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I would really like to know how long leds last.
Old school and old too, lol.I for one, hope metal halides never disappear. As long as I run a reef, and as long as metal halide is still manufactured, I will run them on my tank. You just can't beat the ease (nothing to adjust). Just turn them on and go... And coral growth doesn't lie, so the corals seem to like halides too. But I'm old school, having been at this game for over 20 years, I like the old school approach. But like most things in this hobby, it comes down to personal preference. It does disappoint me that new reefers would never even know halide lighting was an option, because everything is LED. The marketing machine for LED's runs on overdrive, because obviously, that's where the money is.
It is my understanding that Europe is trying to phase out T5s now so they are on the way out...
MH have been in decline for some time.
LEDs keep getting better and last longer.
Well said!I can easily answer that - They last until the next generation of the same fixture comes out.
Good analogy! It makes perfect sense when its put that way.Can you substantiate such a claim?
T5s will be around for many years still, too widely in use to easily just phase out.
Problem with MH isn't lack of "quality" of light; they excel at providing plenty of light in proper spectrum. Eventually, people will run into problems with sourcing parts/bulbs.
They don't need to last longer - like iPhones, the next gen is around the corner
With MH and T5's you get a new light every time you change your bulb.
Thats alot cheaper than new Led's every few years, lol.
I would really like to know how long leds last.
Seems everyone upgrades every couple years.
Are their any studys on leds that plot their output over several years over a reef tank in the real world?
Maybe I missed them.
Anyone have a link?
I really like the orpheks but the Radions on 14k setting look real close to my 14K MH.
Leds are cheaper if you buy cheap ones.
I ran black boxes and they work.
Top of the line leds are not cheap if you run a large tank.
My next upgrade will be 3x my current 120 and will be MH and high end leds, the best of both world, imo.
I didn't mean that the quality was in decline, but the usage was in decline. Ballasts and the bulbs are steadily becoming harder to source.Can you substantiate such a claim?
T5s will be around for many years still, too widely in use to easily just phase out.
Problem with MH isn't lack of "quality" of light; they excel at providing plenty of light in proper spectrum. Eventually, people will run into problems with sourcing parts/bulbs.
They don't need to last longer - like iPhones, the next gen is around the corner
I didn't mean that the quality was in decline, but the usage was in decline. Ballasts and the bulbs are steadily becoming harder to source.
While it is true that lots of people have to have the latest and greatest, there is also always someone willing and able to buy the older versions. iPhone 8s are still for sale. I see a lot of G3 Radions for sale and they are not available for long.
Europe is trying to ban T5 bulbs, and the manufacturers are fighting it, I have worked in the tourist industry for a couple of decades. Travelers are demanding for hotels to go green. One of the quicker and cheaper ways of doing this is by replacing all fluorescent bulbs with LEDS. You can do this by changing the ballast or by purchasing the more expensive LED T5 bulb with the convertor built in. I did this last year in a hotel. We replaced 50 T5 lights. Our light bill was cut by 30% on the year. That makes LEDs much cheaper. Power only costs 9.3 cents a KwH for businesses here.
Idk the numbers but reef brite supposedly did that with their MH fixtures/ballast. I still haven't seen many jump on that though..People upgrade LEDs because the new fixtures are better - not because the old ones are worn out. They'er still rapidly improving. There are plenty of AI Sols and such out there growing corals - and older LEDs are a huge bargain - my $200 G3 XR30 grows corals just fine.
People keep MH and T5 fixtures because they've been static for 15 years. If someone came out with a new fixture that had 20% better output one 20% less energy, you guys would be all over it.
I have a really nice Geissman 250w HQI pendant sitting in a box somewhere - it'll probably never get used again.
It is just a matter of time before they are either banned or the companies stop producing them. Beer companies have stopped making 3.2 beer for Utah because they are the last state require the lower ABV. It is no longer cost affective. T5s will be around for at least a decade I'm sure. But 10 years is not a long time. I personally have T5s and I love them. But they will be gone sooner than later. I wish the LED T5s would grow corals. Less electricity and longer lasting bulb. That is the future IMHO.One of the nice things here if you take the time to read the fine-print, is that "specialty" bulbs are not included in this 'legislation'.
Cheers
You guys, lol.People upgrade LEDs because the new fixtures are better - not because the old ones are worn out. They'er still rapidly improving. There are plenty of AI Sols and such out there growing corals - and older LEDs are a huge bargain - my $200 G3 XR30 grows corals just fine.
People keep MH and T5 fixtures because they've been static for 15 years. If someone came out with a new fixture that had 20% better output one 20% less energy, you guys would be all over it.
I have a really nice Geissman 250w HQI pendant sitting in a box somewhere - it'll probably never get used again.
The great thing about LEDs is the vast majority of reef fixtures use pretty standard LEDs from CREE or other major manufacturers - who produce copious amounts of documentation about their products. (as opposed to say MH, where you're using small run specialty bulbs that have basically no data)You guys, lol.
I just picked up 2 used xr30 gen 4's this weekend to use on my next upgrade along side MH's.
Great price over the new ones.
My question was any studys on par and output from older leds as opposed to they grow corals fine.
If any have been done I would like to read them for a better understanding of how long they actually last.