Going back to halide after 4+ years with LED

mtraylor · Feb 21, 2017

tammieh said:
Well, my first and only led fixture didn't keep my bubble tip happy and that's really what's important to me. I switched to CF and it's thriving like crazy! So, that is what is making me hesitant to buy another LED fixture. They are so expensive that I want to try to get the correct and best one first.

So, yes, I'll over analyze it ... a lot! ;-) So far in my small tanks since I've only had "easy" corals with CF lights, but want to be able to step it up a notch given the size of my future aquarium. I do have some time before I can pull the trigger anyways.

I saw for the first time yesterday (after posting above) a Kessil spotlight with strip leds. We both liked the shallow water light look. Reminds me of scuba diving in the shallower water. And that may also be why I liked the MH lights so much and if I do go LED I'll probably do a combo with the spot lights and led strips.

I used to have a setup of 3-400watt 20K radium bulbs with 320watts of T12 URI actinics over my 255. I switched to 4 6100 Mitras LED fixtures and I have never looked back. The corals did have a little bit more pop and color out of my MH setup. There is no doubt about it. I don't think you can get better color than that setup.....that being said. My electric bill is allot cheaper and I don't have a chiller on the aquarium anymore. I just purchased an upgrade to my led's to the 6300. It will give me more actinics and more intensity in lighting. I cant say much yet but review on the upgrade later.

If you go with 25owatt MH's you will not need a chiller but will be on the edge of hot tank with good fans running only on the fixture. With a fan in the sump, you can bring it down. With 250MH bulbs, you still do not get that super rich deep color. That is why I went to 400 watt.

So what I"m saying is that you can get good color out of all fixtures. I do not know how the latest generation of led's compare to MH 400 setup. But I will soon report. I believe you will have no issues with the following fixtures.

Kessel
Radion
Mitras

mtraylor · Feb 21, 2017

I just want to a little more advice. When you have a nice MH setup. It goes on and it goes off. That is about it. Its a set it and forget it. With LED's, I think allot of people just keep changing things over and over again. Tweeking this and that.....Squirrel! Lets try this configuration. This will make Led's frustrating trying to get it like some one elses.

My best advice is to get things the way you like them within the fist couple weeks and just leave it alone. The consistent light wins the race. Your corals will be nice either with the led's or the MH's. You cant go wrong if you do it right.

Hope this helps.

cilyjr · Feb 21, 2017

I think that's true. Too many people move stuff around with led. When I had them they ran the same for 4 years

mcarroll · Feb 23, 2017

mtraylor said:
Tweeking this and that.....Squirrel! Lets try this configuration.

LOL!

cilyjr · Mar 1, 2017

So it's been a few weeks now and I could not be happier.

One of my favorite stylos seems to be ok with the halide it's showing more red then it did previous.

All the new growth here is in the last 2 weeks. And I will not say it's definitely because of the new lights but I'd like to think so

cilyjr · Mar 8, 2017

Well my 1st full month electric bill with mh came today. It was $15 dollars cheaper then the last.

rtparty · Mar 8, 2017

cilyjr said:
Well my 1st full month electric bill with mh came today. It was $15 dollars cheaper then the last.

It will be interesting to see if that continues

KJAG · Mar 8, 2017

rockworm said:
The Lumatek ballasts have a 5 minute delay before they will fire up again. (I have 2 of them). I am not sure about the galaxy, but suspect they are the same.

The restrike delay is mostly the same across the board for every ballast manufacturer but in regards to Lumateks, I've been in the hydroponics hobby for the last roughly 15 years. Lumateks are a joke in that side of the HID lighting world. I switched to Phantom ballasts long ago and am going to attempt to run them in conjunction with some Radiums over my 225 in wall, which is currently still in the build stage. Phantoms are bulletproof and very well made.

rockworm · Mar 8, 2017

Shores805 said:
The restrike delay is mostly the same across the board for every ballast manufacturer but in regards to Lumateks, I've been in the hydroponics hobby for the last roughly 15 years. Lumateks are a joke in that side of the HID lighting world. I switched to Phantom ballasts long ago and am going to attempt to run them in conjunction with some Radiums over my 225 in wall, which is currently still in the build stage. Phantoms are bulletproof and very well made.

With respect, what does the hydroponics hobby have to do with the reef hobby. I have been in the reef hobby since 2005 and have never heard of Phantom on any reef application. Tells me that it is useless for reefs. What is your point?

I propose that you provide a direct statement about Lumentek and reef aquariums rather than having us guess what you are trying to imply.

KJAG · Mar 8, 2017

rockworm said:
With respect, what does the hydroponics hobby have to do with the reef hobby. I have been in the reef hobby since 2005 and have never heard of Phantom on any reef application. Tells me that it is useless for reefs. What is your point?

I propose that you provide a direct statement about Lumentek and reef aquariums rather than having us guess what you are trying to imply.

Actually the hobbies are remarkably similar secondary to the simple fact that you're growing and caring for organisms under HID lighting that are pH and C02 sensitive and utilize the process of photosynthesis. One could argue that the hydro world is light years ahead of our hobby of reefing in that dimension, in that all of the reflectors we use are air cooled/ducted which removes stale air from the room, as discussed as an aside, earlier in this thread,(which assists in maintaining stable pH levels for example.)
I have yet to see our hobby's halide manufacturers move in that direction and almost every halide light we have is still passively cooled( including the Geisseman Spectra I'll be purchasing soon.)
In regards to Lumatek, I had a big "Purple Pile," as I called it, of those ballasts in my garage after they all failed on me within a few years. I was simply offering a possible alternative. By "possible," I mean that I myself am not sure if the Phantoms are even compatible with the Radiums I'm going to be using. I haven't had the time to research, of which ill do at my leisure. I was simply speaking to ballast quality and my opinion/personal experience with Lumateks.

rockworm · Mar 8, 2017

Shores805 said:
Actually the hobbies are remarkably similar secondary to the simple fact that you're growing and caring for organisms under HID lighting that are pH and C02 sensitive and utilize the process of photosynthesis. One could argue that the hydro world is light years ahead of our hobby of reefing in that dimension, in that all of the reflectors we use are air cooled/ducted which removes stale air from the room, as discussed as an aside, earlier in this thread,(which assists in maintaining stable pH levels for example.)
I have yet to see our hobby's halide manufacturers move in that direction and almost every halide light we have is still passively cooled( including the Geisseman Spectra I'll be purchasing soon.)
In regards to Lumatek, I had a big "Purple Pile," as I called it, of those ballasts in my garage after they all failed on me within a few years. I was simply offering a possible alternative. By "possible," I mean that I myself am not sure if the Phantoms are even compatible with Radiums. I haven't had the time to research, of which ill do at my leisure. I was simply speaking to ballast quality and my opinion/personal experience with Lumateks.

Oh, ok. Once you have provided fact over opinion on the lumentek in a reef environment, I invite you to get back to us. Until then, I propose you research the reef hobby rather than assume it is the same as the hydroponic hobby.

KJAG · Mar 8, 2017

rockworm said:
Oh, ok. Once you have provided fact over opinion on the lumentek in a reef environment, I invite you to get back to us. Until then, I propose you research the reef hobby rather than assume it is the same as the hydroponic hobby.

To quote Hansel from Zoolander "whatever dude. Peace and God Bless." Lol

rockworm · Mar 9, 2017

Shores805 said:
To quote Hansel from Zoolander "whatever dude. Peace and God Bless." Lol

Ok. Never watched that movie. But I am sure it means something to you. You made the decision to respond to a user post. In this case, it is mine, so please provide your exerience in MH lighting in a reef aquarium.

Liquid360 · Mar 9, 2017

I love using both halide and my Kessil for non noon hours.. I keep my home at 70degvbut still have to use a probe chiller to maintain a very steady/solid 78deg.

cilyjr · Mar 9, 2017

rtparty said:
It will be interesting to see if that continues

Well it likely will for a while but it has nothing to do with the switch. New England will be getting warmer and the time change is this week so the power bill always goes down until ac season

cilyjr · Aug 24, 2017

It's been 7 months now and I'm happy I switched.
I did monthly comprison of the months I had halide to those from the previous year and electric usage was almost exactly the same (with the exception of a big spike this july. I'm guessing 24/7 central ac useage). Which was good to see.

I've been using Radiums and plan to switch to hamilton 14k the next time around to see how I like the bulb more than anything else.

It's anecdotal but I believe growth to be superior to the old led lights. I have a digi grow out contest for my local reef club in progress and I'll use these pictures as a point of intrest.

Robert Vacchiano · Aug 24, 2017

I have been on the fence to change from metal halide to leds for some time now but corals are growing so well can't do it .Have 250 watt halides and use 20 k bulbs that I get for 15 dollars plus shipping and you can get 10 and 14 k also.Great color too