HALIDES vs LEDs vs T5s: SPS PICTURES ONLY!

Deaf clown · Feb 13, 2018

Reefcowboy said:
MH’s with Leds have given me the best results. Here are pics of my tanks throughout the years. Cheers

I agree with this. I like T5s. But I only have to change 2 bulbs with my MH instead of 6 or 8. I’ve got two sbar actinics with my 250w MH.

jackson6745 · Feb 13, 2018

Insane! You had to tease with the purple monster lol

Big E said:
T5 only on Ice Cap ballasts

hart24601 · Feb 13, 2018

Looks like a lot of great coral in this thread. I can't tell lighting types by looking at the pics alone.

jackson6745 · Feb 13, 2018

Big E do you have fans blowing across the T5's? I hooked up an IC 660 to t5's a few years ago and was burning out bulbs like crazy. I didn't fans blowing on them.

Centerline · Feb 13, 2018

hart24601 said:
I used decapped eggs to hatch BBS so I'm sure unhatched eggs get fed. along with ocean nutrition instant brine shimp and docs brew but really BBS is wher it's at for acros. Monti could use a bit smaller like reef chilli and golden pearls small size.

One nice thing with goose necks or rail kits of various mounts is if you're that worried about shading, just slide the lights around every week or two. Generally takes about 30 seconds. Of course harder if have them fixed mount.

Are you packing the BBS with Selco or any HUFAs? I used to hatch a lot of brine for clown fry but really haven't wanted to fool with it though you post made me consider doing a large batch and freezing them. Packing them with Selco made a massive difference in fry morbidity - wonder if its useful for corals.

hart24601 · Feb 13, 2018

If you get them right when hatched, I think 12hr or so, they haven't absorbed the yolk yet and from what I understand are nutritious so it's not needed at that point. I had jellyfish and fresh hatched was the only way I could get them to grow.

solitude127 · Feb 13, 2018

Here's my T5 lit tank

Idaho-reefer · Feb 13, 2018

Nanobox led

Idaho-reefer · Feb 13, 2018

For me led photo period was the key too long with intense led and things started bleaching out.

Centerline · Feb 14, 2018

solitude127 said:
Here's my T5 lit tank

Stunning

Big E · Feb 14, 2018

jackson6745 said:
Big E do you have fans blowing across the T5's? I hooked up an IC 660 to t5's a few years ago and was burning out bulbs like crazy. I didn't fans blowing on them.

No fans. the bulbs are in full open air............no canopy. They last 6 months for me, unless you're using the bulbs in a designed fixture like a Sunpower, ect they will only last 6 months regardless of ballast used.

My fanless bulbs that were driven by ATI ballasts had the same spectrum life span of 6 months. Sooo, anyone using bulbs that aren't actively cooled are basically in the same position. That goes for all those people using T5s as supplements.

For me and my tank size 160 a year for bulbs is nothing.

I have a 6 bulb Sunpower over my frag tank same footprint as my display, and overall I like the colors from the overdriven bulb setup.

srad750c · Feb 14, 2018

danreefman said:
To all the LED guys. How long did it take to grow your little colonies? I've seen LED's grow and color.

Haven't seen a good progress pic on LED growth, of a full tank. Always individual peaces that maybe are fast growers.

Personally I like all 3 combo.

Blanket of light from T5, powerful spectrum from the halide, and glow from LED's. That's what I'm after.

Also it seams like LED's grow twigs. Halides give you that thick branch. Just all the LED tanks I've seen in person, the sps look all thin with mini polyps. Just my observations.

Post pics in a bit

No twigs for me, I think it depends on your flow. I use LED.

FMF0331 · Feb 14, 2018

USING LED ONLY

danreefman · Feb 14, 2018

Yeah, you guys definitely put out some nice sps with your LED's. Must be flow or something. Locally (in person) anyone growing with LED's has twigs.

I just remember my halide t5 combo. All my corals were thick like fingers. Still trying to talk wife into letting me get halides again. She says to hot. We keep house at 70 all the time, and she is scared room will heat up in the summer with halides.

srad750c · Feb 14, 2018

danreefman said:
Yeah, you guys definitely put out some nice sps with your LED's. Must be flow or something. Locally (in person) anyone growing with LED's has twigs.

I just remember my halide t5 combo. All my corals were thick like fingers. Still trying to talk wife into letting me get halides again. She says to hot. We keep house at 70 all the time, and she is scared room will heat up in the summer with halides.

Trust me it will heat your room up.

Centerline · Feb 14, 2018

srad750c said:
Trust me it will heat your room up.

I have a spectra fixture with two 250 MHs and 4 T5s in my home office that's 12 x 14. It used to get so hot without ventilation that the walls and windows were always coated with humidity. After the third time I repainted the room I finally score a 400 cfm vent fan and had it mounted above the tank. That works great - but good lord what a sauna without it. Fixed a CO2 issue at the same time

jackson6745 · Feb 14, 2018

Centerline said:
I have a spectra fixture with two 250 MHs and 4 T5s in my home office that's 12 x 14. It used to get so hot without ventilation that the walls and windows were always coated with humidity. After the third time I repainted the room I finally score a 400 cfm vent fan and had it mounted above the tank. That works great - but good lord what a sauna without it. Fixed a CO2 issue at the same time

That's a great idea!!! If I get rid of my oven I can put my cube in its place with the 600 cfm range hood above!!! That should take care of the 400w radium heat

. My wife might get mad though :/