In late December/early January I set up a new 60 cube tank (24X24X24). I figured this would be the perfect opportunity to make the leap to LED because the tank would not transition from something to LED but be there from the start.
I have not been able to get much of anything to grow outside of some mushrooms and a frogspawn. Even then, they just got big but didn't really grow in the true sense. SPS and clams have only died slow deaths in my tank. I have been able to maintain very stable tank parameters and chased the problem up to the light. I switched water sources to another LFS. I thought it could be flow - so I tossed the Hydor power heads and bought Ecotech Vortech power heads. This leaves the Kessil LED lighting.
Yesterday, I did a LFS tour here in San Diego. In all but 1, the display tanks (not frag tanks) are all lit by metal halide. One store even has Kessil, AI and Ecotech side by side over a large frag tank. On their own, they look pretty good. They are, however, sitting right next to their stunning display tank powered by metal halides and they just don't compare. This same store really tried selling me on ANY of the LED setups - saying I just needed more. He showed me the way you can play with them, the storm modes and all the other cute features. When he finally realized I was not there to buy an LED (he no longer carries MH fixtures) he got down to the bottom line - he wouldn't put LED lighting over his personal tank at home nor the display tank in his store. That combined with all of the reading I do on here (I do a lot more reading than writing here) and it seems like an easy decision at this point.
I have a couple of options in mind. The first is the Hamilton Belize MH + T5 setup. I like the idea of being able to add some actinics for that "pop" in color. The problem is the cost combined with the fact that the ballast will need to go as well. The other option is the Hamilton Cayman reflector. It is inexpensive and allows me to add whatever ballast and bulb I want but lacks the T5. Any thoughts? Also, should I go 250W for the 24" deep tank? Going for SPS growth in most areas.
Thanks!
I have not been able to get much of anything to grow outside of some mushrooms and a frogspawn. Even then, they just got big but didn't really grow in the true sense. SPS and clams have only died slow deaths in my tank. I have been able to maintain very stable tank parameters and chased the problem up to the light. I switched water sources to another LFS. I thought it could be flow - so I tossed the Hydor power heads and bought Ecotech Vortech power heads. This leaves the Kessil LED lighting.
Yesterday, I did a LFS tour here in San Diego. In all but 1, the display tanks (not frag tanks) are all lit by metal halide. One store even has Kessil, AI and Ecotech side by side over a large frag tank. On their own, they look pretty good. They are, however, sitting right next to their stunning display tank powered by metal halides and they just don't compare. This same store really tried selling me on ANY of the LED setups - saying I just needed more. He showed me the way you can play with them, the storm modes and all the other cute features. When he finally realized I was not there to buy an LED (he no longer carries MH fixtures) he got down to the bottom line - he wouldn't put LED lighting over his personal tank at home nor the display tank in his store. That combined with all of the reading I do on here (I do a lot more reading than writing here) and it seems like an easy decision at this point.
I have a couple of options in mind. The first is the Hamilton Belize MH + T5 setup. I like the idea of being able to add some actinics for that "pop" in color. The problem is the cost combined with the fact that the ballast will need to go as well. The other option is the Hamilton Cayman reflector. It is inexpensive and allows me to add whatever ballast and bulb I want but lacks the T5. Any thoughts? Also, should I go 250W for the 24" deep tank? Going for SPS growth in most areas.
Thanks!