Ok...Let there be light!

[ryan_]

I am trying to decide between 250w MH or going with LED on my 75G. I do NOT have experience with LED and that is what scares me. I would hate to spend the money and not like the result.

I have run both 400w and 250w MH in the past. I love the shimmer that I get with the MH.

So I want to hear from those who have run both. Should I make the jump into LED to save on the electricity? Will my grow out be as nice?

BTW, I am a softy and LPS guy. Not a fan of SPS. I make grow a birds nest for my wife, but thats about it in SPS.


Please help me spend my hard earned money

 

[xmike24]

Let me see if I can sum up everything that's been discussed on RC in the last year.

1. There's not enough proof LED's work,
2. There's plenty of proof they work.
3. They're too expensive
4. Price is totally worth it
5. I don't trust LED's
6. Several studies show they grow just as much as MH/t5's and colors are awesome.
7. Comes down to your personal preference
8. Every tank is different

(These are not my views, I tried to encompass both views from opposing sides). In the long run, you're not going to find the answer you want until you try it for yourself. I personally love LED's but, wait for some else to respond that doesn't.

Search "Switch to LED's" and read as long as your heart desires. After about 5 minutes you'll realize everyone ends up saying the same thing on ea. opposing perspective.

 

[Willistein]

I love my 250 watt MH radiums, but I think if I was starting over I would go with Radions. I like the customization and control over color. I need to go see someone with Radions running to really get a feel for it.

 

[ryan_]

Let me see if I can sum up everything that's been discussed on RC in the last year.

1. There's not enough proof LED's work,
2. There's plenty of proof they work.
3. They're too expensive
4. Price is totally worth it
5. I don't trust LED's
6. Several studies show they grow just as much as MH/t5's and colors are awesome.
7. Comes down to your personal preference
8. Every tank is different

(These are not my views, I tried to encompass both views from opposing sides). In the long run, you're not going to find the answer you want until you try it for yourself. I personally love LED's but, wait for some else to respond that doesn't.

Search "Switch to LED's" and read as long as your heart desires. After about 5 minutes you'll realize everyone ends up saying the same thing on ea. opposing perspective.

So it's just another AR vs. AK kinda topic huh? Great.

Ok, let me ask this. The other night on the show Tanked, they built a tank for an Army Sgt. Major and with the controller they were able to simulate a thunderstorm.
I doubt that can be achieved with MH (tell me if I'm wrong). I would like to have that type of control over my lighting.


Edited to add....Yes I watch that stupid show. Those guys are obnoxious, but the tanks can be cool.

 

[xmike24]

Ok...Let there be light!

Definitely can't do it with mh, you would need the ability to turn off and on immediately, and obviously mh take awhile to warm up,

You might be able to achieve it with t5's and several cheap strips of led and a controller. However, that would reduce the life of the t5's

Edit: either way, something like that is only going to be used to show off to friends and family here and there.

 

[ryan_]

Of course, but its pretty friggin cool. and I think that I could sit and watch a storm in my tank.

I don't know...I will probably just go with MH, but the lower electric bill is appealing.

 

[pascal32]

I recently made the move from halide to LED (Radion Pro) - couldn't be happier. As a long time halide fan it was hard to make the move! The final push for me s the new tank being located in a room which gets hot during the summer, so any heat reduction was high on the list.

The ability to change colors is fantastic - in the past I supplemented 14K phoenix with LED strips for "pop" - that is all in one now. Throughout the day the color changes from heavy actinic to a 13K or so and back to actinic. To top it off intensity adjustments are a breeze.

I haven't been running long enough to look at growth, no worries based on all the success stories.

At the end, the LPS look fantastic, couldn't be happier.

 

[ryan_]

Thanks, Pascal. How long have you been running LED?

 

[pascal32]

Thanks, Pascal. How long have you been running LED?

not very long, coupe weeks or so. With my radion you do see the individual colors on the sand a little which Halide does not do. Kessil has an LED technology which improves on this, though I do not believe the light has the same level of control

 

[saltyscotsman]

I have had my LEDs for over a year and all my corals are growing just fine [Steve's LEDs out of LA ]custom made

 

[ReeferSteve78]

I had halides for a few years then for a year now I have had LEDs and wondered why I didn't start with LEDs a few years backs. IMO I would hop on the LEDs bandwagon and ride along.

 

[Frostslasher]

I too have a 75 gallon and run 2 Kessil 350N. I thought I'd attach a picture of mine for comparison.

I know BRS TV recently had a new tank setup (Reef Saavy 60g) with 2 Kessils and they show how good the shimmer is with them. In all, I'd highly recommend purchasing a quality LCD.

 

[erndog1001]

I ran MH for like 5 min So I can't speak for them. No need to anyways They have proved themselves and we all know they work.
LEDs ARE proven at this point IMHO as well. They've been around long enough now and people are getting good results.
I'm running Radions 2-Pros and 2- Gen2s. I have an excellent sampling of all kinds of coral. And everything in my tank is happy,healthy and for the most part showing good growth!!
Yes they are expensive. BUT Look at all you can do with them vs MH and with the right LEDs You need nothing else bc they do it all. besides that I believe LEDs are going to be the next light of choice for almost everything bc they are showing up everywhere now.
And they last. No bulb changes No heat worries or explosions.

 

[ryan_]

The responses so far are great.
The lack of bulb changes really makes a huge difference to me. Not having to buy bulbs every few months means more livestock.

So if they are proven, and have all these added benefits, what are the downfalls? Other than initial cost of course.

 

[aqua_dog]

LEDs all the way.. maxspect razor!

 

[Willistein]

Price is definitely a problem for leds. I can light my tank with MHs for 1/3 the price of radions. I predict eventually they will actually be cheaper.

 

[88rxna]

i am more than happy with my oceanrevive s026 led set. i went from t5's about a minth ago. cant say everything is amazing since the swap, everything is still growing and i see now effects. plus my watt usage went from 319 for the t5's to 125 for both led panels combined. and no more bulb changes!

 

[ryan_]

Price is definitely a problem for leds. I can light my tank with MHs for 1/3 the price of radions. I predict eventually they will actually be cheaper.

I'm not sure about the 1/3 estimate. I can get 2 radium pro panels for around 1500.00
A MH setup with lumateks, hamilton reflectors, and radiums will run about a grand. Not to mention replacing the bulbs. Plus, the utility savings...

 

[zooman72]

Every single aquarium I have is lit by LEDs, and I doubt I will go back to any other light source.

Take a look at the Photon 48 from Reef Breeders - a lot of light for the money...

 

[erndog1001]

Price is definitely a problem for leds. I can light my tank with MHs for 1/3 the price of radions. I predict eventually they will actually be cheaper.

Thats just not being realistic.You need additional lighting with MH. Plus count in all the bulb changes you'll do over the life of those lights and I'd be willing to bet you're way over 1/2