Going LED to T5. Grass is greener on the other side?

[CoralsAddiction]

I am thinking about trying out T5 lights for the first time ever on a reef tank. From what I have read corals color up and grow nicer than under LED lights. Cost considerations aside, are T5 lights better for corals than LEDs? If so, is the difference significant?
Two T5 fixtures I had in mind are Giesemann Matrixx II 6 bulb or ATI Sunpower 6 bulb. As for LEDs, I have several Kessil A360Ws that I was planning on using.

 

[Taahirs]

For me, I've only run T5 and had awesome growth and colour on sps.

Don't have experience with led. But keen to try it out.

 

[FortyFour]

You can have success with both. Most people I talk to are moving the other direction.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I have had success with LEDs but mostly with LPS and some easier SPS corals like Monti, Birdsnest, etc. Never tried keeping more challenging acroporas though.

 

[acesq]

Check out the BRS video just released regarding T5's. Very good analysis of the pros and cons. Ultimately, they conclude that the best lighting for SPS is a combination of T5 and LED.

 

[NVTE]

I am thinking about trying out T5 lights for the first time ever on a reef tank. From what I have read corals color up and grow nicer than under LED lights. Cost considerations aside, are T5 lights better for corals than LEDs? If so, is the difference significant?
Two T5 fixtures I had in mind are Giesemann Matrixx II 6 bulb or ATI Sunpower 6 bulb. As for LEDs, I have several Kessil A360Ws that I was planning on using.

I can't speak for LED but if you want to go with heavy SPS. HOT5 will give you opportunity to keep almost everything. You can supplement HOT5 with LED.

for HOT5 fixture, I go with ATI.
are you running with canopy or without it? If you do, maybe HOT5 fixture in the middle and angle the Kessil

 

[CoralsAddiction]

Check out the BRS video just released regarding T5's. Very good analysis of the pros and cons. Ultimately, they conclude that the best lighting for SPS is a combination of T5 and LED.

Thanks. Just watched it a couple of days ago and that's what got me really thinking about T5s.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

I can't speak for LED but if you want to go with heavy SPS. HOT5 will give you opportunity to keep almost everything. You can supplement HOT5 with LED.

for HOT5 fixture, I go with ATI.
are you running with canopy or without it? If you do, maybe HOT5 fixture in the middle and angle the Kessil

It will be an open top without a canopy

 

[vuqchu]

ATI hybrid! That Giesemann Matrixx does look pretty sleek. The dimtec version looks amazing in their promo video.

 

[m0nkie]

I love my ATI light. but lot of LPS corals and some SPS look brighter/better under LED. get the hybrid!

 

[CoralsAddiction]

maybe HOT5 fixture in the middle and angle the Kessil

I like this idea. My tank is 24 inches deep. So I can have a 24" T5 fixture in the middle and two A360s.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

ATI hybrid! That Giesemann Matrixx does look pretty sleek. The dimtec version looks amazing in their promo video.

I love my ATI light. but lot of LPS corals and some SPS look brighter/better under LED. get the hybrid!

Mucho denero mi amigos but something I am definitely considering even if it's just a modded T5 fixture with a couple of LED strips.

 

[scrapz]

My tank had the best overall look wheb i was using t5s. The sps uniform growth pattern looks so good.

 

[dodgerblew]

Supplement the ati sunpower with reefbrite led strips. Two screws and no modifications necessary

 

[m0nkie]

Mucho denero mi amigos

compared to the cost of this hobby

 

[GTR]

10K MH with VHO T12 actinic
lol

 

[CoralsAddiction]

10K MH with VHO T12 actinic
lol

I thought about MH/T5 combo. However, after watching a BRS video about MH lights and learning that a bulb can explode under certain circumstances I became a little worried about buying one.

 

[organism]

I used to use T5 and switched over to LED a while back. imo the ATI hybrid fixtures are the way to go if you want the best of both worlds since they both have something that the other lacks and you won't get better colors imo. Personally I keep everything from mushrooms to Acros under LED's and they look great, but I'm on the lookout for a 24" 4 bulb fixture to add to a corner of the frag tank since every so often there's that Acro that won't look great until it's under a combo of both. If you're not going SPS heavy though tbh you'll get overall better color for a lot less money with LED's.

At the end of the day T5 bulb changes are pricey... What are you using over your tank now that you don't like? If it's the Kessils you may want to try another fixture, I've never seen a worse hobby LED and it's embarrassing how bad those are for making corals look good. It's the only fixture I've seen that puts out hazy light but their marketing is great.

 

[CoralsAddiction]

What are you using over your tank now that you don't like? If it's the Kessils you may want to try another fixture, I've never seen a worse hobby LED and it's embarrassing how bad those are for making corals look good. It's the only fixture I've seen that puts out hazy light but their marketing is great.

Thank you very much for a helpful post.
My tank is new and sitting empty now because I'll be moving soon...just waiting to set it up after the move in a few months. I had used Kessils, Radion (Gen 2) and Maxspect Razor.
The purpose behind this thread is two-fold. First, it seems that many expert reefers that are keeping even the most difficult acros still favor T5 lights (or hybrids like you suggested) over LEDs. Second, having started in the hobby over 3 years ago I have not seen significant improvements in LED lighting while their cost has not gone down. Sometimes the hype of some LED lights (especially for smaller tanks) is driven by gimmicks and pressure to keep up with the Joneses.
I am not completely set on ditching LED lights for T5s yet. I might start my build with Kessils as planned to see how it goes and later on switch to a hybrid fixture as I start adding more challenging to keep corals.

 

[scrapz]

I thought about MH/T5 combo. However, after watching a BRS video about MH lights and learning that a bulb can explode under certain circumstances I became a little worried about buying one.

You could also get cancer from breathing :lolspin:

but yes, whatever lights you go with. Add some t5s.