Switching from T5: LEDs or MH?

[Reefering1]

Certain Manufacturers have stopped producing bulbs. Just because you can get them today, does not always make it the best investment if you can't use them in a year. Just my honest opinion. If the op has them, don't stop running them. Probably not the best idea to change over to them at this point.

As for best for SPS, as mentioned above, the right mix of leds can be just as good.

What if you get more than one bulb? Aquabrightsolutions.com is new company manufacturing quality bulbs, promising fixtures/ ballasts

 

[Reefering1]

Eh…. I noticed no difference visually when I went from a Halide/T5 hybrid to LEDs only.

Umm did you even look at the tank? Visually, the look couldn't be more different. Let's be serious here

 

[xiaoxiy]

Umm did you even look at the tank? Visually, the look couldn't be more different. Let's be serious here

Sorry. I mean in terms of coral coloration and growth.

 

[rtparty]

Woohoo! Another “light” measuring contest with broad sweeping generalizations that do nothing for the hobby

 

[kyreefville]

I have a metal halide in the closet, and the hardware for t5 in a box. I really like the control of led regarding color, intensity, and duration. I can't imagine going back. It makes no noise and isn't hot at all. "full disclosure I"m not an sps reefer"

 

[zheka757]

I have 96" long tank, I started with leds, then added t5s, then added MH, after MH, my water got up from 79-80F. To 83F, that's running 4 400W MH bulbs 8 t5s and some leds. I had to install spit a/c system on my fish room to keep tempetures down.

 

[Reefering1]

Woohoo! Another “light” measuring contest with broad sweeping generalizations that do nothing for the hobby

It's been a while huh...

 

[jackson6745]

I have 96" long tank, I started with leds, then added t5s, then added MH, after MH, my water got up from 79-80F. To 83F, that's running 4 400W MH bulbs 8 t5s and some leds. I had to install spit a/c system on my fish room to keep tempetures down.

He's speaking in CM. It's a 3ft tank.

 

[jackson6745]

IMO it's not the right dimension for halide and you grew your corals under total coverage with high par from t5. I would go blanket coverage from led, more than manufacturer recommendation.

 

[Reefering1]

Sorry. I mean in terms of coral coloration and growth.

So if no difference in color AND growth, how do you explain the alk demand? What halides to which(and how many) leds?

 

[Reefering1]

The bigger the tank, the more halides makes sense. Of course led can do the job well if applied properly. T5 coverage is hard to match

 

[bobnicaragua]

Eh…. I noticed no difference visually when I went from a Halide/T5 hybrid to LEDs only. In terms of alk consumption, I had to increase dosing after I swapped to LED.

I think acros are healthier and more robust under halide, the colors get deeper/richer. It’s easier to keep them happy.

I've seen alk consumption go up also when switching from halides to T5/LED hybrid. 20K 250 watt bulbs aren’t exactly par monsters.

 

[rtparty]

Which light is being used in each picture here?

 

[xiaoxiy]

So if no difference in color AND growth, how do you explain the alk demand? What halides to which(and how many) leds?

24” giesemann infinity t5/halide with 14k Phoenix, 4x 24W T5s and apparently a BML actinic strip (forgot about the led strip)

I ran it on an old school 250Wmagnetic ballast, which probably pulled closer to 290-300W.

Swapped to 2x ReeFi Duo Extremes (I can’t remember run at what percentage).

I specifically switched because the room was getting too hot and was uncomfortable to be in when all the lights (halide, t5, led) were running.

In terms of alk consumption, it would suggest that LED grew the corals quicker than halide/t5, but who knows what other factors could have increased alk consumption (I.e coraline growth and misc).

 

[sfin52]

Hybrid t5 and led is the best of both worlds. The shimmer and saturation

 

[bobnicaragua]

Reef Brite fixtures with modern bulbs run cooler than old halide gear. I run a couple fans in the canopy and the temp stays between 79 and 80 degrees

.

 

[Dburr1014]

Reef Brite fixtures with modern bulbs run cooler than old halide gear. I run a couple fans in the canopy and the temp stays between 79 and 80 degrees

.

What is all you got up in that hood?

 

[bobnicaragua]

What is all you got up in that hood?

Haha,
Orphek OR3 in the front and back and little reef brite xho strips on the sides. 2 T5, one in front and one in back. 3 metal halides and 2 Reefi UNOs in the middle.

 

[Dburr1014]

Haha,
Orphek OR3 in the front and back and little reef brite xho strips on the sides. 2 T5, one in front and one in back. 3 metal halides and 2 Reefi UNOs in the middle.

Wow, you got it all covered!

 

[VintageReefer]

Switched from 2x250 Phoenix 14k with 4x54 t5 to full led set up when I did a rebuild. No regrets

A single photon 48 evenly covers my whole 75g tank end to end, front to back and color is completely customizable.