Im starting a new build n not sure wat kind of light I want to use I'm looking to get the best color n growth out of my coral. Please lmk if you have both or switched from one to the other n wat kind of results you got, money is not an issue so doesn't matter how much light cost or energy lost just want better results lmk in ur personal experience thanks
MH vs led
- Thread starter arthur08
- Start date
It will depend on the corals you are talking about. If sps then I have never seen anything grow them faster than 10k (or 6500k, if you can deal with the color) halides, though some T5 tanks are pretty close. While I like LED's I haven't seen any that are putting down the same growth, in spite of some of the ridiculous claims some people are relentless with. Remember it isn't just the light, water clarity, available food and flow are equally important.
TimeConsumer
Active member
As far as color goes, I think MH with t5 or vho supplementation looks the best.
I bought a rainbow acan frag recently from someone who had it under a Radion, I was impressed with the fixture, until I got home. Looking at that same frag under my t5s there were several colors that you couldn't see under the Radion, or that were significantly less vibrant.
I bought a rainbow acan frag recently from someone who had it under a Radion, I was impressed with the fixture, until I got home. Looking at that same frag under my t5s there were several colors that you couldn't see under the Radion, or that were significantly less vibrant.
James77
Team RC
Another for halides over LEDs, though I do use a reefbrite supplemental strip for the blue.
I had a DIY LED setup, and found several corals suffered under them. The most dramatic was a long established pocillopora colony that near totally bleached out. I used dimmable LED drivers, and this coral was on the bottom and others at the tippy top did OK. Within a month or so of switching back to halides, it had most of its color back and looked great. I know plenty will say that corals need quite a while to adjust to LEDs, but I just don't have much faith in them as a main lighting source.
I have never had one single problem keeping any type of coral under halides. Use quality reflectors and the light spread and intensity is great. Unless you are in an area with stupid electric rates or tough heat problems, the savings of LEDs over halides is minimal at best. I forget my exact on paper savings, but they were roughly 10 bucks a month, and that was with magnetic 250 watt HQIs for the halides.
I had a DIY LED setup, and found several corals suffered under them. The most dramatic was a long established pocillopora colony that near totally bleached out. I used dimmable LED drivers, and this coral was on the bottom and others at the tippy top did OK. Within a month or so of switching back to halides, it had most of its color back and looked great. I know plenty will say that corals need quite a while to adjust to LEDs, but I just don't have much faith in them as a main lighting source.
I have never had one single problem keeping any type of coral under halides. Use quality reflectors and the light spread and intensity is great. Unless you are in an area with stupid electric rates or tough heat problems, the savings of LEDs over halides is minimal at best. I forget my exact on paper savings, but they were roughly 10 bucks a month, and that was with magnetic 250 watt HQIs for the halides.
HurricaneSystem
Member
I must admit. I had Kessil's (very nice) and I also have one of the 120w Chinese fixtures. I put my 4 bulb WavePoint T5 back on my tank and my corals are exploding in growth. I think the T5 still has the upper hand at this game over LED's.
alton
Well-known member
One of the reasons why people love LEDs is because of the energy savings, if you are going to use 400 watts + on a 65 gallon tank I am missing something?
ganjero
saiperchémibatteilcorazon
The "150w" is the model number (actually a150w) for the kessil, they only use 32watts.
I like MH and led supplementation (reefbrite is what I use). I used VHO before and the color is insane, but the royal blue LEDs also bring out crazy colors.
I vote for MH in big tanks, and LEDs for small ones (59g or less).
Open tank or canopy? In an open tank I would not ruin the slick look of the kessil with t5s.
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Donkeykong
New member
I have and really like my AI Sol's. But I am honest enough to say that growth is better under halides plan and simple. I am getting good growth under these LED's and have seen several others that have had really good growth under LED's, but not compared to what I have seen under halides. But I will not switch back to halides, HEAT! I hate how much heat comes off those halides, I would rather take a bit slower growth of SPS than have to deal with all the issues related to the heat of a halide. Yes there is more benefits to LED's like less energy, no bulb replacement, easier and more robust options for light cycle, but for me that is all gravy on top of the huge decrease in heat.
As for coloration, I have seen really good coloration under LED's and of course under Halide and T5's as well. With the proper light setup for your tank, enough light enough spread and full spectrum, any type can and will produce good coloration. But I think that coloration is more depend on water quality, you can have the best light in the world but if the water quality is sub par or fluctuates to much you will not have good results regarding coloration, especially with SPS's.
So my answer to you is if your goal is to have the fasting growing coral and can deal with the heat go halides with T5 suppliments, but if heat is an issue you would rather avoid and you are ok with a bit less growth then LED's is what you want. Coloration=water quality. Yes you have to have the correct light as well but I have seen tanks with all types of light over them that never get good coloration because the water quality is never addressed.
As for coloration, I have seen really good coloration under LED's and of course under Halide and T5's as well. With the proper light setup for your tank, enough light enough spread and full spectrum, any type can and will produce good coloration. But I think that coloration is more depend on water quality, you can have the best light in the world but if the water quality is sub par or fluctuates to much you will not have good results regarding coloration, especially with SPS's.
So my answer to you is if your goal is to have the fasting growing coral and can deal with the heat go halides with T5 suppliments, but if heat is an issue you would rather avoid and you are ok with a bit less growth then LED's is what you want. Coloration=water quality. Yes you have to have the correct light as well but I have seen tanks with all types of light over them that never get good coloration because the water quality is never addressed.
Kluver
New member
Very good point. I'm planning on using the two kessil (150) with T5 under a canopy. As far as MH, I totally agree with Donkey on the heat issue. I live in Arizona and we have enough problem keeping the house cool adding the MH would be totally insane especially during the summer! The main reason for the kessil was to cut down on the heat from the T5s. Hopefully, I'll get some growth with the kessil. The t5's had great growth on some of my sps (montipora).
tom obrecht
Active member
Have to say I'm surprised that people are voting for halides or a halide/supplement combo. After getting bombarded with led articles, ads, pop up ect I thought most would side with LEDs. I'm from the old school of halides and vho supplementation so this thread is a breathe of fresh air especially since I hope to get back into the hobby and was really hoping I wouldn't get flamed for using halides. My favorite combo was 10k Ushios with vho actinics. Great growth and pleasing to the eye as well IMO. Glad to see halides still have some backing!
Donkeykong
New member
Tom,
Those of us running LED's, atleast the level headed ones, we will admit that there is definite benefits to Halides. But for our Display tanks in the middle of our living rooms, the LED's are what best suites our needs and wants. If I was to set up a frag tank with the sole purpose of producing and selling frags quickly I would probably throw a Halide over it. But if I setup a frag tank as just a secondary tank where I could house smaller frags as they grew out and sold a few things as well I would still go with Leds.
Those of us running LED's, atleast the level headed ones, we will admit that there is definite benefits to Halides. But for our Display tanks in the middle of our living rooms, the LED's are what best suites our needs and wants. If I was to set up a frag tank with the sole purpose of producing and selling frags quickly I would probably throw a Halide over it. But if I setup a frag tank as just a secondary tank where I could house smaller frags as they grew out and sold a few things as well I would still go with Leds.
It depends on who you ask, far too often people are swallowed up by hype and actually believe that a 70 watt LED is more powerful and a replacement for a 400 watt halide. Though it may have a peak equivalent par reading in a very very small area, it isn't actually a replacement. This technology is here to stay and I know there are some very nice fixtures available and some soon to be available that will be what the other led's lack. I will make the change, and I know this already, but it will have to be a fixture that I don't have make to make excuses for, will let my tank continue to grow as it currently is and I will be able to keep anything I want without sacrificing the color of the corals. Most of the current led's on the market will not allow that, though the zealots want you to believe it. There have been a lot of "old timers" try led and come back to what they are comfortable with, and what works for them. I am currently using that Ushio 10K and 445nm led's and have no complaints. It isn't quite as good of a combo as VHO actintics but it is close enough.
It will be tough to put my halides on a shelf but I won't be selling them. They won't be the only antiques in my home.
I have a feeling in the next year or less the tech will have caught up to mh and T5, and that actually is a good thing. I look forward to it and will embrace it when the time is right.
It will be tough to put my halides on a shelf but I won't be selling them. They won't be the only antiques in my home.
I have a feeling in the next year or less the tech will have caught up to mh and T5, and that actually is a good thing. I look forward to it and will embrace it when the time is right.
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Playa-1
In Memoriam
If operating cost were no object and I were building a tank today, then I would most likely go MH with carefully thought out reflectors, bulbs and ballasts. Supplementation would be VHO, T5, or maybe LED. IMO, it's worth exploring all your options and choosing the right lighting system for your needs. There are pros and cons either way you go.
lil_man72
New member
leds are the way to go if you ask me. i have both leds and mh running right now.
the trick is figuring out where your corals like being placed under leds and how long to run them. the spread is different than mh other than the cannon leds.
i have a 54w jbj unibody where i used to have a 250w luminarc III. the mh was overkill but the corals seemed to love that much light. i thought the unibody wouldn't be enough but it seems to do great. i just leave it on about 2 hours longer than i did the 250w.
i do admit the colors are lacking in some departments but in others you can't get without leds.
the coolest light combo i've seen so far is a 14k pheonix bulb with blue line accent blue led strip. it's a little blue for some, but the blue leds just make certain corals pop with color.
i think led fixtures will change a lot in the next few years. mainly the color spectrum still needs refined.
don't get me wrong if you can find a great deal on a mh t5 setup i'd jump on it.
on the same note if you find a good deal on leds i'd get those also.
there's no law in owning one tank and two sets of lights.
the trick is figuring out where your corals like being placed under leds and how long to run them. the spread is different than mh other than the cannon leds.
i have a 54w jbj unibody where i used to have a 250w luminarc III. the mh was overkill but the corals seemed to love that much light. i thought the unibody wouldn't be enough but it seems to do great. i just leave it on about 2 hours longer than i did the 250w.
i do admit the colors are lacking in some departments but in others you can't get without leds.
the coolest light combo i've seen so far is a 14k pheonix bulb with blue line accent blue led strip. it's a little blue for some, but the blue leds just make certain corals pop with color.
i think led fixtures will change a lot in the next few years. mainly the color spectrum still needs refined.
don't get me wrong if you can find a great deal on a mh t5 setup i'd jump on it.
on the same note if you find a good deal on leds i'd get those also.
there's no law in owning one tank and two sets of lights.
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