- Joined
- Aug 27, 2015
- Messages
- 1,296
- Reaction score
- 980
Well I was believing MH was better but was doing well with Orphek leds. Right now I have smaller tank 36x24x24. I have two reefi uno over it. Had a couple of frags die running them about 60% output. Down to peak day about 40% everything is doing well. Tank is 7 months old. Have a clam about 4 months it has grown 30-40 percent. At 40 percent power lights give off no heat and will lasts much longer than 4-5 years. Even the lights being brighter don't think it caused coral loss. Two frags out of 20 in a new tank and had a dino outbreak. Had zero nitrates and .02 phosphate, brought nitrates up by dosing neophos. Kept lights lower and shorter cycle dino completely gone in two days. Today my rock and sand look like the day I put them in with a few spots of coralline. Almost every fish and snail is about cleanup. Even the couch snails.Honest question, how do you feel about having to change the LED after 4-5 year to make up for their decay/loss in power? If we have to use more LED fixtures and have to change them every 4-5 years that ends up costing a good deal more than 4-5 year of MH bulbs, no? That said I have some "high-end" LEDS, but am weighing the truth of the replacement / power cost claims of late. The second half, power consumption, is more complicated question as we have to consider tank depth / MH wattage to LED Wattage and any cooling issues/costs.