Cannot decide on lights

[HiImSean]

So I’ve been literally going back and forth on lights. I had an 8bulb 24” Sunpower with a single reefbrite over my 32x24x18. I recently changed to two Radion xr15 gen 5s. I missed the pop of leds when I had the T5s but nice got the intensity at 65% but I’ve noticed some corals stretching and my rbtas have been moving to get higher on the rocks so I just bumped it to 75% on blue, rb, uv and v on 60. I have yet to test the par with the xrs yet
I really think I might go back to the T5s and add another led strip. Idk. Just trying to get opinions and input from others.
This is my par reading from my T5s and reefbrite

 

[blaxsun]

LEDs are the future, and you can have my Radions when you pry them from my cold dead fingers...

 

[Bpb]

You won’t go wrong with a t5 fixture, but changing light sources really needs to be calculated and deliberate, with expected changes in coral behavior.

Did you par match the LEDs to be as close to identical as what you were getting with the t5’s.

That doesn’t tell the WHOLE picture as variations in spectrum will take some adjusting to as well. Once you’ve settled on a spectrum you like, and have matched intensity levels as previous, you should really give it 6 months to a year before changing again. Because it’ll take things like anemones time to adjust to new light levels (point sources vs blanket coverage), and other corals will need time to adjust their pigments to accept and use the new spectral array. There will be undoubtedly a period of time where anemones roam, and some corals kind of brown out as they adjust

 

[Tamberav]

One xr15 over 32x24x18 seems pushing it to me...Xr30 probably would have been ideal. It depends what you keep though. It seems you have more intensity to work with though so you could keep slowly bumping it.

Alternatively a reefi pro 2.0 would be a lot more powerful then a xr15 and is around the same price.

 

[Rennurdoar]

I ended up going with a T5 Hybrid so I feel I get the best of both worlds. I had 2 prime 16hd's already with mounts, so I found a 24" (wanted a 36") hybrid fixture with spare bulbs for a good deal. I put the 2 16hd's in the center of it and I really like the way it looks now over just the LED's. This is on our 65g 36"x18"x24T" tank

 

[92Miata]

Do you know what your PAR was before?


T5s do a really good job getting light to all parts of a coral. G5s don't do as good of a job at that - so you need a bit higher PAR - and you'll see some changes in where corals are coloring up/how they're growing. IF things look light starved, try going a little higher intensity on the lights.

 

[RedoubtReef]

how about halide/T5 or halide/LED combo?

 

[mfinn]

I had a 6 x 24 watt ATI T5 fixture with a pair of 24" Reef Brite XHO's over my 32" x 24" x 20" tank for a couple years, because I had a Radion fixture over it before I was kind of spoiled. Even with a pair of XHO's, the T5's with Blue Plus bulbs really drowned out the led pop.
I did go back to a pair of gen 5 XR15's, which I'm using now.

 

[landlubber]

LEDs are the future, and you can have my Radions when you pry them from my cold dead fingers...

5 years ago i would have disagreed but with the improvements in lenses and the spread the fixtures are capable of i'm completely onboard with this.
As for OP's hunt for a better solution, unless you sold your Reefbrite I suggest trying something like i do. A little more par and light penetration coming from an angle.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I just got myself a new Hamilton MH light and an Orphek OR3 supplement. Can’t wait to set it up in Jan.

 

[Tamberav]

5 years ago i would have disagreed but with the improvements in lenses and the spread the fixtures are capable of i'm completely onboard with this.
As for OP's hunt for a better solution, unless you sold your Reefbrite I suggest trying something like i do. A little more par and light penetration coming from an angle.

What did you attach those with? I am debating adding my orpheks to my G5's.

 

[Dburr1014]

So add a couple t5 to the 2 xr15's.
Done.

 

[piranhaman00]

T5s will not go away , I just switched back from LEDs and what a world of difference

 

[landlubber]

What did you attach those with? I am debating adding my orpheks to my G5's.

It was kind of just an experiment to begin with so i just used a couple of tie-wraps to see how it would work and being it really isn't an eyesore so i left it as is.
One added bonus, despite having the lens covers i still found the fixtures bright when i'd be watching tv and the light bar does a great job filling in as a shade.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

5 years ago i would have disagreed but with the improvements in lenses and the spread the fixtures are capable of i'm completely onboard with this.
As for OP's hunt for a better solution, unless you sold your Reefbrite I suggest trying something like i do. A little more par and light penetration coming from an angle.

As would I. Until now I’ve yet to see a led fixture with a configuration that i liked and always been running a led/t5 combo but I will be beta testing a giesemann V12 in a bit that looks to provide both the punch and shimmer of more focused light as well as gentle diffused light.

To the OP: why not throw on a couple of T5’s or some wide spread led bars like reef brites or orpheks (with the lenses removed).

 

[Tamberav]

It was kind of just an experiment to begin with so i just used a couple of tie-wraps to see how it would work and being it really isn't an eyesore so i left it as is.
One added bonus, despite having the lens covers i still found the fixtures bright when i'd be watching tv and the light bar does a great job filling in as a shade.

Ya, I hate the glare.

 

[HiImSean]

You won’t go wrong with a t5 fixture, but changing light sources really needs to be calculated and deliberate, with expected changes in coral behavior.

Did you par match the LEDs to be as close to identical as what you were getting with the t5’s.

That doesn’t tell the WHOLE picture as variations in spectrum will take some adjusting to as well. Once you’ve settled on a spectrum you like, and have matched intensity levels as previous, you should really give it 6 months to a year before changing again. Because it’ll take things like anemones time to adjust to new light levels (point sources vs blanket coverage), and other corals will need time to adjust their pigments to accept and use the new spectral array. There will be undoubtedly a period of time where anemones roam, and some corals kind of brown out as they adjust

i have yet to take par readings with the LEDs

One xr15 over 32x24x18 seems pushing it to me...Xr30 probably would have been ideal. It depends what you keep though. It seems you have more intensity to work with though so you could keep slowly bumping it.

Alternatively a reefi pro 2.0 would be a lot more powerful then a xr15 and is around the same price.

it’s two Xr15s of the tank

Do you know what your PAR was before?


T5s do a really good job getting light to all parts of a coral. G5s don't do as good of a job at that - so you need a bit higher PAR - and you'll see some changes in where corals are coloring up/how they're growing. IF things look light starved, try going a little higher intensity on the lights.

my first post has par with the T5 setup

 

[HighlandReef]

Personally, I am still on the fence with LED.
I went from MH/T5 combo to full blown led’s.
I am starting to regret going to all led.
IMO… MH is still king! My growth just isn’t the same.
I’m thinking MH or T5 with 470nm led bars for pop, is probably the way to go.
I still have my old MH/T5 and I am starting to think about going back.
Yes, the bulbs are getting expensive but at the end of the day, like any other hobby, you have to pay to play.

 

[Steven Garland]

Go "hybrid". Main lighting T5,with some supplemental led bars.

 

[Hurricane Aquatics]

Personally, I am still on the fence with LED.
I went from MH/T5 combo to full blown led’s.
I am starting to regret going to all led.
IMO… MH is still king! My growth just isn’t the same.
I’m thinking MH or T5 with 470nm led bars for pop, is probably the way to go.
I still have my old MH/T5 and I am starting to think about going back.
Yes, the bulbs are getting expensive but at the end of the day, like any other hobby, you have to pay to play.

Do it, I did a couple of weeks ago and what a world of difference. I LOVE LEDs, been using them for 12 years. They still will never replace MH or T5. They aren't even close to being equal.

Just my opinion.