Kessil LED vs Halide T5

[A. grandis]

The ballast comes with a bare 3 wire plug that plugs to the ballast (black). The spectra came with a 3 wire plug that you put the 3 bare wires from the ballast to make the connection.(white)

Took 5 minutes and a screw driver.

Not too bad!!
Did that white connector came with them?
Thanks very much!
Grandis.

 

[BoomCorals]

Not too bad!!
Did that white connector came with them?
Thanks very much!
Grandis.

The white connector comes with the spectra fixture.

 

[Crabs McJones]

.....how in the heck have I not seen this thread before! Definitely following along!

 

[A. grandis]

The white connector comes with the spectra fixture.

Great! Thanks very much!
Grandis.

 

[BoomCorals]

Pearlberry pic added to first page. Will do the first update of pics at the 2 week mark.

 

[BoomCorals]

Latest update. Only took pics that you could see obvious growth.

HalideT5 ORA Pearlberry 10/19

10/31 - pretty significant encrusting going on at the base. Also coloration change, which I'd expect with any frag.

HalideT5 Flaming Phoenix 10/19

10/31 - some new growth, some coloration change

HalideT5 FF Red Robin 10/19

10/31 - significant encrusting

LED Pearlberry 10/19

10/31 - a bit of encrusting

LED Flaming Phoenix 10/19

10/31 - some new growth, also coloration change

LED FF Red Robin 10/19

10/31 - some encrusting

 

[10Seconds]

Following. Actually have been all along, but posting so I can find the thread easier.

 

[AubreyLin]

I’m really excited to see what your results will be!! I’m currently making the switch from MH/T5, and will be running Kessil A160’s with 2 T5’s. Hoping my tank stays the same or improves, fingers crossed.

 

[BoomCorals]

Here is the latest update, this time simply comparing halide to LED. In the pics below I took the halide frags out of their tank and put them next to the LED frags in the LED tank in order to do a direct color comparison.

ORA Pearlberry LED

ORA Pearlberry Halide T5

FF Red Robin LED

FF Red Robin Halide T5

Rainbow Monti LED

Rainbow Monti Halide T5

Cornbred's Flaming Phoenix Monti LED

Cornbred's Flaming Phoenix Monti Halide T5

I will make a personal observation. The growth rate in the Halide T5 tank is significantly faster compared to the various LEDs I have/had including SBReef, Kessil, Radion, and AI lights. In addition, I have several frags that I've had for 9 months that never did anything. They were either brown or even in some cases named aquacultured frags that never grew. They started under Radion G4 Pros, then eventually the Kessil. After only 1 month under Halide T5, they are showing color and growth.

 

[newbreefer316]

Looking good, I've been following along all your lighting threads. Just waiting for you to test out the new orphek atlantiks!
I used to have one of their older models, really liked the spread but I had way too much control over the light. Never had much luck with it but I now realize that's because I tinkered with it too much.

 

[rtparty]

Thanks for the continued progress and updates @BoomCorals. The halide frags have far better color IMO. Goes to show, like most of us know, that PAR isn't everything. The halides are definitely giving something that the LEDs aren't.

 

[Bronx19]

Good stuff.

Just when I'm set to go Orphek I'm reminded that T5/Halide is the king.

 

[BoomCorals]

Thanks for the continued progress and updates @BoomCorals. The halide frags have far better color IMO. Goes to show, like most of us know, that PAR isn't everything. The halides are definitely giving something that the LEDs aren't.

I've decided to change another frag tank to an 8 bulb T5 fixture and ditch the LED on that tank. Solely based upon what I've seen here so far. I've always been a proponent of LED, and hadn't used t5 or halide in 10 years. This experiment has been rather eye opening so far for me.

 

[rtparty]

I've decided to change another frag tank to an 8 bulb T5 fixture and ditch the LED on that tank. Solely based upon what I've seen here so far. I've always been a proponent of LED, and hadn't used t5 or halide in 10 years. This experiment has been rather eye opening so far for me.

Have you thought about adding the Aquatic Life hybrids to the all LED tanks?

I'm glad you're seeing positive results this quick. It goes right along with my own experience and findings. I wasted far too much time and money trying to get LEDs to work like the gold standard of MH/T5. The "outdated" stuff just works. Plain and simple.

 

[Bronx19]

While I'm here, for a 4ft tank, do you want 4x T5 + 2x 250w or 4x T5 + 2x 150w?

 

[BoomCorals]

While I'm here, for a 4ft tank, do you want 4x T5 + 2x 250w or 4x T5 + 2x 150w?

My guess is that the 150w halide would work ok.

 

[Bronx19]

I'm so tempted by the Giesemann Infinity its not funny. I know its the best light ans its half the price, but the power and heat are brutal.

 

[A. grandis]

Thanks for the continued progress and updates @BoomCorals. The halide frags have far better color IMO. Goes to show, like most of us know, that PAR isn't everything. The halides are definitely giving something that the LEDs aren't.

Like I aways say... par is just part of the equation.
Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

Good stuff.

Just when I'm set to go Orphek I'm reminded that T5/Halide is the king.

Hehe.
Grandis.

 

[A. grandis]

I've decided to change another frag tank to an 8 bulb T5 fixture and ditch the LED on that tank. Solely based upon what I've seen here so far. I've always been a proponent of LED, and hadn't used t5 or halide in 10 years. This experiment has been rather eye opening so far for me.

I thank you for the money invested, time and the will to do the test and post here.
I'm humbly blessed by this.
Thanks again Boom!
Grandis.