Is metal halide dead?

[karimwassef]

Here's what I mean by in sync with reality. In building my own, I average about $0.50/W in cost. Adding cost of assembly, marketing, etc... $1/W is a decent cost estimate. A 50% margin puts a reasonable price at $2/W. So at $2000, I would expect to get 1000W LED system. Less W or more $ than that is out of sync in my book- of course, there is a pleasure in buying a luxury item. To me, that's the coral

 

[Perth_reefer]

Here's what I mean by in sync with reality. In building my own, I average about $0.50/W in cost. Adding cost of assembly, marketing, etc... $1/W is a decent cost estimate. A 50% margin puts a reasonable price at $2/W. So at $2000, I would expect to get 1000W LED system. Less W or more $ than that is out of sync in my book- of course, there is a pleasure in buying a luxury item. To me, that's the coral

Unfortunately that is life, how much does a car cost to make, or an LED tv, or a fridge? We'll always pay huge mark ups on items, especially from high end companies. Of course you'll save a lot of money making your own, but most people I would guess would be happier paying for a tried and tested product with features they could never add in themselves.

 

[Mark426]

This quote from another forum about what has been seen at the major trade shows: This is not to bash MH, as a matter of fact...if I could use MH, I would. But to answer the question posted by the OP. Is it dead? no, but the future looks to be heading in another direction, in a hurry.

Quote: "at the past few shows there was not a single metal halide light on display nor any chillers".

 

[Perth_reefer]

Quote: "at the past few shows there was not a single metal halide light on display nor any chillers".

Well if they stop making chillers I'm screwed, it gets up to 120F here in the summer!

 

[d2mini]

Quote: "at the past few shows there was not a single metal halide light on display nor any chillers".

Still plenty of ads for chillers in the trade mags though. And new hybrid fixtures from ATI and Giesemann.
Even as a MH user, unless something was drastically new about a certain chiller, I don't think I would much care to stop at a chiller booth.
That's what the shows are about... showing off the new goods being brought to market. Everybody already knows what a chiller is.
Same with the MH lighting... there is really nothing new except for some of the new hybrid fixtures from ATI or Geisemann.

And FWIW, there are newly updated chillers on the market.
They are not going anywhere either.

 

[johnike]

My chiller is almost 20 years old, and home made from a small fridge.
It ain't pretty, but it works great.

 

[Perth_reefer]

Same with the MH lighting... there is really nothing new except for some of the new hybrid fixtures from ATI or Geisemann.

I'm not sure about ATI but the new Giesemann Hybrid is a T5/LED hybrid not MH. The Infiniti and Spectra which are supplemented with T5 have been around for a few years now.

 

[Perth_reefer]

That is a whole lot of gross over dramatic extrapolations. MH is still a valid source of light for a reef tank. The lamps will be around long enough to out live that average hobby life of most people. LED is an adequate option, but not the game changer it was billed to be. Far from most people are changing to LED.

That is a whole lot of gross over dramatic extrapolations. MH is still a valid source of light for a reef tank. The lamps will be around long enough to out live that average hobby life of most people. LED is an adequate option, but not the game changer it was billed to be. Far from most people are changing to LED.

I've seen this happen a few times now, anyone know whats going on here??

 

[d2mini]

I'm not sure about ATI but the new Giesemann Hybrid is a T5/LED hybrid not MH. The Infiniti and Spectra which are supplemented with T5 have been around for a few years now.

Well there ya go. No reason to be at a show.

 

[Perth_reefer]

Well there ya go. No reason to be at a show.

That's right. The emphasis from the major players in Aquarium lighting does seem to be on LED technology now. That isn't to say they don't sell MH but all the new lighting technology seems to surround LEDs.
Giesemann are probably the pinnacle of aquarium lighting and sell MH, T5 and LED. The new Aurora T5/LED Hybrid has been labelled as the 'complete' lighting fixture by them and the Futura LED fixture as their 'Flagship'. Again this doesn't mean MH doesn't work, or it's not selling or anything like that, just that the emphasis from major lighting companies seems to be on producing, marketing and selling LED fixtures.

 

[KafudaFish]

Which is better for the company?

The reefer buys a system for $600.00 and uses the system for 5 to 10 years and may buy bulbs from the same company for another $750.00 in 5 years.

A second reefer spends $2500.00 on a system and 2 years later buys a better system for $3000.00?

 

[Jjpelican]

Depends on the system u buy, my radions have a 5 year guarantee for full replacement of any bulbs or equipment at no cost

 

[johnike]

The folks at Hamilton have been great servicewise over the years here.

 

[jminick2]

The folks at Hamilton have been great servicewise over the years here.

I saw in another thread they redesigned their DE 20k with higher par. I might give it a shot.

 

[firebirdude]

250W Halide here. And I was a former LED user. I'm happy where I'm at now.

And for real man. You claim to have read a lot... but then made a topic like this??

 

[shred5]

Quote: "at the past few shows there was not a single metal halide light on display nor any chillers".

That has nothing to do with anything... Shows are for new products not older product... I doubt much new will be coming from either halides or chillers.

It has been said my manufactures and retailers halides sales are increasing... Hamilton who is one of the larger manufacturer of halide fixtures for a long time confirmed it.. Unless you know something they dont?

 

[Perth_reefer]

It has been said my manufactures and retailers halides sales are increasing... Hamilton who is one of the larger manufacturer of halide fixtures for a long time confirmed it.. Unless you know something they dont?

I'm not sure that has much to do with anything either, where do these statistics cover? North America? Worldwide?

I make Lemonade and there is a lot of people buying a new product Coca Cola. People start asking which is better, so of course I'm going to say 'well people are trying both and my Lemonade sales are going up'. I might be speaking the truth.....or I might be trying to protect my business.

At the end of the day I think finances play a huge part, I would say people who are looking at buying new lighting and can afford enough fixtures to cover their tank will more often than not buy LED....why wouldn't you? Generally they're sleeker, run cooler, have more features etc

The problem is the bigger the tank size you get, the more money and patience you need for LED.....not everyone has both of those.

 

[shred5]

I'm not sure that has much to do with anything either, where do these statistics cover? North America? Worldwide?

I make Lemonade and there is a lot of people buying a new product Coca Cola. People start asking which is better, so of course I'm going to say 'well people are trying both and my Lemonade sales are going up'. I might be speaking the truth.....or I might be trying to protect my business.

At the end of the day I think finances play a huge part, I would say people who are looking at buying new lighting and can afford enough fixtures to cover their tank will more often than not buy LED....why wouldn't you? Generally they're sleeker, run cooler, have more features etc

The problem is the bigger the tank size you get, the more money and patience you need for LED.....not everyone has both of those.

How is it protecting a retailers business like Marine Depot?

 

[serbusfish]

I overheard a conversation at my LFS between the head conch (been reefing since 1993) and a guy looking to set a tank up. He told him to forget about MH as they are getting harder to get hold of because they are being phased out by the manufacturers, and that LED is the way forward as the 'good' ones offer similar intensity but are much more power efficient. This guy is coral mad, doesnt really care much about fish so I believe he knows what he's talking about. I personally dont see the point in MH anymore, if I were doing a serious SPS tank I would use LED and supplement with a couple of T5's. But from what ive seen SPS can thrive under nothing but LED's, all SPS at my LFS are grown under LED's and their display tanks also use LED's (been set up a couple of years now, i'll take a pic when im next in).

 

[malira]

Most lfs don't grow corals. The mainly keep and display them.

Unless you are in Houston. We have a lfs, Ocean Life Aquariums, and their main display uses MH with led accents. It is beautiful.

My next build will be with MH.

When Steve Tyree came to Reefcurrents here in Houston his set up was with a MH. Totally different. I think MH provide more of a traditionalist culture to them. Pure aesthetic beauty. Natural as opposed to contrived.