Chalices- LEDs vs T5 vs Mh

[Reef or Die]

Hi
I am considering upgrading my lights and all I have ever owned are T5's which work great.
Looking to get into more SPS and I think my lights need some more pop!

I have recently been impressed by the growth ,shimmer and color that MH and LEDs can provide and have seen positive results with these fixtures on SPS but I am not sure how they do on CHALICES!

Being that I love chalices I would like to hear users opinions and possibly pics of colorful chalices under either MH or Led fixtures

From what I have been told LED or MH fixtures will wash out all of the color from my chalice collection even if I place them on the bottom of my 22 deep tank.

I am hoping someone will prove this theory wrong.

Thanks for checking this thread and I hope someone can show me first hand that chalices can be healthy and super colorful not under T5's only!
thanks

 

[victor escobar]

My experience is that chalices do not go well under normal leds. In particular, the red ones have problems and change colors fading very much and then they perish (after some months)

 

[Reef or Die]

That's what I figured. So it's safe to say that if you want to keep great colors on your chalices then LED's are not the right option.
Is this the case for the newer LED units that have red and green LEDs and a fuller spectrum?

I was also considering supplementing an led fixture with 2 T 5 bulbs( blue+) but I assume this wouldn't help much and the chalices would fade anyway.

 

[greech]

T5's as the main lighting with LED supplementation has work well for me.

 

[victor escobar]

Yes I also think T5 suplemented with leds is a good solution. The problem with leds is that they do not provide a full spectrum (the normal led fixtures) and T5 are fine as suplement or viceversa

 

[justclowning84]

i say BS

i say BS

i have the AI SOL SUPER BLUE. And i bet my chalice has amazing color. Look the bottom line is this people can say what they want most of it let it go out the other ear. Because if u dont u will u will go crazy :headwallblue: I understand everyone has a answer lol but if u ask 10 people the same thing u will get 10 diff answers. Thats just the way this hobby is. If u just watch your tank t will tell you anything u wanna know

 

[Reef or Die]

I am looking for "proof is in the pudding" shots. Can anyone show a pic of their chalice collection growing and holding great color under LEDS??
I know different things work for different people but I have not personally seen anyone with killer chalice color under LEDs.
I also want to know peoples experiences with chalices under MH?
Pictures are worth a thousand words.

Thanks guys!!

 

[mess7777]

Only one chalice here and no photo sorry...I bought it from a store using MH and it was kind of a gray/blue. I have had about a year now....it tripled in size at least, is now a vibrant blue with some reds and maybe a little orange. It looks great, and I have 3 year old LEDs only blue and white over it. It's not the nicest chalice or most colorful by any means....but I don't believe for a 2nd that a good LED system is incapable of growing and maintaining colorful chalices.

 

[usmc121581]

I love my 250W 20k's with PC actinics. The attached picture is of my bubble gum chalice under the 250W 20 K SE MH. this chalice was only 6' in lenght, and if I could lay it flat would be pushing 18" +.

 

[slojmn]

I have a lot of chalices in my tank but I run MH, T5's and LED's so maybe not a good representation. I only run blue LED ReefBrights as a sort of supplementation. My colors are super nice on all of my chalices from blues to purples to pinks to reds to rainbows

 

[Magical Reef]

Here are a few of mine under Radion LED's. They have brought out more color in my chalices

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[Reef or Die]

Cool thanks guys. Looks like the radions do a good job at maintaining the color.
Slojmn- awesome pics. Your chalices definitely have the color and pop I am trying to maintain. Now you have me considering MH.
Decisions, decisions.

 

[Reef or Die]

Slojam- please post what bulbs you are running?

 

[slojmn]

I run a Giesemann Spectra fixture with 2 blue ReefBright LED's attached to each side for supplementation. The Spectra has a single 250w Reeflux 12k bulb with 4x24w T5's. I run the fixture over a 3x3 cube. I don't have any current pictures of my pink chalices but suffice to say my Bazooka Joe, Strawberry, and Vivid Chalices are super beautiful and bright.

 

[purplereef]

I run a Giesemann Spectra fixture with 2 blue ReefBright LED's attached to each side for supplementation. The Spectra has a single 250w Reeflux 12k bulb with 4x24w T5's. I run the fixture over a 3x3 cube. I don't have any current pictures of my pink chalices but suffice to say my Bazooka Joe, Strawberry, and Vivid Chalices are super beautiful and bright.

I am so glad your tank is doing great for you Alicia! By the way I am running exactly the same lighting as you, except for the MH. I am running 250W Radiums, Dan.

 

[Reef or Die]

Anyone else have chalice shots under LEDs??
Convince me that LEDs can keep chalices colorful and not wash out all the color
Looking to upgrade lights soon and before I pull the trigger I am hoping all you led users will chime in

 

[montiporalova]

I've had experience with all mention ligthing fixtures.
I've had diy led fixture with Cree LEDs not happy.
Metal halides I liked it but not enough pop and to much heat.
T5 love them I get pop no heat and it make my rimless look very clean.

 

[SantaMonica]

I'll be putting my chalices under 2 Ecoxotic Marine 48" LED's soon; transferring them from various depths of a 30 tall with 300 mh and 100 actinic. They grew at all levels in the tall. Also, the superman monti's liked it at the top under a mh bulb, and got really blue there.

 

[Overgrown]

Halides and/or T5's with supplemental LED for pop. Tried LED only, not convinced, and I think Vivids 800 gallon tank is one of the best comparison examples. The halide side has much richer coloring.

 

[Reef or Die]

I am considering the radion LEDs
Does Anyone else have good things to say about chalices under this fixture? Or provide pics as proof that they can keep chalices looking colorful over the long term and not fade them out.
As you can tell I am very concerned about switching to LEDs and looking for experienced led users input before I make the leap of faith.