Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides
- Thread starter Goldcoastreefs
- Start date
For those interested in plasma I have found some good points and some bad.
Some acro love it, some acro hate it. Acro that hate it, tan themselves into a dark brown. Acro that love it, grow like wildfire and colour up. Gonipora LOVE it.
So I'm thinking corals that are shallow water, naturally thrive in sunlight spectrum, where the corals 5m and below are not used to the spectrum.
I noticed one coral growing like mad and another almost stunted.
So I am now running my old 20k halide and led. And have notice things are happier in colour. But lots of corals don't seem as happy in health, by that I mean polyp extension etc, they may simply be adjusting. But something's missing.
So I'm thinking I need to gradually introduce the plasma again, but ensure when it's running that it's flanked by some 25k halides to help keep that spectrum up higher and still deliver the insane broad spectrum of the plasma
To sum It up plasma on its own is too intense in the lower kelvin. But offers the full spectrum. Let's see how a combination goes.
Some acro love it, some acro hate it. Acro that hate it, tan themselves into a dark brown. Acro that love it, grow like wildfire and colour up. Gonipora LOVE it.
So I'm thinking corals that are shallow water, naturally thrive in sunlight spectrum, where the corals 5m and below are not used to the spectrum.
I noticed one coral growing like mad and another almost stunted.
So I am now running my old 20k halide and led. And have notice things are happier in colour. But lots of corals don't seem as happy in health, by that I mean polyp extension etc, they may simply be adjusting. But something's missing.
So I'm thinking I need to gradually introduce the plasma again, but ensure when it's running that it's flanked by some 25k halides to help keep that spectrum up higher and still deliver the insane broad spectrum of the plasma
To sum It up plasma on its own is too intense in the lower kelvin. But offers the full spectrum. Let's see how a combination goes.
Sohal Tang Tim
Member
I went from 400 watt radions, to 2 x 8 bulb T5 ATI, to Led cheap, to LED mid range expense... and Although I miss the total coverage of the MH and the way the corals think they are the true SUNlight... i COULD NO longer part with the colour that LED causes and the viewing look of the LED... I think that LED supplemented with t5 is now the best combo for both colour and growth combined... MH as much as I loved them was not near as vivid as either LED or T5.... 20k or no 20k just notttttt as vivid and sharp colouration..probably closer to nature but....I am spoiled now on the sharp colours....but it has crossed my mind now and then to go back to MH as I miss the total no brainer of how the corals and even Magnifica anemones love em!
Sohal Tang Tim
Member
anyone thinking of dumping Hydra 26 hd's I am your man!
Thx people
Tim
Thx people
Tim
Totally agree, halide (maybe radium) excluded never show vivid colours. I run an XM 10k, it's on while I'm away at work, I never see the tank under them nor do I want to
I run Ai leds at night, tuned to how my eye wants them. I'm thinking I'll flank my halide with T5 and run led at night
Halide and T5, ya can't go wrong
heat/power and bulbs cost, but so would 4 Radion G4 pros ! Unless I was vegan and had to have led only.
Sohal Tang Tim
Member
update
update
So what did you do? Upatte..did you go back to MH, T5 and LED at night?
Results?
Tim
update
So what did you do? Upatte..did you go back to MH, T5 and LED at night?
Results?
Tim
Thinking of going back - I am!
Thinking of going back - I am!
Ok, there has been a ton of discussion/debate/fisk-a-cuffs whether or not LED is better than MH. I DON'T want to go there.
I'm here for MH/T5 info.
Current tank 120G SPS dominant and using 3 Radion G4 Pros running the AB+ lighting scheme. I went this route with this build. But I am not happy with the results. On the last tank, I was running (2) 250w HQI Phoenix 14k with (2) 54w T5. I've always ran MH/T5 combo. This was in an Aquamedic fixture.
I would like to upgrade to (4) T5 and a new fixture. I was looking at the Giesemann Infiniti HQI-DE/T5 2 x 250w / 4 x 54 watt but it's not available from any USA suppliers, but can be ordered directly then shipped. Not an option I want to try.
So I'm looking into the Hamilton 4 FT CEBU SUN SYSTEMS - 2 X 250 WATT & 4 X 54 WATT T5 HO with the electronic ballast option. But it's not HQI.
Any other fixtures to look at?
So, those of you running MH/T5 combo, thoughts on single end vs HQI and what single end lamp compares the closest to the Phoenix 14k? I know some will say the Radium 20k but I'm just afraid it will be to "blue".
TIA
Thinking of going back - I am!
Ok, there has been a ton of discussion/debate/fisk-a-cuffs whether or not LED is better than MH. I DON'T want to go there.
I'm here for MH/T5 info.
Current tank 120G SPS dominant and using 3 Radion G4 Pros running the AB+ lighting scheme. I went this route with this build. But I am not happy with the results. On the last tank, I was running (2) 250w HQI Phoenix 14k with (2) 54w T5. I've always ran MH/T5 combo. This was in an Aquamedic fixture.
I would like to upgrade to (4) T5 and a new fixture. I was looking at the Giesemann Infiniti HQI-DE/T5 2 x 250w / 4 x 54 watt but it's not available from any USA suppliers, but can be ordered directly then shipped. Not an option I want to try.
So I'm looking into the Hamilton 4 FT CEBU SUN SYSTEMS - 2 X 250 WATT & 4 X 54 WATT T5 HO with the electronic ballast option. But it's not HQI.
Any other fixtures to look at?
So, those of you running MH/T5 combo, thoughts on single end vs HQI and what single end lamp compares the closest to the Phoenix 14k? I know some will say the Radium 20k but I'm just afraid it will be to "blue".
TIA
alton
Well-known member
Giesemann Spectra Series would get my vote. Although I have not used this fixture, I helped some one with one and I love the fact it uses single ended so you can use Phoenix and Radium lamps. I have seen the 4' ones for sale used many times, once in a while you will see a 6'
Alton,
Thanks for the reply. I'll have to look for a decent used Giesemann since I can't get new.
The Phoenix, as far as I know, is only available as double ended. If I do go the single ended route, I'm not sure what lamp I will use. The Radium is only available in 20K, and I'm a little apprehensive that it might be to "blue" for my tastes.
Thanks for the reply. I'll have to look for a decent used Giesemann since I can't get new.
The Phoenix, as far as I know, is only available as double ended. If I do go the single ended route, I'm not sure what lamp I will use. The Radium is only available in 20K, and I'm a little apprehensive that it might be to "blue" for my tastes.
alton
Well-known member
The Radium is really not 20 K, it is 14 K. The 12K Reeflux lamp were bluer than the Radium. I ran both Phoenix 14K SE and Radium 20K at the same time using Lumen Brite Pendants and people could not tell the difference looking at my tank, and the Par meter read the same depending on the age of the lamps. I ran a Lumen Brite DE Pendant with Phoenix DE lamps and the Par was not as high as the SE lamps on my office tank.
Attachments
Alton,
Thanks for the reply. I might have to look into the Radiums then.
Anyone else running 20K Radiums care to post a tank shot?
Thanks
Thanks for the reply. I might have to look into the Radiums then.
Anyone else running 20K Radiums care to post a tank shot?
Thanks
call Coralvue they have some still I bought a 24" Infiniti off there ebay store for $300, before new years they had 48" for $600 which they were accepting less then that but took them down for some reason.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Giesemann-...gr%2F6ZrkA%3D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc
Four drachma
New member
I have 4 Kessil A360 X and two 400 watt MHs on my 400 gal SPS dominant tank...I'll always have LEDs for the viewing on my relaxing evenings. The MHs come on while I'm at work, they give my tank the growth it needs, but not very calming like the blue tones from my LEDs..I think a combo is the only way to get that.
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Thanks for the info!
Sohal Tang Tim
Member
i DUMPED LED AND JUST WENT BACK TO T5 AND THE CORALS IN 24 HOURS WERE LOVING THE NEW LIGHT!! NO REGRETS...I do miss the shimmer but I will throw a reef brite on there and voila ! Of course Metal Halide was a riot and grew corals like weeds!
reefdude135
New member
in my experience MH have a 12-16 month life cycle at close-to-full strength. Then , they gradually fall off, but not the rapid decline that is common the fluorescent bulbs. I've known people to use a single-ended MH bulbs for 3 years and it still had significant output.
YMMV.
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