Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

[Wazzel]

Mark,

I am super impressed!

That is the first time I have seen such enormous growth in such short time. My only thought though is that some corals look pale. On the other hand, what is that super pink coral on top left? It's really an eye catcher!

All in all though nice work! It doesn't convince me yet to switch to LEDs, but it certainly is a tiny piece of anecdotal evidence showing how advanced aquarist like yourself can use LEDs to make awesome reefs.

Nicely done!

Joe

Thanks Joe. Most of that it is due to me not being the best reef tank photographer. I tend to over expose the tank. Only the tort on top is what I would consider pale in person. The tank looks much more impressive in person. It is just a bridsnest, nothing special. It is super pink with a hint of purple.

I have no intention of trying to get people to switch to LED. I only want to show they can and do work, nothing more. People need to use what they are comfortable with and what meets there needs. It is nice that we now have LED as a working option in addition to T-5 and MH, which are of course great tried and true lighting systems.

 

[Bpb]

I didn't get those kinds of results under any lighting source. I think that speaks more of your husbandry and skills as an acro grower than your use of halides or LEDs. If it were only the lights, my radiums would have done the trick.

 

[power boat jim]

I didn't get those kinds of results under any lighting source. I think that speaks more of your husbandry and skills as an acro grower than your use of halides or LEDs. If it were only the lights, my radiums would have done the trick.

Joes tank is a result of magic dust sourcery. I have seen first hand the color of the corals are real. The light source might be part of the equation but not the defining factor for the color. If it was everyone using halides would look that good.

Wazz the tank looks good keep it up.

 

[seamonster124]

Almost 2 years in and the answer is still not switching back to MH. I know LED is not the right answer for everyone, but it works for me quite well.

This is great! I think LED's are too new for us to see more of this sort of proof.

 

[seamonster124]

Hats off to BRS for an extremely well done piece, with some science and real world results to back it up.

I love BRS but I think this is an ad for T5 bulb which they sell. These are called informational ads. I'm not saying the information in the vid is false; but when you sell a product, you gather whatever information that supports your revenue.

 

[d2mini]

I didn't get those kinds of results under any lighting source. I think that speaks more of your husbandry and skills as an acro grower than your use of halides or LEDs. If it were only the lights, my radiums would have done the trick.

When everything else is constant, lighting can make a HUGE difference.

 

[Wazzel]

Thanks all. I appreciate the kind words. I am a LED proponed, but try not to be a fan boy. They do have issues that are unlike T-5 or MH. We all know about the coverage issues, but that is an easy problem to overcome, but can be costly. IMO the real Achilles heal is the controllability, believe it or not. Few people have long term success so there is little for others to go by to get good results. Couple that with people looking for instant gratification which lead to tinkering significantly with the lights every other week. If I had to guess why LED works for me and not for others, I would say it is the fact that I do not make many adjustment to my lights, and the adjustment I do make are small. I am a very patient person and have been at keeping reef tanks since 1998. We all know the good things take time to develop and only bad things happen fast in a reef tank. There was a lighting plan when I started and I have basically stuck to that plan. I also think it helped that I have been LED from the start. I doubt I would be as successful if I had tried to switch after a few years of operation.

 

[mhucasey]

I love BRS but I think this is an ad for T5 bulb which they sell. These are called informational ads. I'm not saying the information in the vid is false; but when you sell a product, you gather whatever information that supports your revenue.

This was a pretty brave video from BRS because they have been heavily pushing LEDs for a while now. They seem keen on a T5 and Led combo but they didn't push any one brand. They have already put out the one for metal halides, and there will be one for LEDs coming soon

 

[mhucasey]

 

[JPMagyar]

Joes tank is a result of magic dust sourcery. I have seen first hand the color of the corals are real. The light source might be part of the equation but not the defining factor for the color. If it was everyone using halides would look that good.

Wazz the tank looks good keep it up.

Thanks Jim! You made my day

 

[greaps]

After watching that BRS Halide Video I like that Bimini Sun fixture, it looks like its hanging over a 60g cube? I wish there were more reviews of it, I am planing on dumping my Chinese Box Led's for Halide. I wouldn't be against a cayman sun either if people think its better?

Tank is 24X24X20 50g cube. I'm torn between single end Verse double end. I imagine 250w is needed. Reflector, and ballast suggestions are welcome.

 

[Mr. Brooks]

I'm very interested to watch the LED video next week.

 

[seamonster124]

Why did most people go with LED? Mostly because of power usage and lack of bulb replacement. I don't think anything compares to MH and T-5 Supplement. I was seriously gonna go with LED but not so sure anymore.. If money wasn't a problem then I'd go 2x 400 MH.

Yup, those would be my two reasons. In the very near future 800 watts to light a fish tank will be considered an out of control amount of electricity.

I'm keeping my MH in the shed till further notice but LEDs would have to have more shortcomings for the switch back to make sense. I keep a close eye on each frag and they are telling me they love LED's so I just listen to them.

I would love to see the BRS vid on LED's. I suspect it will not be so pro-LED. My guess is all retailers are worried that the future of reef lighting industry is in the hands of cheap LED makers. If I was in the T5 or Halide business, I'd be making videos promoting bulbs, get some guys with super sps tanks showing off their halides and keep selling replacement bulbs for as long as I could. We're talking $60 every 6 months compared to $100 every 3-4 years. That's millions of $ going away. I don't think they'd just stand there and let it happen. Just MO though

 

[RobTheReefer]

Overly informative video on MH. Somehow I got annoyed with the rapid fire narrative and started skipping large chunks of it before finally closing the window with a sigh of relief. Hopefully the LED video is more interesting.

 

[Maxxingout]

Overly informative video on MH

That's the first time I've heard someone say that, especially with a good informative video like BRS's. If they didn't give input on all angles then someone would come out complaining that information is lacking and what they're saying is inconclusive. They've been around a long time and I believe have there hand on the heartbeat of the hobbyist. They read forums and know what information people would really like. Trying to cover all bases with good solid testing takes longer than 4 & a half minutes to get across.

 

[ReefCowboy]

That's the first time I've heard someone say that, especially with a good informative video like BRS's. If they didn't give input on all angles then someone would come out complaining that information is lacking and what they're saying is inconclusive. They've been around a long time and I believe have there hand on the heartbeat of the hobbyist. They read forums and know what information people would really like. Trying to cover all bases with good solid testing takes longer than 4 & a half minutes to get across.

I agree, i actually learned things ablut MH i didnt know before, such as mogul bulbs being offset in the reflectors thus being less regarded as DE ones. Especially with lighting, i think having as much facts and details would only help.

 

[Mark426]

I would go back to MH from LED but I cant find a MH pendant that is not beyond ugly that I could possibly stand hanging it over my office tank. I guess the days of a nice looking MH pendant is long gone I know that looks aren't everything but...come on!

Unless someone can offer a sugestion.

 

[Wazzel]

I would go back to MH from LED but I cant find a MH pendant that is not beyond ugly that I could possibly stand hanging it over my office tank. I guess the days of a nice looking MH pendant is long gone I know that looks aren't everything but...come on!

Unless someone can offer a sugestion.

Most of the nice looking MH pendants are DE and expensive, as far as I know.

 

[Bpb]

Yeah the only nice looking new ones are the Giesemann mh/t5ho combo units.

 

[smatter]

Yeah the only nice looking new ones are the Giesemann mh/t5ho combo units.

Agreed. Check out the Spectra. It uses a 400w mogul bulb. I prefer mogul bulbs over DE for ease of replacement. I cringe every time I replace a DE bulb :uhoh2: