lighting. I cant say much yet but review on the upgrade later.
If you go with 25owatt MH's you will not need a chiller but will be on the edge of hot tank with good fans running only on the fixture. With a fan in the sump, you can bring it down. With 250MH bulbs, you still do not get that super rich deep color. That is why I went to 400 watt.
So what I"m saying is that you can get good color out of all fixtures. I do not know how the latest generation of led's compare to MH 400 setup. But I will soon report. I believe you will have no issues with the following fixtures.
Kessel
Radion
Mitras