Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

[bhazard451]

The LEDs with a little help from the t5s in 420nm spectrum work well for me. Since you have all the hardware, why not give that a try ?

Despite my love for LEDs, I also agree that if you can run T5s as actinic along with them, that it would be beneficial and the best of both worlds.

 

[creefer01]

The LEDs with a little help from the t5s in 420nm spectrum work well for me. Since you have all the hardware, why not give that a try ?

That's just the problem. I have no LED hardware. I sold the old LED fixture I had with my Solana when I sold it. I have been doing some homework on DIY LED however.......

I've also considered tearing apart the T5 fixture I have and converting it to a 4 lamp fixture and adding a DIY LED in the center of the fixture. It's the most attractive option at this point. I just need to do a little more homework to confirm that I can get this done the way my mind tells me I can.

 

[power boat jim]

Despite my love for LEDs, I also agree that if you can run T5s as actinic along with them, that it would be beneficial and the best of both worlds.

I dont see anything wrong with making use of the best tried and true technology along with the best of the up and coming hardware.

 

[ReefUrchin]

I didnt do any research of my own got into an accident and lost both legs and arms and the rest of my body is burnt.

Holy moses, so sorry to hear, cant believe that happened! Got BBQ sauce!?

I like my DIY LED's and have had them for about 10 months. The corals seem to be doing about the same as when I ran halides, and save for a few emitters they are basically blue and white. I wouldn't go back to halide.

U have a pic and or build sheet?

i think my corals look just like they do under some of the nicest halide tanks ive seen..i run just blue and white leds from china with 6 foot VHO super actinics..IMO best combo out there and works wonders on my corals! hopefully another year( that will be close to 2 1/2-3 years of LEDS all of my frags will be large colonies) and then people may beleive..

Again, whats your LED layout? Everyone says they have the nicest, and, while I understand color is in the eye of the beholder, they never say what they have to at least give "ideas" to the GP

It's power boat jim's tank, and yes it is a gorgeous tank.

So pink and purple. Me likey the blue, but, nice size corals!!

I had 3 AI SOL blues, he had 2 150watt Phoenix bulbs with t5 supplements.

What bulbs did your friend have? I just got halides and may be looking for a bulb change. I have 20k odyeas and 2 20k pheonix halides and I am about to change out the PCs for T5's

 

[mussel and hate]

Not at all, but when someone ridicules people in just about very led thread for their choices in led fixtures, it warrants asking them to show their tank. I am sure he understands now why that is poor form and doesn't help, even if his points are valid, the delivery wasn't helpful. This technology changes rapidly, which is a good thing, but the early adopters do not merit ridicule, they should be thanked instead.

Wasn't that just a rationalization for your argumentum ad pictura? Admit it and move on.

 

[sirreal63]

Sure, why not. :beer:

 

[xme960]

I'm switching from metal halide+T5 to Leds. Because I figured out in this way I could save around $450 annually (electric bill, bulb replacement, chiller). hope everything goes on well.

 

[epicurus84]

I've been running with LED's only (first pacific sun 120 now the tritron) from the start. With no big problems. Except that it was too low light (the 120) for acro's when not on top. With my new tank and 2x tritron lights there is no problem. My LFS uses them as well without any problems. However some coral's seem to get light shock when going to LED.

 

[jerpa]

I've gone from MH to several variations of LED and back to MH. There is definitely an adjustment period. My theory is that it has far more to do with the way the projected light hits the corals than any "problem" with LEDs themselves. LEDs are great if you can get the look you desire with them. I do love my halides though.

 

[chadfarmer]

Keeping my leds on my shallow tank and going back to t5 on my display tank

 

[sucker_fish]

I never made the switch, I have seen several tanks with led lights and even though they look OK I still think MH lights over a tank look so much better. Leds do give you that shimmer effect but the ones I have seen were not as intense as Mh. Also all the tanks I have seen with MH seem to have better coral colors than the led tanks I have seen. The cost of operation for led is definitely a bonus though...I think I will still hold out for a while longer and see if I can find a led tank that looks as good as MH. I know people show pics of LED tanks with nice color corals but they are always tanks that just switched over from MH to LED. If someone can show me a tank that looks outstanding after running LED for a year or so then I may think about it...

 

[Crkbaby]

I run hailides on my 120 gallon display tank that is looped into a 75 gallon frag tank in the basement that runs leds So there are no disputes the water quality is the same. When I pull corals from the main tank and place in the frag tank the corals are completely happy they don't even close up. Some led fixtures are a joke and don't put out near enough light in my opinion there are probably about 7 that I have seen and think are good and dozens that I know before there lit won't do the job they claim. I am more than happy with them and going to be lighting my 240 gallon with all led.

 

[lilc64]

Quick question for everyone who switched from led to MH, how much did your electric bill go up when you switched back?

 

[Michigan Mike]

Quick question for everyone who switched from led to MH, how much did your electric bill go up when you switched back?

Please inform on both lights and be in depth. Acuurate electricity cost/time of use. Led and halide & ballasts info , be in depth please!
Thanks!

 

[Southern Flame]

I Swithched From 250w metal halide pendants because of my kids electric wise they did not run the bill up like one would think. Now they sitting in my garage collecting dust but they did give my rocks and sand that shimmer no other light can. I swithed to SolarXtreme HO

 

[ReefUrchin]

I dont get it. What do the kids have to do with it?

 

[lilc64]

I dont get it. What do the kids have to do with it?

Im a little lost myself.

 

[meegwell]

Quick question for everyone who switched from led to MH, how much did your electric bill go up when you switched back?

A very important data point is your cost per kwh. It can vary from $.05 to $.25+. Yes, FIVE times more if you compare a US State with diverse energy supply and reasonable energy policy to a State that may force their utilities to provide the most expensive, unreliable power sources. Other factors apply as well.

So if you go from a 100w LED setup to a 300w mh setup....the power usage went up by (300-100)*8 hours/day*30 days = 48,000 watt hours or 48 kw hours

The guy that lives in the state with sound and balanced energy policy says hey, no big deal, its 48 *.06 = 2.88 per month more.

The guy in the state with bad energy policy says hey my bill went up by 48 x .25 = 12 bucks a month!

A a bigger system with a 500 watt difference it would be 500 * 8 * 30 =120,000 = 120 kw hours * .25 = 30 bucks a month or 360 bucks a year.....


It really depends on your states energy policy.

 

[mcfa2403]

Just figured I'd take a stab at this thread too. I'm not necessarily the early adapter that constantly buys the latest and greatest, but I would like to acknowledge that we do need these individuals in this hobby. They drive manufacturers to come out with something that even if not better can have a claim made that it is. No one would do the research into producing led fixtures if they couldn't sell them in the short term (unfortunately this hobby alone cannot sustain this kind of long term research). The early adopter gives manufacturers a reason to not sell us the same product they did 20 years ago for the same price (you know they would if they could). In this way the latest-and-greatest mentality helps us all, if for no other reason than driving down metal halide costs and providing innovation.

As far as leds go I feel our hobby should at least attempt to embrace them as they are so much more eco-friendly in terms of disposal costs and energy costs (you know that whole thing about pollution acidifying the reefs). Plus think of how much research on lighting is coming from the diy-ers tinkering. I don't think its for everyone but I think it would be a mistake to right off leds just yet.

Anyone else curious about the fact that not only have most corals been kept under metal halide/t5s but also that places color up sps under metal halide before bringing them to sell (this part I may be off a little, but I don't feel corals look this colorful in the ocean)

 

[curthendrix]

Set up this tank with 4 AIs one year ago. All coral grown from frags. LEDs do obviously work but for pure growth and color I still prefer MH.