Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

[Uncle Salty 05]

That would be impossible given the amount of different led setups and made more impossible by most of them being adjustable.

We know that Radiums grow corals great and that led is very convenient. Why do we still not have a multi chip that mimics Radiums? It really can't be that hard to get a full spectrum multi with a 16k look. Now imagine they made a pendant out of it with a fan less heat sink to cut evaporation down to near nothing...who would not want to buy that?

Why is noone making one?

They are making one, it is called an Vertex Illumina 260SR.
It has fans but they barely run when they do run, the entire unit is one big heat sink.
I have had one for 18 months (spent $2700 on it) and I am in the process of returning it to go back to actinics and halides.
It simply does not perform "as advertised".

 

[nynick]

Thanks for that reply Joe. It certainly would be made more interesting if it wasn't a panel. The nr1 thing I am missing from my old MH setup is the shimmer.

IMO, shimmer is non negotiable. It is what makes a tank look like a sun-soaked reef. T5 might technically be amazing but it sure looks blah and LED panels aren't that far behind. When I ran MH my tank really looked like I was on a snorkeling trip and friends with multi chips have the same look, even better actually. I even like the shadows of a pinpoint light source.

My main grief with most LED companies is that they make systems for customers that are few and far between, techies basically. Given the amount of graphs you posted I will assume that you are one ( ) but a lot of us just want a non adjustable "250w" 16k or 20k "bulb", basically a Radium. Just one that lasts for years, runs on 1/4th the energy and does not heat up the tank.

 

[shifty51008]

forgive me as I don't really know squat about LED's but you say the Pacific Sun SMT panel don't have the spread and have hot spots. what about if they took that LED setup and pointed it upward at a quality reflector and have the reflector spread the light out? and that should also dissipate the hot spots also correct?

 

[saltyair]

1/2 agree The vertex does not perform as advertised and have no wireless control-ability IMO heavily over priced for what you get - including customer service - I was a big supporter of vertex LED's till I "upgraded"

I did sell mine and purchased the AI hydra - well I am impressed and only on my 3rd week colours and growth :thumbsup:

They are making one, it is called an Vertex Illumina 260SR.
It has fans but they barely run when they do run, the entire unit is one big heat sink.
I have had one for 18 months (spent $2700 on it) and I am in the process of returning it to go back to actinics and halides.
It simply does not perform "as advertised".

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

In case I can't return mine, how did you sell yours?

 

[saltyair]

in Canada we have kijjii - like a craigslist. Also put it up on local forums - sold it to a local person on kijjii. took a $250 hit.

In case I can't return mine, how did you sell yours?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

If the retailer/wholesaler (who will remain nameless for now) refuses to let me return mine. I will name them and advise everyone on Reef Central to avoid them at all costs.

 

[rtparty]

If the retailer/wholesaler (who will remain nameless for now) refuses to let me return mine. I will name them and advise everyone on Reef Central to avoid them at all costs.

How old is your unit?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

20 months.

 

[rtparty]

Is there a 2 year return policy on them? I'm not trying to be rude. I'm genuinely curious.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I'm not sure.
I will know by this afternoon and will pass along the info.

 

[rtparty]

All of my equipment has only had a 30 day return/exchange policy and the unit couldn't have been used if I wanted money back. I'd just be surprised if a company would allow a return on a 20 month old unit.

 

[JPMagyar]

I'm not sure.
I will know by this afternoon and will pass along the info.

I tried to return my Pacific Sun fixtures before I even opened the box, but Pacific Sun has a strict no return policy so I was out of luck. Sadly announcing that on RC does little to soften the blow, and people still buy from them. As a minimum I feel that the no return policy should have been advertised in big bold letters. Ah well c'est la vie

but keeping this thread on track . . . that's yet another reason why I am giving up my LEDs and going back to MH

 

[rtparty]

I tried to return my Pacific Sun fixtures before I even opened the box, but Pacific Sun has a strict no return policy so I was out of luck. Sadly announcing that on RC does little to soften the blow, and people still buy from them. As a minimum I feel that the no return policy should have been advertised in big bold letters. Ah well c'est la vie

but keeping this thread on track . . . that's yet another reason why I am giving up my LEDs and going back to MH

Congrats Joe! Can't wait to see your tank back in all its glory.

 

[Tangaroa]

I'm not sure.
I will know by this afternoon and will pass along the info.

What's wrong with it?

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

All of my equipment has only had a 30 day return/exchange policy and the unit couldn't have been used if I wanted money back. I'd just be surprised if a company would allow a return on a 20 month old unit.

Hopefully I will surprise you later today.

 

[rtparty]

Hopefully I will surprise you later today.

I hope so too! The overpriced LED systems have to provide something the others can't, right? :lolspin:

 

[mhucasey]

Thanks for that reply Joe. It certainly would be made more interesting if it wasn't a panel. The nr1 thing I am missing from my old MH setup is the shimmer.

IMO, shimmer is non negotiable. It is what makes a tank look like a sun-soaked reef. T5 might technically be amazing but it sure looks blah and LED panels aren't that far behind. When I ran MH my tank really looked like I was on a snorkeling trip and friends with multi chips have the same look, even better actually. I even like the shadows of a pinpoint light source.

Frankly the stronger the shimmer the less likely you will see success with SPS corals. More shimmer = less light hitting the coral from multiple angles. LED manufacturers have wowed customers with the pretty look of the shimmer, but shadows are a bad thing for SPS. In nature the sun produces shimmer, but it also moves across the sky, hitting the coral from more than one position. What is a shadow at 12pm is illuminated at 3pm, for example.

If you had multiple point source lights that ran in succession to hit the coral from many angles during the photoperiod you could make it work, but with many LED fixtures you get intense light to the top of the coral only. Many of the LED supporters here have already accepted this and are designing their fixtures to compensate.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

What's wrong with it?

It has NEVER functioned properly.
Even with the seller on multiple Team Viewer sessions and calls to Austria (country of origin) it cannot be programmed correctly.
The functions it does do are fine, but my coralline algae and corals just look drab when compared to how they looked under MH and actinics.
This unit was advertised as "all you will ever need" and it simply is not.
The say you can buy UV modules @ $130 each and multi color modules @ $190 each and then it will perform as advertised.
I don't see how when you can't program the thing now.
I can just imagine trying to program it with added colors.

 

[Uncle Salty 05]

I hope so too! The overpriced LED systems have to provide something the others can't, right? :lolspin:

Usually Austrian/German engineering is worth the extra cash, but not in this instance.
If it performed as advertised I would be OK with the price.:headwally: