T5/LED vs T5/Metal Hallide

A. grandis

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:) I am happy that you are happy with your fixtures and that you are not depending on the T5s for contributing anything to the mix after a short time.

Not true! Please read the context!
I actually rely on the T5s a lot!!
I would just use my old halide fixtures if I wounldn't want/trust those T5s.
Here:
I also have the Vornado and I can touch the fixture without a problem...
The system is designed to run hot and those ballasts are different than the ATI.
That is the main reason why it doesn't really cook the bulbs!
I'm using Giesemann and KZ bulbs for the T5s and 250W Radiums in that fixture. The single T5 reflector for 2 bulbs isn't as good as we would have a single for each bulb, but it blends the spectrum of the T5s really well. As jda said... it's the halides that dictates what's gonna happen, mostly.
The whole system design allows the distribution. Love it!
 

A. grandis

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So you are saying T5 fixtures without active cooling do not contribute to anything after a "short time"?
Have you heard of the TEK T5's?
I grew sps out of the water with that fixture.

There are tons of testing showing t5s keep up much longer than we first thought.
Debating how good the spectra is is pointless anyways
I also had TEK for many years over another system and it was amazing!
Yes, the Spectra is a great fixture!
 

DSC reef

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I think heat is a real issue and where you live. We had twin 150 watt with 4 T5 over a 75 gallon and in no way could that tank run without a chiller.
 

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I think heat is a real issue and where you live. We had twin 150 watt with 4 T5 over a 75 gallon and in no way could that tank run without a chiller.

I bought a chiller shortly after moving from a single to triple halides to combat heat and humidity issues since my basement sump room was like a rain forest when using just fans. Then I found that the chiller warmed my house up as fast as I could cool it with the AC. My electric bill shot up $150 that month. I found that ditching the chiller and running the a/c and a single fan over the display lowered the overall humidity level, tank temp, and comfort of the home for just a little bit less money. Everything in the house rusting stopped as well. Everything is a compromise in this hobby the same exact setup just won't work the same way for two people, usually.
 

Jeremy Luke

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I don't know how one could have an issue with heat using 250w halides in combination with reasonable room temperature. I have a 48" Spectra over my tank with 2x250w Radiums and 4xBlue+ T5s. I see my tank temperature climb about .5 degrees when the halides are on. I use no fans or chiller. I keep my house at 72F utilizing an advanced technology called air conditioning in the summer ;)

I've run LED in the past. MH/T5 works better for me. The Spectra looks sharp too.
 

Jeremy Luke

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Really like the way it looks...
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jda

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Hoods and 400w or 1000w halides provide the most problem with heat. Even when I lived in the midwest with the 100 degree and 100% humidity days, open top with AquaMedic fixtures and powerful fan kept the tank from rising even one degree... and most days none. This was with 4x 250w Halides on m80 ballasts, so likely more wattage than this in actuality. I did need the fans in the summer... would have risen 3 degrees a day without them.

If you are going to use a chiller in a hot climate, then you have to put them outside or in the attic or something. People in Florida, Arizona, Texas and Cali have to do this no matter what lights they use.
 

A. grandis

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I think heat is a real issue and where you live. We had twin 150 watt with 4 T5 over a 75 gallon and in no way could that tank run without a chiller.
Well, any tank here would need a chiller to keep it at 78° - 80°F no matter of what type of light!
I had a chiller running on my 125Gal and the electricity was basically the same using the Sunpower 8 bulb T5 or the LEDs over that system.
Yes, chiller is a must to keep it cool here. The fan between the halides and the water surface will brake that transfer and the chiller will work almost as the halides weren't there. My electricity bill remains the same now. It works!
 

A. grandis

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Hoods and 400w or 1000w halides provide the most problem with heat. Even when I lived in the midwest with the 100 degree and 100% humidity days, open top with AquaMedic fixtures and powerful fan kept the tank from rising even one degree... and most days none. This was with 4x 250w Halides on m80 ballasts, so likely more wattage than this in actuality. I did need the fans in the summer... would have risen 3 degrees a day without them.

If you are going to use a chiller in a hot climate, then you have to put them outside or in the attic or something. People in Florida, Arizona, Texas and Cali have to do this no matter what lights they use.
My chiller is inside. It sits high on a furniture by the window, so the house doesn't get hot. It has been working fine that way and the halides aren't too bad either. Halides are on only for 3 hours a day though. The Vornado does a great job!
 

Jeremy Luke

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I was joking around with my ac comment. Halides definitely produce heat and that has to be managed. Energy, heat and bulb replacement are all downsides. The great growth they can produce and the fantastic shimmer they create are the upsides. For me the upsides outweigh the downsides but it's a personal choice.
 

Monkeytank

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I'm running Reefbreeders Photon 2 lights on my 10' long display 30" deep display with a lot of SPS. They grow faster than anyone else's I know of in town. They have good coloring. I'm adding T-5 to the mix to see if I get even better growth and coloration. MH isn't a fit for me because I can't stand extra heat.

The growth isn't just from the lights. I feed my tank live rotifers, 6 diferent kinds of pods, baby brine shrimp, and four kinds of phyto. I also vary the foods I give my fish a lot.
 

A. grandis

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I was joking around with my ac comment. Halides definitely produce heat and that has to be managed. Energy, heat and bulb replacement are all downsides. The great growth they can produce and the fantastic shimmer they create are the upsides. For me the upsides outweigh the downsides but it's a personal choice.
Yes, like most things in this hobby are personal choices.
We compare, see the differences in the results and choose what fits best.
 
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leepink23

leepink23

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I decided to keep what I got and am very happy, corals are growing well so I can’t see a reason to change. I appreciate all the feedback. I think the combination of adding the diffuser, cutting the radions down and adding the T5 hybrid has made a big difference. Now the big question is what to do with my giant star polyp rock so I can have a place add these new sps!

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patience is... oh look an acro pack fs!
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I'm a little late to the party here... but Giesemann in Germany will produce the 48" Spectra and ship to the USA for $150. I was pretty sold on getting one until I saw this Hamilton setup. It's a $400 savings over the spectra. Back to more research...
 
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leepink23

leepink23

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Well I bought the Giesemann Infiniti on BRS 50%. I am waiting on my 2nd ballast to come in since I only ordered 1, hopefully have it up next week. Will post current pictures and 1 month post halide pictures.

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leepink23

leepink23

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Pictures today, I am getting slow growth with the radions/t5, color is great in some and ehh in others. I do plan on keeping the radions/t5 setup until I am 100% sure I like the halides.

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