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hedgefish 
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 Topic: lighting whats best
Posted: November 28 2011 at 11:53am |
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LED ,MH,T5s 35 galllon reef tank,30 long ,24 tall, 12 wide,what do you think,thanks
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hedgefish
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el_langa
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 12:46pm |
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russianrick
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 3:04pm |
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I think that this is a hard question to answer, because there are pros and cons to either. The big pro to LED lighting is that it puts out almost no heat and consumes a lot less electricity. The initial investment is generally a lot more with the LED lighting over Metal Halides, but you save money on electricity in the end.
I'm not sure if I want to argue that Metal Halides provide a better spectrum than LED's, because I have heard mixed opinions on whether the extra UB spectrum from the MH bulbs is actually beneficial. Metal Halide bulbs will look more natural and is a better analog to actual sunlight, but LED's can look pretty awesome.
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bur01014
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 4:26pm |
My opinion- T5 is best....
regardless, be careful with leds....a lot of reefers on RC took the plunge into Leds (AI, Ecotech, Radion, Maxspect, etc.) and have since sold them and gone back to t5s (ATI).....LED technology isn't there yet....
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Will Spencer
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 5:19pm |
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I've been a die hard MH fan, but after seeing the color from my Mom's new T-5 fixture I would give them some real thought if I ever had to replace my light fixture.
One major drawback to MH is the heat they put off. With 3 of them on my tank my home office heats up really bad in the summer when they are on and can even get hot enough in the winter that I need to open the window.
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Ahanix
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 5:54pm |
 bur01014 wrote:
My opinion- T5 is best....regardless, be careful with leds....a lot of reefers on RC took the plunge into Leds (AI, Ecotech, Radion, Maxspect, etc.) and have since sold them and gone back to t5s (ATI).....LED technology isn't there yet.... |
I wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun on the statement that LED technology isn't quite there yet. I have yet to see anyone sell one of the more expensive LED fixtures and go back to t5 for any other reason aside from the initial cost of the product. In the last two years I have gone back and forth from LED's due to upgrading tanks and I can honestly say that the growth and coloration was much better under LED's
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BillyC
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 6:01pm |
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I think there are a lot of people successfully using LEDs even here in Utah and from what I understand the technology is finally advanced enough for supporting even the most finicky corals. Also coral colors look freaking amazing under LEDs as we all know. Then you have the low heat and energy cost.
I have only used metal halides since I started this hobby and have been very happy with them as far as coral color and growth. I have also experienced (and I could be only an exception to the rule) that sps I have acquired from T5 only tanks have more of a slight pastel color and after a few weeks under my 250w hallides, the color intensifies.
All 3 are fine choices if you understand the ups and downs of each. I, personally, am switching to LEDs when I can afford it but am sticking with metal halide for the mean time.
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bur01014
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 6:10pm |
[/QUOTE]
I wouldn't be so quick to jump the gun on the statement that LED technology isn't quite there yet. I have yet to see anyone sell one of the more expensive LED fixtures and go back to t5 for any other reason aside from the initial cost of the product. In the last two years I have gone back and forth from LED's due to upgrading tanks and I can honestly say that the growth and coloration was much better under LED's[/QUOTE]
Not jumping the gun here....people are going back to their t5s....and these are users who forked out a lot of cash for the "high end" led fixtures. please refer to the threads/links below, there is really nothing else to say....I say stick with proven technology....if Leds fell into this category, we wouldn't see companies release new fixtures that differ every 6 months....
Edited by bur01014 - November 29 2011 at 6:19pm
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CapnMorgan
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 7:14pm |
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Personally?
T5's all the way. Love my ATI's.
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Steve My Old 180G Mixed ReefCurrently: 120G Wavefront Mixed 29G Seahorse & Softies Running ReefAngel Plus x2 435-8
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DLindquist
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 8:03pm |
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I have been using the tried and true MH (175W) / VHO combo for 15 years now. With our recent tank upgrade I decided to go for (3)400W MH's and (2)160 VHO's. With the brighter light our acros are getting color pigments we've never seen before. I have not had the heat problems so many others seem to have. I use two clip on fans that are set to operate with the 1st and 3rd MH. I am very happy with our set up.
While I have no personal experience with T5's, many of my fellow reefers have not been happy with their T5 setups long term and have gone back to MH's or gone for LED's.
While I believe LED's will soon be the standard lighting choice, I will be waiting for a few more years before making the switch as I also think LED's have a ways to go. I eagerly await long term results- color retention and new growth coloration, lamp spectrum, etc.
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bstuver
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 9:38pm |
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I have tried all lighting. I loved metal halide as I love the shimmer, tried t-5 and just didn't like the way the tank looked, switched to LED and have loved them. I have thought maybe I wasn't getting the best out of my tank with them and tried going back to MH but hated it as the LED's make things look amazing. I realized that it was stuff going on in my tank and not the LEDs causing what I thought was corals not looking good. My tank right now looks amazing!! I keep mostly LPS and softies but I do have a few frags of SPS and they have great color and are growing really well. I think it's a matter of what you like personally. Try going to look at several setups with different lighting to get a feel for what you like. I still love MH but hate the cost and heat associated with them.
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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hedgefish
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 9:51pm |
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i bought a led system and i had it to close and lost a lot of my coral put it up 15 inches above the water and im hoping for the best,i wondering if i made the right move.so sad,thinking getting back where i bought it but wonder if i should give it more time.
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hedgefish
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bstuver
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 9:56pm |
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You have to acclimate corals to LED as it is powerful. Either put it up higher or if you have the ability to adjust it turn it down a bit. However I am not sure that it would have killed the coral, I made a couple of mine go transparent(LPS) or white(SPS) but they still had polyps so I moved them down lower and powered down my LED and they are regaining their color.
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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hedgefish
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 10:13pm |
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no i did not,found out later and raised it up to 15 inches above the water just the other day,the rest of the corals are not doing the best but i hope they come around
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hedgefish
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sabeypets
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 11:02pm |
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I don't think LED tech is quite there yet either. I have seen unnatural color shifts in corals that have been under "high end" LED's. I can get a similar "pop" running super actinic/454 VHO's as running a LED stunner strip. I run Metal Halide's and VHO's. My tank does run warm in the summer and while I'm paying my power bill those running LED's are laughing all the way to the bank.
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Shaun American Fork  "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams
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BillyC
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 11:09pm |
sabeypets wrote:
I don't think LED tech is quite there yet either. I have seen unnatural color shifts in corals that have been under "high end" LED's. I can get a similar "pop" running super actinic/454 VHO's as running a LED stunner strip. I run Metal Halide's and VHO's. My tank does run warm in the summer and while I'm paying my power bill those running LED's are laughing all the way to the bank. |
Where do you get your 454 vho from shaun? I want to run the super actinic/454 combo but cant find the bulb anywhere locally. Just order em online?
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bstuver
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Posted: November 29 2011 at 11:41pm |
sabeypets wrote:
I don't think LED tech is quite there yet either. I have seen unnatural color shifts in corals that have been under "high end" LED's. I can get a similar "pop" running super actinic/454 VHO's as running a LED stunner strip. I run Metal Halide's and VHO's. My tank does run warm in the summer and while I'm paying my power bill those running LED's are laughing all the way to the bank. |
I have to disagree I have seen all sorts of lighting and never seen the pop you get with LED from VHO's . I have also sold several corals and they always have the same coloring being under LED when they get put in another tank nothing of unnatural color. I also don't have a high end LED setup as I can't see paying that much money for any light. I have a DIY that we built for less than $200 total over my 60g cube.
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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sabeypets
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Posted: November 30 2011 at 12:39am |
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Jackie- I have seen sps, palys, and zoas that are "fluorescent" greens, pinks, and oranges that have been under LED's. When put under Metal Halides there color is the same but leave them there for 2 to 3 months and there color will shift back to what I would call "normal". I have seen this LED "color bleach" in more than one system. I know there are people that love their LED's and have no problems. LED's are an option, I just think there is still room for improvements to be made.
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Shaun American Fork "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams
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sabeypets
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Posted: November 30 2011 at 12:41am |
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BillyC- I order my bulbs online from Hellolights.com
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Shaun American Fork "Would you leave a dead cat in your kitchen till tommorow?" Builderofdreams
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bstuver
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Posted: November 30 2011 at 1:08am |
sabeypets wrote:
Jackie- I have seen sps, palys, and zoas that are "fluorescent" greens, pinks, and oranges that have been under LED's. When put under Metal Halides there color is the same but leave them there for 2 to 3 months and there color will shift back to what I would call "normal". I have seen this LED "color bleach" in more than one system. I know there are people that love their LED's and have no problems. LED's are an option, I just think there is still room for improvements to be made. |
Oh definitely and obviously everyone has their own opinions:) So as I said go look at tanks and see what you like. I personally have never liked t5 still love mh but hate my electric bill :)
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Jackie Stuver
"wait these aren't the happy Hawaiians oompa doompa godly heaven on your face zoas? I dont want them then. lol!" Ksmart
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