Metal Halide vs. LED Thread

[gmoney243]

Well IMO, I still like t5's, they have a wicked color. But LEDs offer so much more benefit. And yes pricy, but in the long run no chillers,fans,bulb changing. It's new tech coming to the hobby and the people who have sworn by it for years don't want a change. I'm sure the same happened when the hobby Faided out for under gravel filters. As the hobby evolves trying to keep up with the NEW, is like trying to do that with the tech world. I in fact can't do with out my LEDs. My sps,lps, looks stellar and has improved in color over the last month or so do to me having the right setting. A tool is only as good as the user.

Mcarroll: I think your a spot on it all in getting them used to it.

In my big system I will put a t5 on it wit LEDs just for giggles n grins

Fact is MH were once under the same scrutiny as LEDs are now.

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[Zack]

I've seen great tanks with all three different lighting systems so obviously all grow corals and color them up fine. The main reason I like leds is because I don't have to change bulbs or deal with heat from the bulbs. But they are all good so let's just agree that everyone is right in their own way! That's the beauty of this hobby, there are many paths to take to get to the same destination!

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[robby2782]

I can't wait to see the new Ai's they have those vegas, I will post them with the ecotechs and see the difference my self.

That's the BIG problem I have; they keep coming out with better upgrades in their lenses, bulbs, and color combos to better hit the required spectrum. Was red, then green, now it seems violet is the next color they're adding.

You don't see this going on with T5's or halides which is why I haven't switched. I think it's dumb to spend several thousands on lighting when you know something better is about to come out. It completely depreciates the value of your light system.

I'll switch one day, but not until all this "new and improved" thing with this evolving technology stops.

 

[OurReef]

^ this is the smartest thing I've read in this thread. My halides are doing just fine, once LEDs stop advancing at the rate they are I'll possibly switch.

 

[SLUF681]

Wow that is cheap for mh bulbs ($13 and $11) you guys and gals don't know how lucky you are to live in the States for prices in this hobby!

Actually Rufus, here in the States we still have the option to spend $80 for a halide bulb, I just choose to not use a "name brand" bulb. I get all the benefits for 1/6 the price. The bulbs I use can be found at 1000bulbs(dot)com. Not sure if we're supposed to put the actual site or not.

 

[Poseidon]

Cleaned up thread, please keep posts on topic.

 

[fragmatic]

My thing is this,Take the nice Piece of SPS i just bought from a person or place that has led lights on there setup home and put it under my radiums and it looks like CRAP, i feel like led show a false color in all corals, its terrible.. I really dont like led lights! I have seen some tanks with good growth using ed lighgts but the color is just way off..... i like they use low energy consumption, but i dunno, for me there blah...

You can choose the colors and even adjust colors in many (my custom self built) LED systems to be what you want.

 

[Dapple]

I myself ran AI sols on a 75 and while I did get growth in all three classes of corals , my sps suffered or went white or brown out. So when I built the 125 I put the AI sols in the hood with 3,175w halides and I have the best of both worlds. I don't really run the whites on the leds. But I do have the blue and royal blue cranked up. My corals are beautiful now.

 

[EvilMel]

Nice to hear it, Darren!

That's the BIG problem I have; they keep coming out with better upgrades in their lenses, bulbs, and color combos to better hit the required spectrum. Was red, then green, now it seems violet is the next color they're adding.

You don't see this going on with T5's or halides which is why I haven't switched. I think it's dumb to spend several thousands on lighting when you know something better is about to come out. It completely depreciates the value of your light system.

I'll switch one day, but not until all this "new and improved" thing with this evolving technology stops.

I completely agree with this. It's not that I think LEDs won't eventually be as good as MHs either. I think they will, someday.

But until the technology settles down a little bit, there's no way I'm buying into it.

 

[k2parkstar]

Nice to hear it, Darren!



I completely agree with this. It's not that I think LEDs won't eventually be as good as MHs either. I think they will, someday.

But until the technology settles down a little bit, there's no way I'm buying into it.

I think LED has made its way in to the hobby and is showing that its as good as MH, maybe even better. I think the technology has settled down now that you have your mix of LED colors, and optics. Waiting for it to settle down anymore is like waiting for the newest cell phone to come out to buy, it doesnt matter because there will still be something newer coming along soon. When chosing MH you needed to choose wattage, bulb color temperature, and ballast. Same thing goes for LED now, choose color combinations, optics, and wattage. I think both can grow corals, both can produce great color so in that aspect its preference. I've seen awesome tanks lit by both. However LED offers more additional benefits, IE not buying new bulbs, and no heat. All that said I'm still on the T5 bandwagon!

 

[EvilMel]

I really disagree that LEDs have been demonstrated to be as good as MHs. Difference of opinion, buddy!

 

[robby2782]

I really disagree that LEDs have been demonstrated to be as good as MHs. Difference of opinion, buddy!

+1

Comparing cell phones to LED's is not a good comparison. If LED's were only a couple hundred bucks, I would've switched years ago.

 

[gmoney243]

+1

Comparing cell phones to LED's is not a good comparison. If LED's were only a couple hundred bucks, I would've switched years ago.

They are if you diy it. My kit cost $250 shipped love my lights been using for over a year

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[CoryC]

So the thousands and thousands of people who swear by radions or comparable units over the past couple years in their ability to grow coral are either making it up or lying?

 

[OurReef]

^ where did you get that?

 

[Pappy]

The "correct full spectrum" LEDs are just as good if not better than halides hands down. Not comparing cheap Chinese fixture that are blue and white and are not dimmable (junk IMO). However, maxpect, radion, DIY.....better color and just as much growth ime. Here's the difference....u Dont have to add a halide to make your tank look better!

 

[robby2782]

So the thousands and thousands of people who swear by radions or comparable units over the past couple years in their ability to grow coral are either making it up or lying?

You're putting words in my mouth if that's directed at me. My point is I'm not spending all that money if there will be an "upgrade" every 6 months depreciating the hundreds of dollars you put into.
I'm not saying halides are better, but they're not changing every month, long track record with well known growers, and half the cost.
I want to switch to LED's, but not until I see companies quit adding different color bulbs, changing lenses, and they quit gouging the price of their fixtures.

I think T5's probably cover the best spectrum, but I don't want to change that many bulbs every year.

 

[OurReef]

I run a 4 light t-5 2 true actinic, 1 lagoon blue and one actinic+. 320 total watts. Gives it a good 12k color to my eyes. Then I run 3 400w overdriven (440ish) 20k ushio halides. The overall color is roughly a 16k-18k. I would love to incorporate some LEDs as well to get the green/red/violet colors. I know some people that know some people, maybe I'll trade a frag or so and get them to make me 4 strips to run. The best of all worlds then.

 

[CoryC]

Wasn't directed at anyone. I just find it hard to believe people buy them and recommend them if they don't work. A new fixture doesn't devalue the current one. I just bought a first gen because it suits my needs better than the newer models. I can add lenses if I want. Just because you buy a new computer and they put out a new one next month doesn't mean yours is completely irrelevant.

 

[gregoryleonard]

I run 2 Maxspect Razor 160 watt 16000K programmable LED units over my 125 gal mixed reef DT and have good color and growth with my sps colonies, LPS and zoas. Been running LED's since starting up the tank (but started with chinese Blue/White) switched over about 3-4 months ago to the full spectrum Maxspect Razors and SPS colonies responded extremely well and have colored up very nicely. Getting 180 - 300 PAR on the sandbed. So for me, I am getting the growth and colors I am expecting in my SPS and other corals. So, while others will never (or maybe never) switch from MH to LEDs because it's what works for them, doesn't mean that the right full spectrum LEDs won't work for others. Just my 2 cents worth.
One more point I would like to make concerning SPS is that I have experienced that SPS, especially Acropora will only thrive in an environment that is mature (1+ years established) and in an environment that has stable parameters including lighting. Parameters such as Temp, SG, CA , AK, MG, Near zero Nitrate and near zero Phosphate. when those stable parameters are coupled with good full spectrum LEDs (and enough of them), you will get growth and colors in your SPS'.