Led vs t5

[christygirl]

Well, I think I have made the decision to go LED this is my reasoning: T5 80 watt fixture with 8 bulbs: 400 watt continuous. 5 AI SOL fixtures: 375 watts.

A good t5 fixture is somewhere between 700 to 1200. Maybe used maybe new.
AI SOL 400 a piece x 5 = 2000.

So, I see the first 2 or 3 as a wash.

The next 2 or 3 is the true expense.

So for this argument lets say I have to offset the cost of 1200.

8 lamps at 30 is $240. Twice a year.

So the cost is basically offset in 2 1/2 years.

Maybe someone can explain this to me:
AI SOLS say they are 75 watts.
Is that operating at 100%?
Cause if it is, then, my electric usage will be less since I will ramp up throughout the day and with 5 I don't see me getting passed 75% to 80% max power.

Am I correct in this thought process?

 

[solitude127]

With a properly cooled T5 fixture, you should only have to change bulbs every 10 - 12 months.

 

[christygirl]

Good point mike. I have been looking into ATI sunflower and power modules. Everything I have been reading about powermodules says that they overdrive the lamps and it shortens their life. Is that correct? I really like your fixture. That is one of the reasons I am torn.

 

[keepLearning]

I thought "AI SOLS say they are 75 watts" is the only reason they can charge you $2000.
I was very surprised when I read "5 AI SOL fixtures: 375 watts" at first.

Anyway, the LED lights number normally means they are as bright as the 375W MH or T5 lights. However, they only consume 75W.

The only things that hold me back from going with LED is the initial cost and the corals' response to LED lights.

Besides, the LEDs might last a long time, but there is not much talk about how long the LED drivers will last. I have seen LED drivers fail after about 1-2 years of usage.

Vu

Well, I think I have made the decision to go LED this is my reasoning: T5 80 watt fixture with 8 bulbs: 400 watt continuous. 5 AI SOL fixtures: 375 watts.

A good t5 fixture is somewhere between 700 to 1200. Maybe used maybe new.
AI SOL 400 a piece x 5 = 2000.

So, I see the first 2 or 3 as a wash.

The next 2 or 3 is the true expense.

So for this argument lets say I have to offset the cost of 1200.

8 lamps at 30 is $240. Twice a year.

So the cost is basically offset in 2 1/2 years.

Maybe someone can explain this to me:
AI SOLS say they are 75 watts.
Is that operating at 100%?
Cause if it is, then, my electric usage will be less since I will ramp up throughout the day and with 5 I don't see me getting passed 75% to 80% max power.

Am I correct in this thought process?

 

[christygirl]

Vu,

I am concerned about that. Drivers fail in 2years?

I am surprised about that.

I think the 75 watts is the power consumed. I just was trying to find out if that is continuous.

I am confused.

 

[NVTE]

Randy I use my bulb almost up to 12-14 month on AtI powermodule. I think like Mike said that proper cooling system make the bulb last longer and more power.

If you are concerned why not try to combine 2 of them together.

I run my Ati powermodule with reef rite led. So far so good

 

[christygirl]

Good idea Daniel. I really like the idea of the new powermodules that is dim able with LED's, but wow it is expensive.

 

[keepLearning]

Daniel,

I thought we replace the T5 bulbs because of the output (PAR/PUR output), not bulbs stop working right? I guess with a PAR meter we can tell when the bulb is less bright and replace. Have no idea how the PUR is measured!

Randy I use my bulb almost up to 12-14 month on AtI powermodule. I think like Mike said that proper cooling system make the bulb last longer and more power.

If you are concerned why not try to combine 2 of them together.

I run my Ati powermodule with reef rite led. So far so good

 

[solitude127]

Good point mike. I have been looking into ATI sunflower and power modules. Everything I have been reading about powermodules says that they overdrive the lamps and it shortens their life. Is that correct? I really like your fixture. That is one of the reasons I am torn.

The PM and SP run spec ballasts so no overdriving in either fixture. They are no longer making a T5 only Powermodule. The Powermodule now is only T5/LED. They still do make the SP..

 

[turtlespd]

I have old drivers and a friend of mines has 4 year old drivers , no probs.

 

[SPICYcracker]

Hello there, I've tried all the high end led systems out there. But by far T5's give you better growth and color on any and ALL corals. Some corals don't respond we'll to Led while others do. For me the choice was easy, wanna know why? We spend so much money on our custom tank/stand, high end skimmers ect.. It would be a shame not to show off the color pallet your reef has to offer, just for the sake of a few watts. If your anything like the rest of us, you built your tank to impress yourself and be impressive to others. T5's hands down will do this with ease. I'm running an ATI dimmable 8 bulb fixture and wouldn't trade it for anything else!! Hope this helps! I just saw Ali a few weeks ago to pick up my new tank and was thinking, it won't be long before you get yours

Hope this helps,

Nolan

 

[NVTE]

Good idea Daniel. I really like the idea of the new powermodules that is dim able with LED's, but wow it is expensive.

Yeah, Randy. I once thought they read my mind, because back on the day, I had 2x 4 ATI powermodule and plan to add 2 AI LED in the middle just like new one. and bam . here new ATI and LED combo.

If you plan with SPS, I think T5 and MH is still best than LED. Led is for the look, so I think you can go with ATI SP and and run 2 Reefbrite. That is my 2 cent.

Daniel,

I thought we replace the T5 bulbs because of the output (PAR/PUR output), not bulbs stop working right? I guess with a PAR meter we can tell when the bulb is less bright and replace. Have no idea how the PUR is measured!

The ATI powermodule is really strong and in my case. If you check my old 15 month old tank. I almost had some bulb run at 15 months and my coral grow still going strong. I think even the PAR decrease through time, but with ATI PM, the bulb's PAR is still good enough.

 

[kevin32]

I agree that LED have a disadvantage for growing SPS. They do great for other corals.

 

[saybng]

Hello there, I've tried all the high end led systems out there. But by far T5's give you better growth and color on any and ALL corals. Some corals don't respond we'll to Led while others do. For me the choice was easy, wanna know why? We spend so much money on our custom tank/stand, high end skimmers ect.. It would be a shame not to show off the color pallet your reef has to offer, just for the sake of a few watts. If your anything like the rest of us, you built your tank to impress yourself and be impressive to others. T5's hands down will do this with ease. I'm running an ATI dimmable 8 bulb fixture and wouldn't trade it for anything else!! Hope this helps! I just saw Ali a few weeks ago to pick up my new tank and was thinking, it won't be long before you get yours

Hope this helps,

Nolan

Can u show me pics of your "high end LEDs" and what did u do with them? And how long did u do your research to confirm one is better than he other? I'm assuming more than a year..and what brand did u use to come to your conclusion that t5's is far better than leds? Tell us about your experience or better yet a graph from when u started to finish with LED's?

 

[pciscott]

I would go T5 as well and I have tried many LED brands with little luck, the proof that LED lights are not the end all final fixture you will ever buy is the amount of used fixtures for sale. Buy a gen 3 today and when your corals are not happy you will spend more money than a bulb change to upgrade your led pucks to gen 4 and then the next day they will come out with gen 5? In your energy comparison you will only run 2 bulbs all day and all bulbs for 4 to 7 hours depending on results. Led lights are a great add on to make your coral pop so I agree with Daniel add a Reefbrite strip. When you see Tank of the Month winners consistently on LED then maybe it will be time to buy into this rapidly changing light technology.

 

[Cymaster007]

Go hybrid, get LED w/ T/5 support or actinic.

 

[SchnitzelReef]

Do both!

This is on my 6'x2'x2' 180.
4-80w retro t5s and 90-3w Bridgelux LEDs. They really work great. I still get the ramp up/ramp down, shimmer and pop with my LEDs..and I also get the nice colors from my SPS with the t5s. I was running all LEDs, and I didn't like the look of my SPS. (Lps and soft corals looked great). After I added the t5s, SPS started growing faster and coloring up very nicely.

Sent from my iPhone

 

[saybng]

Do both!

This is on my 6'x2'x2' 180.
4-80w retro t5s and 90-3w Bridgelux LEDs. They really work great. I still get the ramp up/ramp down, shimmer and pop with my LEDs..and I also get the nice colors from my SPS with the t5s. I was running all LEDs, and I didn't like the look of my SPS. (Lps and soft corals looked great). After I added the t5s, SPS started growing faster and coloring up very nicely.

Sent from my iPhone

That is sweet!

 

[pciscott]

I do have both as well.





Note if you do want to mount like mine you need to custom order Reefbrite stip as the power modules are 1.5" shorter than the Reefbrite strip that corisponds to your length.

I know Mike I still need to cut you out a set

 

[westminsterfrag]

T5 baby. Haven't gone leds but I don't like how the darks are not visible in coral and only the colors show up. Like the tenticles and ring only. Pictures with led are very decieving and makes buying coral hard. Lol. Makes me feel like I'm at a rave with 3d glasses. I would like a led strip though for the shimmer. I have a led unit in a grocery bag stored away I'm my garage. 1 less jug during your water change will make up for the electricity charges.