LED or T5?

[24/7ReeFTime]

I have a standard 55 and was wondering if T5 or LED would be better for my system. I want to keep mostly lps like acans. Maybe some softies too. If you have any suggestions feel free. I was looking for a lower budget light.
thanks.

 

[Marc2952]

Go LED they last much longer, now if you decide to start goinf for sps you can then upgrade to a LED and T5 hybrid

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Go LED they last much longer, now if you decide to start goinf for sps you can then upgrade to a LED and T5 hybrid

The only problem with the hybrid is there would be so much light spillage. My tank is only 12 wide.

 

[fishybizzness]

I currently have a standard 55 with 2 ocean revives and have had good results. Check out CJ's aquarium on YouTube. His previous 120 had 2 of them and it was a mixed reef that was doing great before he had to shut it down. He also has a video on par readings for the lights and with the par output I think you can grow just about anything. Photo of my 55 and some corals attached. Hope I was helpful!

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

I currently have a standard 55 with 2 ocean revives and have had good results. Check out CJ's aquarium on YouTube. His previous 120 had 2 of them and it was a mixed reef that was doing great before he had to shut it down. He also has a video on par readings for the lights and with the par output I think you can grow just about anything. Photo of my 55 and some corals attached. Hope I was helpful!

Can you send me the exact ocean revives you use?

 

[fishybizzness]

Amazon has them. This is a shot of them over the tank

 

[24/7ReeFTime]

Thank you

 

[fishybizzness]

Anytime!

 

[YankeeTankee]

Do you like shimmer? If so LED will be better, if you don't T5s are the way to go.

 

[Mono]

I have 3 x 300 watt Vipar Spectra's

You might be able to save a few bucks on Ebay.

I have been completely impressed by the price point and power.

I don't think you can do better.

 

[KevinC]

+1 on viparspectra. Low price, good performance, unless you want to keep high end acropora

 

[Bpb]

Go LED they last much longer, now if you decide to start goinf for sps you can then upgrade to a LED and T5 hybrid

I’d put an ATI sunpower ballast set over just about any led driver or power supply in the same price range. That’s usually what will go first on an led fixture. Especially cheap ones. That or fans. Which between the two would be a wash.

 

[A. grandis]

I have a standard 55 and was wondering if T5 or LED would be better for my system. I want to keep mostly lps like acans. Maybe some softies too. If you have any suggestions feel free. I was looking for a lower budget light.
thanks.

T5s only. Get an aquarium fixture that covers your entire system and call it a day.
To invest on a Sunpower ATI fixture will be the very best in the long run.
The ATI Sunpower 4 bulbs will work. I would use the 6 bulb even though it might be a bit larger than the surface area of the tank. The more bulbs the better the combo possibilities. Can't go wrong with T5s!

 

[Aardvark1134]

Well is issue with T5s is look at the price of the 4 ft tubes you want...then multply by 6 for how many you have and then pay that every 6 months forever.

 

[Bpb]

Lol that’s absurd. With a properly cooled fixture you can get 18 months with only about 20% par reduction and negligible amounts of spectral shift. 6 bulbs is too much for that tank. The outer two would be pointed directly at the floor

At roughly $23 per tube you’re looking at about $100 every 1.5-2 years. Negligible. unless you buy yourself a pair of $900 top shelf led panels, you’ll likely sell your black boxes out of boredom if they don’t die first, before you’d even get through your first bulb change. That or get sick or the unusable dimensions of a 55 gallon and upgrade the tank entirely

 

[rc1626]

People need to be a bit more accurate with the information they put out there. Either way base the light source on what you want to grow and weigh the pros and cons of each. Do your due diligence in research. You'll probably be happy you did.

 

[A. grandis]

Yes, the 55gal. is narrower than the 6 bulb fixture as I pointed out earlier. 4 bulbs will be fine. I had a 4 bulb T5 fixture over a 55 gal. in the past and worked great.
I also had 2 X 250W halides and 2 actinic T5s over the same tank and it did even better, so...
It's about adapting the system, playing with photoperiod and offering the best spectrum for the organisms you keep.
Every day that goes by I am more convinced that T5 rules over LEDs in so many ways. Just my opinion. But everyone thinks different!

 

[Webslinger]

LEDs ... I can’t think of anything t5’s beat them at.

 

[A. grandis]

People need to be a bit more accurate with the information they put out there. Either way base the light source on what you want to grow and weigh the pros and cons of each. Do your due diligence in research. You'll probably be happy you did.

"research" nowadays is offered and mainly published by people and companies that will sell or promote products. The facts and results through experience will tell much better than any paper published or youtube video to make some money IMO. Again, everyone will have a different "experience" and follow different "gurus". All is fine!

 

[Aardvark1134]

Fixture 13 inches wide tank 12.75 inches wide 1/4 inch over is hardly the 4 plus inch (2bulbs) over you claim.