LED versus Fluorescent or Metal Halide?

[kve13143]

I am looking to add some lights to my aquarium but am having trouble researching lights. As much as I love the control of some LEDs, Fluorescent and Metal Halide lights seem so much cheaper and easier to find. One LED lighting setup is >200 USD while the price of fluorescent Zoo Meds with hood are closer to 50-100 USD.

Are there any cons to utilizing these alternative lighting systems?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

What size is your tank?

 

[Reefering1]

There are pros and cons to each lighting type. What are your goals for the tank?

 

[rtparty]

One round of bulb changes on the T5 and you’ll be over the $200 the LED cost. Now do that over and over.

Look up the Nicrew Gen 2 light

 

[Spare time]

Noopsyches lights are super cheap and effective.

 

[kve13143]

There are pros and cons to each lighting type. What are your goals for the tank?

I just want it really well lit. Its a small nano tank.
23.24 in L x 12.8 in W x 9.89 in H

Hoping to add some corals to it soon.

 

[kve13143]

One round of bulb changes on the T5 and you’ll be over the $200 the LED cost. Now do that over and over.

T5 and T8 lights are really cheap. The bulbs are only about 10-35 USD.

SaltwaterAquarium.com: https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/search.php?search_query=Fluorescent+Bulb+Coral&section=product

ATI T5 Lights: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ati-coral-plus.html

ZooMed T5 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...oral-sun-actinic-420-fluorescent-bulb-1320572

Zoomed T8 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-coral-sun-t-8-bulb-25-watts

 

[rtparty]

T5 and T8 lights are really cheap. The bulbs are only about 10-35 USD.

SaltwaterAquarium.com: https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/search.php?search_query=Fluorescent+Bulb+Coral&section=product

ATI T5 Lights: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ati-coral-plus.html

ZooMed T5 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...oral-sun-actinic-420-fluorescent-bulb-1320572

Zoomed T8 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-coral-sun-t-8-bulb-25-watts

T8s won’t work.

Good T5 bulbs are roughly $25 each and only going up then eventually going away.

On a 12” wide tank you need at least 2 bulbs which will be super hard to get a good combo but can work. That’s $50 a year on new bulbs.

A Nicrew 100 would work plenty well

 

[Triggreef]

I've sworn by kessil for years. After some experimenting I've found some very solid knock off lights that are nearly identical in the color and par output from kessil tuna blue a360 pendant lights. I cannot vouch for how long they last because I've only swapped to them about 6 months ago. But at about 20 percent of the cost these are what I will be using going forward. Hands down. From Amazon...

Lominie a120

 

[00W]

T5 and T8 lights are really cheap. The bulbs are only about 10-35 USD.

SaltwaterAquarium.com: https://www.saltwateraquarium.com/search.php?search_query=Fluorescent+Bulb+Coral&section=product

ATI T5 Lights: https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/t5-ati-coral-plus.html

ZooMed T5 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petco...oral-sun-actinic-420-fluorescent-bulb-1320572

Zoomed T8 Coral Sun: https://www.petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/product/zoo-med-coral-sun-t-8-bulb-25-watts

I'm a T5 fanatic.
Been using them for years and years.
They'll grow anything.
With that being said I recently needed to replace bulbs on 2 different tanks, one ballast and a 2 bulb fixture.
I replace bulbs every 9 months.
I put $250 bucks into 2 nicrew hyperreef 100w fixtures with a controller and I'm never looking back.
I never thought I'd go to LEDs but I couldn't be happier.
I've got ramp timing, adjustability, no heat issues and built in timer.
No more buying bulbs.

 

[Cichlid Dad]

T5 and T8 lights are really cheap. The bulbs are only about 10-35 USD.

T8 is no good, t5 will be 80.00 per year plus fixture. For a new system I would not do florescent. Even a vipraspectra for 150.00 will do everything you need. This is coming from a t5 reefer. I have a few years of t5 stocked up knowing they are probably on the way out.