Need help deciding what lighting to run MH w/T5's, MH w/LED, or LED w/T5's ?

G

general0

New member
I'm looking to change up my lighting and not 100% sure where I want to go concerning the type of lighting to use. For a bit of background on my setup, I'm currently using 2 IT2040 Evergrow LED units for the primary lighting with 1 AI SOl Blue in the back middle with two Boost LED Par30's in the rear outside corners over a 120g with dual rear overflows (4x2x2'). I have a predominately SPS system and the colors are ok/good but I'm looking for that pop I used to have with my 250w Radiums. I have a Sunlight Supply Maristar 2 fixture with a dual 250w galaxy ballast and was thinking I could mod that to get the colors and pop I once had.

I was thinking of removing the MH and LED moon light panels and installing 4 Rapid LED Aurora Pucks in their place. Has anyone purchased these and have them running over your system yet? How is the coloration and output/spread compared to the LED Group buy Cree Lumia 5.1 or 5.2? Which of these three would you buy and why? Or the other configurations I was thinking of would be to run the MH and replace the T5's with LED supplements. If I were going to do this I'm not sure I would want to run the Phoenix 14k bulbs I had in mind as in my experience with them they were pretty blue on their own so what MH (Dual End 250w) bulb would you use along with what combo of leds? OR should I just leave it all alone and just use the MH and T5's?!

So if you 've made it this far my choices are stay with what I have obviously or:
1. LED with T5 supplements if this route witch of the three LED's would you go with: Aurora Puck from Rapid LEDs, or the Cree Lumia 5.2 or the standard Lumia 5.1 from LED Groupbuy?
2. MH with LED supplements what bulb combo would you go with for the MH and what spectrum LED's?
3. MH and T5 with 2 250w Phoenix 14k and 2 Blue+, 1 Coral+, and 1 Aquablue Special or ATI Purple+. Would this be too blue/white? I'm wanting to stay around a 14k-18k look. What T5's would you add to the Phoenix 14k instead?

Thanks in advance!
 
Man, this guy......LOL, Why did you post anything to this thread if you had NOTHING to contribute to it?! Could you have simply answered the question rather than post this verbatim response? If you are knowledgeable in this subject can you contribute SOMETHING versus NOTHING that helps answer my question?

Seriously, I did search this and found a few threads close to it but nothing specific to some of the questions I have asked......Which question/s are you suggesting I search for that you are familiar with?
 
I hear you...had to bust your balls. I would honestly consider a T-5/halide combo. Yes there is an energy consumption and heat concern, but you can't beat the growth and color. Although... my opinion is just one of thousands and know there will be another praising LED. Do your research and go with what you prefer. I would also suggest seeing each of the options in person.
 
I'm really stuck between this decision right now! I had MH/T5 for a long time on three different tanks and loved them. When I switched over to LED it was great and colors were holding for almost a year. I downsized from my 165g to a 120 and ever since I have not had the colors I used to have. Same rocks, lights, better skimmer, new sand but corals aren't as colorful as they used to be.....
 
Perhaps the smaller tank and different aqua scape had something to do with it. I have read there can be shadowing with LED (I have never run LED and cannot be for sure). You may be having different shadowing in the smaller tank than before.
 
Go halide/led hybrid and check out the twinarc 10k/20 K bulb it'd amazing! Melev got me using it, I run the 10k side during the day then the 20k kicks on in the afternoon! I use the reefbrite halide hybrid fixture it comes with 2 xho strips there high powered leds so you can acually see them when the halide is on, I don't know any other led strip that can do that. Hybrid fixtures are the way to go more and more people are using them everyday and very pleased with them, You won't be disapointed because u get the best of both world's. Iv really been pushing people to go with hybrids lights after a few longtime reefers pushed me and I'm so happy they did, Halide does the best job at growing and coloring up coral and leds give them an extra visual pop
 
If your into DIY then you could add some good leds to your halide fixture like you said, And def look Into the twinarc bulb it's amazing! 2 bulbs in one
 
Go Metal Halide + T5 HO Combo.

Great choice for lighting any reef tank.

I've used LEDs and preferred the growth and color I got from MH & T5.
 
A wise reefer once told me to stop throwing money into the latest and greatest unproven tech. Why try something new again that will possibly be the cause of another high dollar purchase. Save your cash towards some family vacations, college funds, and go back to your tried and true halides or T5's IMO! Sounds like there was a tank change as well...sometimes we forget to lay out other possibilties for the decline in our tanks if they were previously doing good.
 
Nanofreak79 said:
A wise reefer once told me to stop throwing money into the latest and greatest unproven tech. Why try something new again that will possibly be the cause of another high dollar purchase. Save your cash towards some family vacations, college funds, and go back to your tried and true halides or T5's IMO! Sounds like there was a tank change as well...sometimes we forget to lay out other possibilties for the decline in our tanks if they were previously doing good.
Click to expand...

Beautifully said couldn't agree more
 
DSPs, I think after seeing a fellow reefers tank the other day who is using MH, with T5/LED supplements I'm sold on going back to MH and just need to decide if I will use LED supplements or T5 only now. This will also allow me to take the canopy off the tank as I think it looks better visually.

I agree Jon, and there could be other factors at play but I've been pretty consistent with checking my tank parameters after the move over and verified we were pretty even on tank parameter levels. We both received the same frags a few months ago and my parameter were and have been stable but his growth has been double at least from what mine is for these same corals.

I guess since I wanted to go canopy-less and already have the Maristar 2 I figured I could DIY a pretty nice setup that would't really break the bank cost wise after selling my old setup and give me better lighting to boot! Thanks everyone I think I will go with the MH and LED Supplements. This will give me the best of both worlds as I can still enjoy the sunrise/sunset and have the benefits of MH too!
 
Good to hear man! I really like my Reefbrite xho supplements so I would look into those unless your the diy type then you could make a nice supplement yourself
 
Yep, MH will give you a piece of mind as far as knowing it's worked before. Adding the reefbrites, or DIY for dusk/dawn is key IMO for transition....one of the drawbacks of halides having a on/off type lighting.
 
Do you need dusk/dawn? A Phoenix 14K or Radium 20K will have awesome color without any supplement.
 
Wow general0, a member since 2011 and just over 20 posts? :wave:

But seriously - it seems that you can't go wrong with any of your options unless heat is an issue (MH).

Regarding a T5 combo with your 14k, I would recommend 1 actinic, 1 purple plus or coral plus and 2 blue plus - all ATI bulbs.
 
Nanofreak79 said:
Yep, MH will give you a piece of mind as far as knowing it's worked before. Adding the reefbrites, or DIY for dusk/dawn is key IMO for transition....one of the drawbacks of halides having a on/off type lighting.
Click to expand...

The twinarc bulb is a 10/20 K so if someone wanting halides with a little more dawn dusk they can always use that bulb, It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself
 
DSPs said:
The twinarc bulb is a 10/20 K so if someone wanting halides with a little more dawn dusk they can always use that bulb, It's pretty awesome if I do say so myself
Click to expand...

That's cool...I'm by no means a halide gawd!LOL. I've only used the 14k Phoenix bulbs before. Don't tell anyone, but I'm strictly LED now:worried:
 
Haha. I love the 14k Phoenix myself, I recently started using the twinarc bulb after talking to Malev and seeing his success with it, And I'm very happy with it before talking to Malev I had no idea such a bulb existed lol
 
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