2 options lighting in acro tank

Awesome tank! They sure do have every bit of that tank covered with led's, no shadowing at all from what I can see in the video. That gigas is incredible! I'm actually switching over to all led this weekend, I hope I have as much success as they do.
 
The same company (from Germany) setup a replica of that tank (same equipment) in the UK in a new showroom about 10 mins away from me. They put a couple of large clams and acro colonies too. I visited a couple of times. :D The LED panels cost $$$$$$$$$$$$$$ because each panel is COVERED in LEDs. There is TOTAL cover. Absolutely NO SHADOWS.
 
I read through the comments but didn't get any answers. Since we have no idea how long those corals have been under those LEDs, to me I don't think it "counts" per se. Meaning, that video is a year old. If nothing has changed with the LEDs what do the corals look like now. What are the chances those corals were grown under those lights? I know a few local refers who had MH or T5 and switched to LED only to switch back within a year. The corals look great in the beginning under the LED but over a short period of time the colors started shifting and the corals no longer had the same great look as they did the first time they turned on the LED lights.
 
I have had the three main type of Lighting systems common today (MH, LED, and T5) and I honestly prefer t5. If it were me I would pick up one of the many used ATI fixtures people put on sale cheap because they are switching to LEDs.
 
I run a maristar 2x250 with 2 T5 Phoenix 14K on M80 in the cooler months and switch to an 8 bulb Tek Elite with 2 Reefbrites attached in the summer. Don't know that the Reefbrites do much. Certainly they don't contribute any shimmer when the 8 bulbs are going. This avoids the heat problem in the summer, for me at least...
 
I have had the three main type of Lighting systems common today (MH, LED, and T5) and I honestly prefer t5. If it were me I would pick up one of the many used ATI fixtures people put on sale cheap because they are switching to LEDs.

+1 Besides, ATI Dimmable Sunpowers are dirt cheap in the UK (brand new).
 
I don't keep a reef aquarium to save money on bulb replacement and energy bills. I have yet to see a top notch SPS tank with LEDs that can compare to a Radium lit MH tank. So, what's most important to you, the best possible looking tank or still having a great looking tank and saving some money in the long run? I also think T5's are ultimately going to show off corals better than an LED set-up, so possibly a happy medium there.
 
Yup - this hobby is a money sink. If I thought about the money I would have to quit. You could make a green argument though...

Nothing green about this hobby, even with LED's and DC pumps. Just think about the carbon footprint of transporting our livestock alone. Anyone that thinks this hobby is anything but destructive to the environment is just fooling themselves.
 
Nothing green about this hobby, even with LED's and DC pumps. Just think about the carbon footprint of transporting our livestock alone. Anyone that thinks this hobby is anything but destructive to the environment is just fooling themselves.

Truth! Thank you.

Relative to the topic at hand, I'm a fan of T5 but can't say enough about a 400W radium lit tank! Personally, I think that a mixture of all 3 types of lighting makes a lot of sense.

For example, the use of blue and violet LED as sunrise, sunset, and actinic supplementation along with blue T5 and a stong MH daylight, really brings things out. I've seen a few systems like this that are stunning. But I'm still a T5 guy at this point.
 
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