Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

Dennis and medred have the best documented experience with making the switch from LEDs to metal halides. I'm not sure why people still try and argue. The fact is that LEDs do not coral up sps as well as other lighting such as metal halide.


Heck I know this thread is about metal halide but I switch back to t-5s.


Joe your tank speaks for itself along with all the high end vendors that sell coral use metal halides.
 
Thanks for the pics Dennis. It looks like you have some whiting underneath as well, although not as bad as mine. When the top grows the bottom just gets shaded, I guess there were always be some shading? Unless one maybe gets an 8 bulb ATI type fixture?

What do you lighting experts say about this T5 2 bulb fixture, that I can just slap on top of the tank?


http://www.aquacave.com/48-Fluval-Dual-T5-HO-2-x-54W-Lighting-System-by-Hagen-P1941.aspx



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JPMagyar said:
FTS5-3-1.jpg
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I still see shading under those sps.. but here is an idea. What about a metal halide bulb and reflector that mounts on 2 rails and slowly makes an arc over your tank in the course of 8 or 10 hours like the sun would and then resets at night? I copyright that idea by the way, I want 25% of the profits if you beat me too it.
 
I still see shading under those sps.. but here is an idea. What about a metal halide bulb and reflector that mounts on 2 rails and slowly makes an arc over your tank in the course of 8 or 10 hours like the sun would and then resets at night? I copyright that idea by the way, I want 25% of the profits if you beat me too it.
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I DARE Joe to show us pictures underneath those corals & I DARE him to show us video of his tank. DARE DARE DARE!!!!!!!!
 
You're going to get some shading no matter what as colonies get bigger. It seems LEDs are just the worst offenders.

The best idea I saw that prevented visible shading from front viewing was the display tank at the SPS Coral Store in La Cañada, CA. It had halides mounted from the front and middle of the canopy the shined against the rock work at an angle instead of straight down.

That also meant that the corals grew out at an angle from the rock work so you were seeing more of the top down type colors you normally only see when you are hovering over the top of the tank.
 
FastUno said:
Thanks for the pics Dennis. It looks like you have some whiting underneath as well, although not as bad as mine. When the top grows the bottom just gets shaded, I guess there were always be some shading?
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No problem.
And keep in mind that those pics represent of span of just under 3 months.
So like I said, I don't know if it's done coloring up under there yet. Will be interesting to see in another 3 months.
And like medred explains, you are still going to have shadowing at some point as the coral grows. But T5 will give you the least shadows.
 
Fibinotchi said:
I still see shading under those sps.. but here is an idea. What about a metal halide bulb and reflector that mounts on 2 rails and slowly makes an arc over your tank in the course of 8 or 10 hours like the sun would and then resets at night? I copyright that idea by the way, I want 25% of the profits if you beat me too it.
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The wheel, it has already been invented and so has the light mover, in a variety of forms. :sad2:
 
That was years ago when I first got into the hobby...I don't recall which one though. I remember he had a neon green toxic carpet anem.
 
After a year of using 2 Radion gen one and 1 Radion Pro over my 120 gal tank i switched. I am now using 2 250 watt MH 14K Phoenix bulbs with the Radions as the dusk til dawn settings. I am so much more happy with the results now everything has taken off and colored up nicely.
 
Fredfish said:
Or they see an opportunity to create and sell another quality light using a newer technology.

Depends on your bias I guess...
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depends on your understanding of business. You're Kodak and you stay with film when everyone is going digital... guess who doesn't exist in 10 years. Regardless of LEDs strengths and shortcomings, any lighting manufacturer not producing fixtures might as well be digging their own grave and picking out a tombstone.
 
Powerboat Jim,
How is the comparison going? Are you still running both??? Any difference in coloration? Still loving my LED's!!! Just sold my Lumen bright fixture! I have a 250 watt metal halide Ice Cap ballast if anyone is interested!!! I have no need for it.
By the way, the huge pet expo they just had....................NOT A ONE (1) MEtal halide there on display!!!!! All LED and some T5!!! Thats it!
 
meshwheel said:
By the way, the huge pet expo they just had....................NOT A ONE (1) MEtal halide there on display!!!!! All LED and some T5!!! Thats it!
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that really doesn't prove anything, but I am willing to bet the reason they do use LED's at those types of places is because they can adjust the lights to bring out any color they want in a coral to make things really pop.
 
shifty51008 said:
that really doesn't prove anything, but I am willing to bet the reason they do use LED's at those types of places is because they can adjust the lights to bring out any color they want in a coral to make things really pop.
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Shifty51008.... I believe you just made the case for LEDS. Perhaps the biggest reason people say they use MH is how they "color up" the coral no? Prople choose their MH bulbs for the same reason. The only thing missing with MH is the immediate adjustabilty. The argument that LEDS can't grow coral is lame, at least in my experience. My tank has only been under LEDS since Jan. My sinularia went from 5in. and is nearly a foot tall. The Duncans have gone from four heads to at least nine. My yellow Goniopora, closed brain, assorted zoos and an AOG Paly are growing and healthy. My lights?....120W. Reefbreeders Photon 24. I have it set to track the sun at approx. 50/50 (wht./blu) with a "noon" pwr of 23% a10in. above my 29gal. with 20gal. fuge. By the way, I don't dislike MH. They definitely kick butt and produce great tanks. I made my choice and it seems to me LEDS are fun and they work. Isn't that the essence of why we are in this hobby to begin with? I think so.
 
the way most people make the colors pop with led's is not the proper spectrum that the corals need to thrive, thats where the adjustibility is a bad thing. you go by what you like and not by what the corals need. I agree LED's can make corals grow, there is no doubt about it. as long as people know how to adjust them properly. it's great for people selling corals as they can make them pop in order to get more people to get excited but alot of the times that spectrum isn't the one's corals need to thrive.
 
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