Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides
- Thread starter Goldcoastreefs
- Start date
I've built 2 of my own LED fixtures, using Cree XP/XT LED's, and I have also used Aqua Illumination.....
I have since gotten rid of LED's and gone back to T5HO due to increased growth rates. Sure, LED's are PAR machines....but it's not all about PAR. I bet Halides are even better when it comes to growth rates.
I have since gotten rid of LED's and gone back to T5HO due to increased growth rates. Sure, LED's are PAR machines....but it's not all about PAR. I bet Halides are even better when it comes to growth rates.
Really now:hmm3:
Just as cheap....uh, no, not even close.
Last longer, well, that remains to be seen. I have metal halide ballasts that are 10 years old and still running strong. The life of the components in these electronic fixtures is yet to be determined. I know folks with 1 and 2 year old fixtures that are having electrical components fail them. Fortunately for them, most of the LED companies are taking care of them because they don't want the bad press.
Don't have the issues of heating up your tank, but, you have to run heaters to keep the water at normal reef temperatures. So, that electricity is often negated.
TheReefKeeper
Aquaholic
Thomas Edison didn't parade false statements around as fact. Anything over 400 nm is NOT UV, and there is no arguing it. 400 nm is the worldwide scientific community's recognized limit. To say otherwise is not only absurd, but also shows a distinct ignorance regarding the topic at hand.
That's why I'm done with this discussion, and that's why I made the dead horse reference.
thecoralreefer
New member
And so the fad is over!!!!
Ron Reefman
Active member
Sorry Dave, but Shallow Planet is right. Just because many of the top led names like EcoTech, AI and a few others continue to ask crazy high prices, doesn't mean you can't get high quality leds at MH competitive prices. There are high quality leds out there that are cheaper than MH. I think the EverGrow line of products will change the entire price structure of the led market over the next year or two. Three years ago I paid $1100 for an AquaMedic MH for my 180g DT, last year I got 2 EG (EverGrow) leds fixtures to replace them for just under $700 ($340 ea). Ah... if my math is right... ahhh... oh cool, the leds are cheaper than the MH. Hmmmm.... :eek2:
mikeatjac
Active member
Gee Ron All you do is promote Evergrow and you are just putting them up and "are 99% sure they will work". Please wait a while before and then give us a before and after picture.
Ron Reefman
Active member
I promote them because I learned about them here at RC, they produce good color, high PAR and are a great value. Too many people only see Eco Tech, AI, maxrazor and a few other WAY overpriced leds as the only option.
So here is my tank as of 2 weeks ago:
Is this still going?
If you go back and read it from the beginning you will find that most of these questions have already been churned through several times.
In the end, light is light. MH does not produce a different type of light than led. A garbage MH will give exactly the same results as the equivilent garbage led fixture. A top notch MH with a great spectrum will give exactly the same results as the equivilent top notch led fixture with a great spectrum.
Led's will NOT save you huge amounts of money on your electricity bill unless you are running a chiller with your MH's (4 bucks a month for me....better than nothing I guess.) If you are running a chiller your savings could be substantial.
Led's DO work wonders on the temerature of your tank. Mine used to jump up to 2 degreees centigrade (roughly 3F) and now it does not.
There ARE a lot of really awful led fixtures out there, some of them very expensive and tooted as industry leaders. You do very often not get what you pay for when it comes to led's.
In the end the 2 things that will make led succed are how much light you can get out of them and how little heat it projects into the tank. THe fact that you do not need to change bulbs is nice too. Once these slow pokes can figure out how to get a really great full spectrum multi chip it will for sure be the kiss of death for MH.
If you go back and read it from the beginning you will find that most of these questions have already been churned through several times.
In the end, light is light. MH does not produce a different type of light than led. A garbage MH will give exactly the same results as the equivilent garbage led fixture. A top notch MH with a great spectrum will give exactly the same results as the equivilent top notch led fixture with a great spectrum.
Led's will NOT save you huge amounts of money on your electricity bill unless you are running a chiller with your MH's (4 bucks a month for me....better than nothing I guess.) If you are running a chiller your savings could be substantial.
Led's DO work wonders on the temerature of your tank. Mine used to jump up to 2 degreees centigrade (roughly 3F) and now it does not.
There ARE a lot of really awful led fixtures out there, some of them very expensive and tooted as industry leaders. You do very often not get what you pay for when it comes to led's.
In the end the 2 things that will make led succed are how much light you can get out of them and how little heat it projects into the tank. THe fact that you do not need to change bulbs is nice too. Once these slow pokes can figure out how to get a really great full spectrum multi chip it will for sure be the kiss of death for MH.
Ron Reefman
Active member
It's also nice to be able to change the color of your tank to just about any color you want, any time you want. And to be able to ramp and down the lights like the sun. I know those points mean little or nothing to the coral and fish, but they make the tank a lot more fun to be around if you are a human! Just try rampping up your MH over a 3 or 4 hour time frame.
And Mike, your tank looks terrific!
mikeatjac
Active member
As someone that used Radiums for many years I can honestly say that the growth is a little better on them. However the color is better on my Radions. The Wow factor with a LEDs that you can control individual colors on the better LEDs is fantastic.
Not sure what the cost savings on converting to LEDs really is long term. How many upgrades will I have? If you go Chinese lights will they still be around? My son has become a DIY with the issues he has had with D120s. I suspect cost saving are small.
Not sure what the cost savings on converting to LEDs really is long term. How many upgrades will I have? If you go Chinese lights will they still be around? My son has become a DIY with the issues he has had with D120s. I suspect cost saving are small.
Ron Reefman
Active member
Older, as in anything up until a couple of months ago, D120 still have issues. Many of the $180-$200 D120s still have loud fans. But just because they all look the same (or VERY similar) doesn't mean the ARE the same.
As for being around in... how many years(?)... who cares? Drivers and leds manufacturers will still be around. And I got spares with my lights for less than the cost of 1 good quality MH bulb. And you don't have to buy the upgrades if the light you buy is good enough quality to grow your corals. Do you buy a new car every year? How about a new TV? Computer? Even my phone is 3 years old.
C Dog
New member
I have only read the first few pages of this thread. I love LEDs. Went from MH to LEDs and had better growth and cooler temps.
I think with LEDs you have to spend $$$ (CREE LEDs) and have the right combination/quanity of LEDs to get good growth and color. I feel with LEDs you have to go the DIY route. The pre made ones are just to much $$$ and you cant customize it compared to a DIY build.
I think people cant get off the MH band wagon is because MH are way easier to set up, run and cheaper start up cost. I had a MH fixture with (2) 150w & (3) 250w. It cost me $500 a year to replace bulbs and it uses more electric than the LEDs I run. LEDs worked for me
I think with LEDs you have to spend $$$ (CREE LEDs) and have the right combination/quanity of LEDs to get good growth and color. I feel with LEDs you have to go the DIY route. The pre made ones are just to much $$$ and you cant customize it compared to a DIY build.
I think people cant get off the MH band wagon is because MH are way easier to set up, run and cheaper start up cost. I had a MH fixture with (2) 150w & (3) 250w. It cost me $500 a year to replace bulbs and it uses more electric than the LEDs I run. LEDs worked for me
Bottom line is "whatever works for you".
My corals on the tank with the MH change are doing far better than the full LED setup, but I am running the AI Sol Blu lights and I think the missing spectrum is an issue.
Very happy with my tank that is running the MH/AI combo and will not hesitate to change the other tank over once the reflectors come in.
I am seeing growth on the Maricultured pieces I put on the MH combo tank (about a week before the change over) and no growth on the full LED tank pieces.
I put 2-3 in each tank.
Will I change back to LED's some day? Maybe, but I will need proof of full spectrum and some history with the specific fixture.
My corals on the tank with the MH change are doing far better than the full LED setup, but I am running the AI Sol Blu lights and I think the missing spectrum is an issue.
Very happy with my tank that is running the MH/AI combo and will not hesitate to change the other tank over once the reflectors come in.
I am seeing growth on the Maricultured pieces I put on the MH combo tank (about a week before the change over) and no growth on the full LED tank pieces.
I put 2-3 in each tank.
Will I change back to LED's some day? Maybe, but I will need proof of full spectrum and some history with the specific fixture.
meshwheel
New member
Ron Reefman,
I have been reading through the Chinese LED thread you mentioned. They look pretty good! Whats the longest amount a time a person has been running those for in the thread(Suppose I should post this question there).
They look pretty nice. When I do finaly decide to give them a try I just want to be comfortable with doing so. Only until recently have they really sparked my interest.
Thanks!
I have been reading through the Chinese LED thread you mentioned. They look pretty good! Whats the longest amount a time a person has been running those for in the thread(Suppose I should post this question there).
They look pretty nice. When I do finaly decide to give them a try I just want to be comfortable with doing so. Only until recently have they really sparked my interest.
Thanks!
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