Are HQI and T5s dead

NO, I run LED's and I will still tell you that the Metal Halide and T5's will be around for a long time. Not only will LED's be a while before they will be developed enough and in the right price range for most, but even then there is a general look that halides give that many will fight to not lose.
 
My new build is T5 with just a bit of LED for the shimmer and some extra PAR.

I have a smaller tank on 100% LED and I am not a huge fan of the color I get out of the corals. I always just feel like something is missing. I also cooked quite a few of my low light corals and I can't make acan's happy, even on the sand bed and partially shaded. *shrug*

Those Radions don't look too bad... but they are $$. I've seen some coloration look better under LED than MH or T5. But in my opinion, the majority looks better under MH or T5.
 
Nope. Definitely not.

I have run LEDs, T5 HO, PC, T12 and Metal Halides.

My order of preference;

1. Metal Halides
2. T5 HO (with a good reflector)
3. LEDs

I ran an AI Sol on my tank for 8 months next to a good pendant with PHX HQI and by far, the better results for growth was from the metal halide side.
 
I just bought a used Giesemann Infinity 150 watt 4 X24 and I live in a high elec. state. MH and T-5's are proven to be reliable.
 
Any LED fixture available on the market today will be obsolete by the time T5s and MHs go obsolete. So take your pick.
 
One of those threads that no one is going to win:uhoh3:

I'm building a 600 DT and if it was not for the electricity/heat off 400 watt halides, I'd stay with halides. Unfortunately, MHs are not practical....I plan to use LEDs and possibly supplement with T5s to help bring the color out in fish more.

I quickly found out how much MH fixture prices have tanked when I sold a nice Reef Illumination fixture I paid $1200 for $300 last week. Fixture had only been used about 6 months on my previous system. Took me over a month to find a buyer and gave up on RC forums, local club, and CL. eBay was the winner:facepalm:
 
ninjamini said:
With LEDs looking so promising is my MH and t5 combo old fashioned? Should I go led???
Click to expand...

Would doing so save any sort of substantial money? Are you having heat problems? Just becuase they are no the latests and greatest, halides especially and T5s are some of the most proven lighting there is. I have had zero issues growing any coral under them.

LEDs are all the rage right now, just as T5s were all the rage 5-ish years ago. T5s eventually settled down and took their place in the market. IMO purchasing one of these LED fixtures nowadays will have that fixture obsoloet, lacking parts and service in a short couple years. T5 equipment and halide equipment is all but universal and can be found cheaply. Unless you are going to save a bunch of money through electric and heating problems, if it aint broke dont fix it.
 
Dustin1300 said:
I quickly found out how much MH fixture prices have tanked when I sold a nice Reef Illumination fixture I paid $1200 for $300 last week. Fixture had only been used about 6 months on my previous system. Took me over a month to find a buyer and gave up on RC forums, local club, and CL. eBay was the winner:facepalm:
Click to expand...

I love the used prices on the halide equipment, it made switching back to halides from LEDs all that much cheaper for me. Great time for someone starting a new tank. I just got a killer deal- a SLS Blue Wave dual 150 ballast, 2 lki new LumenMax 3 reflectors, and newer Phoenix bulbs for $200 shipped. Not bad.
 
grigsy said:
Nope. Definitely not.

I have run LEDs, T5 HO, PC, T12 and Metal Halides.

My order of preference;

1. Metal Halides
2. T5 HO (with a good reflector)
3. LEDs

I ran an AI Sol on my tank for 8 months next to a good pendant with PHX HQI and by far, the better results for growth was from the metal halide side.
Click to expand...

+1 on this. Although I tend not to like the lack of shimmer on the T5s, they do produce some fantastic coloration.

I was at my LFS today where he is still running an AI Sol Blue, it looked so blah. Last I had checked, he was anticipating switching all his corals lighting to them to save money. That has not happened, I'll ask him why next time I am there.
 
Prices are great on T5 and halide fixtures and it's the best lighting you can find. Yes there is heat and electric consumption. But if you want look and growth nothing comes close
 
yep ask anyone who grows indoors, Hell look at any indoor hydroponic tomato, pepper,cucumber greenhouse. We laugh at led's! Blahahahahaha poop!

Indoor Comercial agriculture has been around for decades you would be hard press to find indoor gardens sporting leds, with all the science and energy savings you think they would be growing hectares of tomatoes with leds but instead use halides. Go's to show you the pros know what works best, leds have a long way to go still.

IMHO.
 
i had leds and then i changed to a power modual all i can say is wow t5 all the way growth exploded and colour is 100% better tanks looks more healthy in general
 
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