maroun.c
New member
What I could never really understand in DIY (and even in ready made) LED fixtures is how people used to blame a small shift in the color of a MH or T5 bulb to cause HA or Cyano or browning of coral colors, only to start using lights that were not made for tanks to start with. Yes they don't shift colours but are they really the spectrum we need/want? The bluies are definilty nicer looking than any 20K halide can get but I'm more worried about the whites???
Another thing about comparing savings on chilling is to take into considerations where people are located. While for some cooling a tank is the main expense for others heating it or the house is the most expensive part? so it's not always true that the reduced heatload of LED means any savings.
Anotehr thing I consider each time I look at an LED lit tank is color rendition. the worst between MH T5 and LED is showing off the true color are the LEDs and the technology is still making huge jumps before it is considered as the method of choice for tanklighting.
A fixture that costs you 7-800 today is worht less than half after few months or weeks while MH or T5 are holding their price.
Would love to see a fair comparision for LEDs and MH like running two connected tanks one with LEDs and another with MH and get a clear comparison of growth and coloration under both?
Add to that most of us are not willing nor are they knowledgeable enough to DIY LEDs.
another variable is tank width, where some tanks like my 34" (front to back) deep tank will require LED fixtures in twos or positions from front to back for optimal coverage leading to 6 fixtures to give you good coverage of what 3 halides can give. Bulbs will cost you in yearly replacement but loosing a driver or other part of an LED fixture will be more expensive tro replace than those as you're counting on those to go unchanged for 2-3 years for a ROI...
Another thing about comparing savings on chilling is to take into considerations where people are located. While for some cooling a tank is the main expense for others heating it or the house is the most expensive part? so it's not always true that the reduced heatload of LED means any savings.
Anotehr thing I consider each time I look at an LED lit tank is color rendition. the worst between MH T5 and LED is showing off the true color are the LEDs and the technology is still making huge jumps before it is considered as the method of choice for tanklighting.
A fixture that costs you 7-800 today is worht less than half after few months or weeks while MH or T5 are holding their price.
Would love to see a fair comparision for LEDs and MH like running two connected tanks one with LEDs and another with MH and get a clear comparison of growth and coloration under both?
Add to that most of us are not willing nor are they knowledgeable enough to DIY LEDs.
another variable is tank width, where some tanks like my 34" (front to back) deep tank will require LED fixtures in twos or positions from front to back for optimal coverage leading to 6 fixtures to give you good coverage of what 3 halides can give. Bulbs will cost you in yearly replacement but loosing a driver or other part of an LED fixture will be more expensive tro replace than those as you're counting on those to go unchanged for 2-3 years for a ROI...