LEDs, HO T5s, metal halides !!

T5 lighted aquarium(Carbone reef).I havent seen any otther led lit sps aquarium to get even cloose to this not even on TOTM here.
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Flippers4pups said:
There's a ton of valid points on each of these light technologies, each with their own merits, proven over decades.
Not a ton, and proven for decades only metal halides and T5s. Sorry.
Again, the point here is to say that T5s are actually better in many ways to lit any reef tank than LEDs for the reasons already posted.

But even old school, world renowned aquarist have made the switch to led's. Mike paletta, Dr. Sanjay joshi, even Joe Yaiullo's 20,000 gallon Long Island aquarium is switching to led's. The list goes on and on......
They had to try!! The pressure of the market, having a new fixture coming out just about every single day is what makes the pressure. That's all what it is. Also the electricity costs, I understand... I thought that too when I did my move towards LEDs! That's why I've tried. Not worthy!

The fact that those 3 guys are trying LEDs over their tanks doesn't mean nor prove that LEDs are better or even equal to MHs or T5s. I don't think they could actually say their LEDs are better than T5s or MHs. Also, having LEDs as a primary source of light isn't the case with any of them. Paletta has tried LED only over one of his tanks and he wasn't very happy with it, of course. He had all kinds of problems with that system as I understand. By the way that particular tank was looking really bad! With all the respect! Again, he is the kinda guy that makes lots of known mistakes and he admits that in public all the time!! He just likes to change and try new things. Joe's and Sanjay's tanks are lit also by metal halides and the LEDs are only "supplemental". I believe they will soon realize and change it back to full power MHs!!

It's a proven fact that leds grow coral: softies, LPS and every SPS known kept in captivity. From aquaculture businesses to marine research facilities across the globe. (For them, yearly budget costs are forcing them to switch to the more cost effective led.)
LEDs can grow, but not better then T5s or MHs. That's the point! Most of us have a budget! The point here is the fact T5s are better than LEDs.

People who had T5s and now say they think LEDs are better than them, either they forgot how much better their T5s were, or they just defend LEDs to death just because they've spent the money to change. But that's understandable and we all have to respect one's choice.

With that said, I see that your set on T5's. I was once set on T8's back in the day, till they where phased out for T5's. The list of T5 bulb manufacturers has shortened over that time and may, may be phased out because of the led in time. We'll see.
The list of manufactures has been shortened, yes, but the 2 best and renown T5 manufactures had invested big time on recent T5 fixtures and bulbs. Giesemann has brought a new T5 bulb line recently and new T5 only and hybrid fixtures (T5/LEDs). Also the ATI dimmable and the hybrid fixtures have appeared. It is a market, of course, so they are trying to put some LEDs too. To me it's a waste of space in the fixture. I hope people see what I've been trying to say for a while. I'm not here to try to convince anyone. Just trying to say what is true. All those "new" LED fixtures are basically the same thing. It's all about taking advantage of the marketing that is going on right now...

Please mind this:
LEDs can grow corals!
T5s grow much better!
MHs are the very best!!

Thanks for posting!! :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
 
Flippers4pups said:
Wow, what did I step into? You guys have a great day, peace out! Mods, please remove my comments from this thread. Wow.
Click to expand...

Have a great day!
Thanks for posting here!
Your comments are good and enriched the thread. No need remove!
You're welcome to come back.
Peace.

Grandis.
 
I have seen some amazing led sps tanks but all of them had to do a ton of research and experimenting. Most of them eventually realized that leds were not giving the results they wanted in terms of growth form/coverage and color with certain acropora. I have seen some really nice ones without coverage issues but there is basically a fixture covering every inch of the tank and then after that color is not going to be the same with some acropora.
I like to use all three light sources. A lot of people are using a lot of blue leds to get crazy colors on acropora but I don't see that as natural looking or beautiful. And the photographs they take of them with gel filters and darkened images makes it worse imo. A strong metal halide or t5 tank gets such rich full color it makes you want to eat the coral. The blue led tanks just make coral look like it's grown in a nuclear reactor. I dont want to eat that :)
I have never seen an led lit sps tank look like the above pictures. Metal halide and t5 are in a different league still. Leds over time may get there but until then I think all the best sps tanks will stay lit by t5 and metal halide.
 
I think this topic is more subjective than objective. Sanjay stated back in 2010 that he could find no quantitative difference between MH, T5 and leds (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature2) and led technology has developed significantly since then - MH and T5 not so much (because they don't really need to).

I have tried all of them and prefer led - the ability to control color and dimming is great and sunrise/sunset are some of my favorite times to be in front of my tank. I am in the process of setting up my 90g again after a house move and will be building a new led system over the coming weeks as the sole source of lighting.

But at the end of the day it is personal preference and I don't think it is appropriate for people to make sweeping statements that leds don't work, they clearly do, maybe just not for everyone.
 
Piper27 said:
I have seen some amazing led sps tanks but all of them had to do a ton of research and experimenting. Most of them eventually realized that leds were not giving the results they wanted in terms of growth form/coverage and color with certain acropora. I have seen some really nice ones without coverage issues but there is basically a fixture covering every inch of the tank and then after that color is not going to be the same with some acropora.
I like to use all three light sources. A lot of people are using a lot of blue leds to get crazy colors on acropora but I don't see that as natural looking or beautiful. And the photographs they take of them with gel filters and darkened images makes it worse imo. A strong metal halide or t5 tank gets such rich full color it makes you want to eat the coral. The blue led tanks just make coral look like it's grown in a nuclear reactor. I dont want to eat that :)
I have never seen an led lit sps tank look like the above pictures. Metal halide and t5 are in a different league still. Leds over time may get there but until then I think all the best sps tanks will stay lit by t5 and metal halide.
Click to expand...

I agree and feel the same about eating those corals!!! LOL!!:beer:
I wonder if many would feel that way too, and actually tell my kids that and the laugh. LOL!!
I wouldn't eat the ones under LEDs too. :hmm4:
:thumbsup:
 
spjames said:
I think this topic is more subjective than objective. Sanjay stated back in 2010 that he could find no quantitative difference between MH, T5 and leds (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature2) and led technology has developed significantly since then - MH and T5 not so much (because they don't really need to).
Sanjay is very careful when publishing anything about LEDs because he knows it could hurt very much the progress of the technology and marketing. There is way too much money involved nowadays. He is a nice guy!
I wonder what he would state today after a while trying LEDs.

I have tried all of them and prefer led - the ability to control color and dimming is great and sunrise/sunset are some of my favorite times to be in front of my tank.
With all the respect, that actually seems subjective to me.
There shouldn't be any problem choosing MHs/T5s though. There are dimmable metal halides and T5 fixtures today. Just as a side note: The dimming of the lights in a reef tank isn't necessary at all for the health of the organisms and it's subjective. I do like that though.

I am in the process of setting up my 90g again after a house move and will be building a new led system over the coming weeks as the sole source of lighting.
Many have tried that, as we know. I did too. They actually can survive. The point is that with the T5s/MHs they show more life and look healthier, similar to what they should look in nature. The problems of adaptation and PAR difference in the tank aren't worthy IME.

But at the end of the day it is personal preference and I don't think it is appropriate for people to make sweeping statements that leds don't work, they clearly do, maybe just not for everyone.
After a year or so please come back and let us know... Perhaps 6 months?
I also believe some people would like the way they look under LEDs better. That would be preference. My focus is to see them very healthy and looking strong as I see them in the ocean. The visible light from a T5 fixture compared to a LED fixture already tells the story.
Thanks for posting!!!
Click to expand...
 
Grandis you are agreeing with my point ! Your answer is entirely subjective, ie. YOU prefer T5 - that's great (for you). I prefer leds and that's great for me :)

I have been using leds very successfully for years and will continue to do so...and you will continue to use T5 successfully too. Isn't it great that we get to choose how we want to proceed ? I just think that your knocking of the performance of leds is misleading because there is a very large body of evidence supporting their use in growing healthy and colorful corals and when you keep denying it it suggests you have an agenda.

Anyway, each to their own and the best of success to you and your (T5) reef !!! :)
 
spjames said:
Grandis you are agreeing with my point ! Your answer is entirely subjective, ie. YOU prefer T5 - that's great (for you). I prefer leds and that's great for me :)

I have been using leds very successfully for years and will continue to do so...and you will continue to use T5 successfully too. Isn't it great that we get to choose how we want to proceed ? I just think that your knocking of the performance of leds is misleading because there is a very large body of evidence supporting their use in growing healthy and colorful corals and when you keep denying it it suggests you have an agenda.

Anyway, each to their own and the best of success to you and your (T5) reef !!! :)
Click to expand...

Yes, LEDs were not as good as T5s in my case.

:beer:

Grandis.
 
Interesting topic with varying opinions... I have use both and the aesthetics of the led are my preferred choice for a show tank.. it also gives you the ability to place different coral with different lighting needs in your tank... however in my grow out tank I am currently using t5's but am changing over to reef breeder black boxes this week... once I have them setup I can give a better response on which works better in my setup...


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