Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

[ca1ore]

...and why these discussions are endless...

.... and largely pointless.

About the only 'truth' is that there are folks with successful tanks under LED, T5 and MH. Anything else is speculation or conjecture. Lots of reasons why tanks fail that have nothing to do with lighting. Heck, I used MH for far longer than most people here (certainly longer than the internet geniuses), but ultimately switched completely to LED because it works better for me. At some point the debate will become moot because MH will no longer be made for the hobby; until that time use what you prefer with the comfort that they can all be made to work.

 

[Jeremy257]

Fair enough on all points folks. In the end I was seeking a get rich quick scheme and I found that article by Sanjay that I felt helped support my beliefs of recent. I had looked at this thread some over the past few weeks so I thought I'd post the link with my assessment of the read. I want a reef in my home that looks like ones I see posted here. If one of you could just simply post a step by step SPS reef guide for dummies it would make my life a lot simpler.

 

[Wazzel]

Fair enough on all points folks. In the end I was seeking a get rich quick scheme and I found that article by Sanjay that I felt helped support my beliefs of recent. I had looked at this thread some over the past few weeks so I thought I'd post the link with my assessment of the read. I want a reef in my home that looks like ones I see posted here. If one of you could just simply post a step by step SPS reef guide for dummies it would make my life a lot simpler.

Regardless of what lighting system you use, there is no quick and easy path to have a nice tank. Most of the wonderful tanks you see are a couple of years old run by people with many years of experience. Good luck.

 

[gus6464]

Radions are garbage.

 

[MelloW33]

Radions are garbage.

lol thanks for your contribution to the thread!

 

[power boat jim]

Radions are garbage.

Looks like someone got the trolling motor started..

 

[dread240]

lol thanks for your contribution to the thread!

A good chunk of us that build our own custom LED fixtures agree actually lol.

 

[jfuka78]

Jim, been a long time, well long time since I have been on here. What lights are you running now and how's the tank?

 

[power boat jim]

A good chunk of us that build our own custom LED fixtures agree actually lol.

Funny thats what I heard some do it your self plane builders say about production light planes before they crashed the home built one into a tree due to mechanical failure.

 

[power boat jim]

Jim, been a long time, well long time since I have been on here. What lights are you running now and how's the tank?

Combination MH and radions. Works very well. The tank is doing better then it has in years.

 

[dread240]

Funny thats what I heard some do it your self plane builders say about production light planes before they crashed the home built one into a tree due to mechanical failure.

you know damn well that's a lie. It started with either watch this or hold my beer.

 

[power boat jim]

you know damn well that's a lie. It started with either watch this or hold my beer.

:lol::lol: You may have a point

 

[sneeyatch]

I've used just about every type of lighting out there, been in the hobby a long time. I'm using LEDs now but am getting ready to break the tank down due to a move. I think when I start back up, I'm going to want to go back to halides. Not that LEDs don't work, they do, and grow corals well. I do like the fact that there's very little maintenance with LEDs and stuff too. I have had good color and growth with PCs, VHOs, T5s, halides and LEDs, it's just halides do it for me aesthetically.

 

[karimwassef]

I can't resist...

http://www.businessinsider.com/colo...-2016-3#ooid=ppMnhpMTE66yBsc8JF_iD0UcB_7llP_m

 

[dz6t]

Can't resist either. What a load of BS, what kind of research was that ?

 

[dougdstecklein]

I have a 90 gal. tank almost full of corals(LPS,SPS,softies) and I have been running 2 AI Vegas over it for the last 3 years. I ran HO flourecents over my previous tank that was up for 4-5 years.
Things I love about the LEDs are: energy efficiency, low heat, no yearly bulb replacements, customization of colors and intensities.
Things I hate about Leds: Loss of color in my corals, disco effect, spotlight effect(corals not directly under the fixtures do not get much light)

I am considering switching back to t5s because I am tired of my corals looking so faded out. I will purchase a coral from the LFS that exhibits beautiful, vibrant colors and after 1-2 weeks of being in my tank its colors completely fade out. This is not a short term issue caused by the corals adjusting to LEDs. The vibrant colors never came back in corals I purchased years ago.

I've only read through about 80 posts in this thread so far, has anyone that's been following this thread noticed people saying certain LED fixtures are doing better as far as coral colors?

 

[Cyberdude]

Anyone Thinking of Dumping LEDS and going back to Halides

You should checkout the aquaillumintion group on Facebook. Here is a guy running hydra52s over a 6 foot tank. But to your point you need serious coverage for led to work. They do work. Colors grown and all. One year running this lighting setup.

 

[DavidinGA]

I have a 90 gal. tank almost full of corals(LPS,SPS,softies) and I have been running 2 AI Vegas over it for the last 3 years. I ran HO flourecents over my previous tank that was up for 4-5 years.
Things I love about the LEDs are: energy efficiency, low heat, no yearly bulb replacements, customization of colors and intensities.
Things I hate about Leds: Loss of color in my corals, disco effect, spotlight effect(corals not directly under the fixtures do not get much light)

I am considering switching back to t5s because I am tired of my corals looking so faded out. I will purchase a coral from the LFS that exhibits beautiful, vibrant colors and after 1-2 weeks of being in my tank its colors completely fade out. This is not a short term issue caused by the corals adjusting to LEDs. The vibrant colors never came back in corals I purchased years ago.

I've only read through about 80 posts in this thread so far, has anyone that's been following this thread noticed people saying certain LED fixtures are doing better as far as coral colors?

... Add T5's to supplement maybe?

 

[dougdstecklein]

David, I can't say definitively that the led lights are causing the lack of color, so I plan on adding t5s for a few months to see if the corals color up. I already have a 4 bulb, 4 foot fixture. What bulbs should I get and how long should I let them run? I will still be running the AI Vegas as well.

 

[DavidinGA]

David, I can't say definitively that the led lights are causing the lack of color, so I plan on adding t5s for a few months to see if the corals color up. I already have a 4 bulb, 4 foot fixture. What bulbs should I get and how long should I let them run? I will still be running the AI Vegas as well.

I run an equal number of B+ and C+ lamps myself. When I added T5's to my leds I ran the lamps for hour a day and added am hour each week until I was up to my current 8 hour on time.