LED to replace T5

[Heres_doe_]

Looking into some budget led lights to replace t5 lights. What’s out there with good coverage and good price and color. Tanks 6ft

 

[NonstopSoda]

This isn't budget but I love kessils for LED lights but thats just my 2 cents.

 

[Spare time]

Any of the bar style (AI blade, Quanta, Reefbrite) will be a good replacement.

 

[Heres_doe_]

This isn't budget but I love kessils for LED lights but thats just my 2 cents.

Yea way outta what I want to pay

 

[cillam]

I would recommend noopsyche k7 v3 They are around $180 with the arm, you would need 2 maybe 3 of them.

 

[Heres_doe_]

I would recommend noopsyche k7 v3 They are around $180 with the arm, you would need 2 maybe 3 of them.

What’s par looking like

 

[Rick]

Look at the new light bars from GHL

 

[cilyjr]

What’s par looking like

For a 6-ft tank, to get anything close to the par you are getting from a good t5 system, I'm talking something like an ATI 8 bulb, you'd probably need six of those to get close to the par that's being put out.

What is in this tank, and how deep is it?

 

[cillam]

What’s par looking like

I don't have a par meter, so i cant say. i have a mixed tank and the coral look good, i just have a single noopsyche light for a 60 gallon, and the peak power right now is set to 60% so plenty of headroom if i need to increase the light.

Attached a photo of the tank, glass needs cleaning.

 

[Heres_doe_]

Look at the new light bars from GHL

I must be broke as hell or you guys are too rich for me. I said BUDGET light and I don’t even want to look at these lights you are considering budget.

 

[Heres_doe_]

For a 6-ft tank, to get anything close to the par you are getting from a good t5 system, I'm talking something like an ATI 8 bulb, you'd probably need six of those to get close to the par that's being put out.

What is in this tank, and how deep is i

SPS dominate about 24 inches deep. My par is about 300 at the top of the rock work. Using ati 8 bulb plus led strip. Full intensity for 6 hours.

 

[TCoach]

What’s the issue with your T5 setup?

 

[Heres_doe_]

What’s the issue with your T5 setup?

Was just thinking about buying bulbs about every year but now since you spoke up and I’m doing math even with me buying bulbs I might not even be in the hobby 8 years who knows might just be cheaper to keep her.

 

[Northern Flicker]

if you want budget and good, stick with T5. I love em and they still grow everything.

Bulbs harder to come by but that’s okay.

 

[Northern Flicker]

Was just thinking about buying bulbs about every year but now since you spoke up and I’m doing math even with me buying bulbs I might not even be in the hobby 8 years who knows might just be cheaper to keep her.

T5 bulbs don’t need to be changed that often. For a long time we all thought that but apparently they maintain their PAR much longer.

 

[cilyjr]

I have 4 54w t5 with my 6 reefi 2.1s.
I change the bulbs roughly 16 months. If you're staggering the bulbs, which you should be doing anyways, you would not be having a ton of flight loss on a 16-month schedule

 

[cillam]

Was just thinking about buying bulbs about every year but now since you spoke up and I’m doing math even with me buying bulbs I might not even be in the hobby 8 years who knows might just be cheaper to keep her.

I am new to the hobby so started out with LED, but how much money does it cost the power the T5's over the course of a year, plus bulb replacement. it may be cheaper in the long run 3+ years to buy LED. Just a thought.

 

[PharmrJohn]

Was just thinking about buying bulbs about every year but now since you spoke up and I’m doing math even with me buying bulbs I might not even be in the hobby 8 years who knows might just be cheaper to keep her.

Sorry, but that's a little short sighted (Sorry!). I've got enough new bulbs to carry my Tek 8x54W T5 array for about 18 months after I launch, but then it's throwing money away. You know how much it costs for T5 bulbs. The good ones. They are not cheap. Invest in a quality LED array and it'll pay for itself in no time. I'm gonna pick up two Photon V2 Pro 48" used if I can. Probably abt $1300 total. But those, run at about 30 to 35% will most likely last me the rest of my life. And with T5 bulbs running me at least 2 bills every 9 months run 12 hours a day, I'll get that back after 6 years or so.

 

[VintageReefer]

What is your budget and what type of corals do you keep

 

[zheka757]

Go on eBay and get good old viparspecras It's being over my frag tank for the past 5 years. And I grow acropora in there.