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MH or LEDs over reef tank (1 Viewer)

MH vs LEDs

  • Metal Halide

    Votes: 21 55.3%

  • LEDs

    Votes: 17 44.7%
  • Total voters
    38
Too many variables here that are not disclosed.

Type of tank your planning, size of tank.

Big difference in cost lighting a 40g vs. 180g. $500 doesn't sound bad on smaller tanks but $2-3K for larger makes decision much tougher.

LEDs are pretty well proven for LPS tanks, not as much for sps/acros so again the decision will be based on what your planning to keep as well.
 
I'm going with MH, I have had very good success with them so far. As for cooling issues, I have a chiller but have never had to use it (tank is in lower level). Electricity cost is always a concern but not enough for me to move over to LEDs just yet.

.... I will move to LED's one day BUT I want to see prices fall a bit more and for manufactures to deliver an led color combination who's spectrum is proven to grow out all corals especially SPS. I just feel that they are throwing all these led colors/spectrums into these light fixtures with no clue in how it's going to affect the corals health/growth. This is just my opinion and I would hope that there is some sort of R&D put into them to determine when, where, and how they apply different colors/spectrums for optimal growth and health. The other problem I have with LED's is there are so many different LED color combinations from every manufacture (even multiple combinations within the same manufacture) and they are for the most part all using the same manufactures of LED (Cree, Bridgelux, etc.), why? If you compare this to MH or T5's manufactures there are proven color spectrums that they all offe. We all know of the primary ones that work for our corals, 6500K, 10k, 14k, and 20k in MH bulbs and then the various T5's color options that are again proven to grow beautiful corals with no issues. Why can't the LED manufactures attempt to duplicate these spectrums that we know work? I have never seen a red MH bulb or a green T5 why would you need to add these colors to LEDs to accomplish the same thing? Too many questions and issues with LED's and not enough development from LED light manufactures in my opinion to just hand over my hard earned cash just yet. I'm not willing to let them use my tanks for their R&D lab!
 
One thing I want to add and then I'll move on. I WILL include LED's in my existing builds because I do like the color and effect they provide for my own personal enjoyment and of course it's fun to have the latest and greatest thing but I wil maintain my MH and T5's till I feel the market for LED's has matured to the point where they will exceed the standards that MH and T5 bulbs have set.
 
i think the best way to go would be mh/led instead of the t5 then you gave the best of both sides
 
I only maintain the T5's because the fixture has them. My new build is even more old school with T12HO's! I'll use them until get a chance to build my supplemental LED strips. I currently use a Orphek blue/UV-violet tube that I absolutely love so I hope I don't come across as a LED hater! I have used several manufactures LED's and DIY's. I did not keep them long term (over a year) so I can't say they were better. I had a poor experience in that they bleached my corals (my fault for not properly acclimating them) but after a recovery period after I switched back to HM they colored up and grew better in the same time frame as the led were used.
 
MH, since my tank will be SPS dominated and I have tested Radion/AI, I still love the MH look. I do like Blue LED's which i run in the night just to get color pop up.
 
I prefer the look of MH lights by far over T5.

I had a 250W on a 40b and had no temperature issues.


They cost more to run, but on my small tanks its a matter of a few dollars, on a larger reef you might really see a difference in the electricity bill.
 
If money wasn’t a variable, I would say LED’s and specifically those that have entire photospectrum capabilities. I am a little biased with the radion unit I have but just seeing how hot the MH’s become as well as having to deal with constantly changing them out every 8-12 months decreases their appeal IMHO.

I also believe that a unit like the radion would have a much higher initial expense than a MH but if you consider bulb cost and electricity to supply unit, within 5-10 years you would see the MH surpass the LED in cost.
 
I just switched to led, it was a lot to get used to, but so far so good. Have only had them for a couple months so jury is still out.
 
i have leds and i love the effect they have. currently only have lps and a few zoas in there but everything looks good, just found a new head growing on my fire and ice zoa so thats good
 
I've seen fantastic tanks under LED's, T5's and MH's. Too many variables to even try to discuss.

Everyone has a different opinion (and many can be plain wrong due to user error) and you really don't know until you try them out for yourself.
 
mh/t5 combo is hard to beat. some leds look great and make colors pop but lack in growth of corals especially sps. i think its vivid aquariums is doing an experiment with a big reef tank that is half halide half radion led and he says both have good growth and coloration...search on youtube mr saltwatertank halide vs led experiment.
 
LEDs can grow corals just as well as MH. It just has to be done right, with the right LEDs.

I feel this is a pretty relevant quote (I hope Garrett doesn't mind ;)):

Fragtastic Reef said:
My personal experience:

MH's give you a more true color for SPS and great growth. However I would have to say LED's give better growth than MH's.

The only way I would recommend LED's to a customer is ones that are controllable. With LED's you have to be able to control not only the color but actual output of the fixture. This gives you the color your seeking and the growth.

I ran a 250w MH on my 60 cube at my store and now run a Radion and the LED has far more growth than the MH did.

As for T5 vs LED I would recommend LED over T5 for just a couple simple reasons:
Bulbs add up alot with T5 when you have to replace them about every 10 months.
Less energy used with LED's vs T5 and the cost of a good T5 fixture will be very close to the same as a Decent LED fixture.

Fore example on cost difference: (Lighting for a 40 breeder)

Maxspect Razor 160w LED Fixture: Total Price $490

Best T5 fixture for the money.
T5 TEK Light Fixture 4 bulb: $326 (with bulbs)
T5 TEK Light Fixture 6 bulb: $399 (with bulbs)

Obviously when you look at the end result the LED fixtures make more sense...

Hope this helps any questions PM or call.

Garrett
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Check out the rest of the thread --> http://www.tcmas.org/forums/showthread.php?t=47099
 
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