LED to replace T5

[AetherealKnight]

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.

Try Current USA Orbit Marine 72” ($299.99) the only thing you’ll be keeping are softies though.

 

[oreo54]

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.

So you have a 6' fixture?
80w each bulb... $25 for coral centric spectrum.
I'll assume 6 for now..
Say $150 every 18 months.
480 watts.
4 Nicrew 100's plus controller is about $660
Amazon product
You could probably "get away" with 3

There are other "like" brands in this price range.

6yrs is approx "break even" barring no ballast failure ect ..or led failure.

Another budget brand ..They have been around awhile..
120 reflectors and run the leds "soft" so they will look a bit under-powered for the diode count.
224 leds all together so probably about 200-ish watts
180w @ $315.

Package Includes:
2 panel+1 controller...300-350 PAR@25CM

Pardon Our Interruption...

A reminder about Viparspectra or other "black box" led. When they say 165W they do not mean watts.
That are around 110w each with approx 55 w each channel (1 blue, 1 not blue).
If you like real blue tanks your usable wattage is considerably lower. Sever lensing makes up for some of this loss.

How many bulbs you are running now, how wide the tank, what you want to grow, and how deep is helpful in choosing lighting.

 

[robanister]

These will work great but you will need 3.

 

[Bohemian Waxwing]

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.

That's true, I can only purchase 67 bulbs for the same price of two comparable LEDs :D

 

[minus9]

If you want quality and a bar that stands out, then check out Quanta Helix.

 

[Oldreefer44]

the term "budget" has a different meaning for different people. Better to give an amount you are willing to spend.

 

[TCoach]

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.

Good T5 bulbs should give you 18-24 months. :)

 

[Heres_doe_]

the term "budget" has a different meaning for different people. Better to give an amount you are willing to spend.

Oh I see

 

[Heres_doe_]

Good T5 bulbs should give you 18-24 months. :)

Good to know

 

[141918]

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

I just got the blade and love it. Nice light with an app to boot. Only recently bought it so have no context for longevity

 

[Rick]

Sounds like you should prob add some reef brites to your t5s…. the t5 will grow corals much better than eBay/ Chinese leds (or any of the high end leds honestly )

 

[WhatCouldGoWrong71]

I will only use T5, I am not converting to LED strips. If I did I would really be looking closely at Quanta. But, I’m a big T5 guy.

 

[slythy]

Even with my Xr15's and Xr30's on my tanks I still run a hybrid setup with 4 bulb T5. Its hard to beat the coverage.

70g 2 xr15's and 2 36" ati Coral Plus and 2 36" Blue Plus

180g 3 xr30's with 2 60" ati Coral Plus and 2 60" Blue Plus

If you are happy with how your T5's work then there is no reason to change. I keep thinking of changing my t5's to Led bars but it just doesnt make any sense to do right now honestly.

 

[ChrisfromBrick]

can i ask why you want to get out of t5? Lack of shimmer? too much electricity? Lack of dawn/dusk? LED is great but I don't think it is any better than t5 in terms of PAR.

When I ran an ATI t5 unit years ago, I had some of the best growth i've ever seen. I wish I had taken better care of that light because i would have had it over my current tank now. Had to throw it out due to sheer neglect and lack of maintenance.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I would keep the T5 and add a blue LED bar. Going to a modular LED without supplementation is a move in the wrong direction due to shadowing.

 

[Steven Garland]

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.

Those new Mitra light bars from GHL are cheap fpr what they are. Get some Alibaba led bars if you dont want to spend much.

 

[rtparty]

Shadowing is completely dependent on which lights you pick.

These are two different lights. Can you tell which is which?

 

[bobnicaragua]

Shadowing is completely dependent on which lights you pick.

These are two different lights. Can you tell which is which?

LED panels or lots of LED modules work great. Going from T5 to one or two modular lights is a step in the wrong direction.

 

[rtparty]

LED panels or lots of LED modules work great. Going from T5 to one or two modular lights is a step in the wrong direction.

Using any item or technology incorrectly is a move in the wrong direction.

 

[Heres_doe_]

LED panels or lots of LED modules work great. Going from T5 to one or two modular lights is a step in the wrong direction.

I won’t just get one or 2 need 3 minimum for sure