Help me decide. Stay with LED or go T5

[LostInTheDark]

When I upgraded to a 225 gal, 30" deep tank several years ago I switched to Leds. I eventually went with 4 Ocean Revive S026s. I have them hanging in the open about a foot above the tank. After 18 months 2 of them went dim on the blue channel and eventually burned out. OR replaced them. 18 months later its happening again. My tank is getting yellower by the day.
Asking around I find that this is not an uncommon problem with a lot of different Led manufacturers. Some of the reefers on my local forum seem to be pros at fixing this problem because it happens so often. They have offered to help me repair them. Others have stated they gave up on Leds because of this and went back to T5s.
So the question is, Is it worth it to stay with Leds and keep repairing as long as you can or should I consider a unit like the Sunpower 8x80w? Is the Sunpower enough in a 30" tank? How often do you change the bulbs?I figure $200 in bulbs once a year is a lot less aggravating then slowly watching the fixtures constantly burn out.
Before its suggested, $500 fixtures are not really an option.

 

[Brian Kim]

I guess it comes down to what you use the lights for the most. Are you using them for sps, lps, fish only? I really see no reason going T5's if you are growing sps. Also, you need to take your electric bill into consideration, it will cost a lot more running T5s

 

[LostInTheDark]

I keep a mixed reef with some sps near the bottom. The electric looks like 640w vs 480W. Not really a deal breaker.

 

[dagrinch65]

I has the same issue with LED's and went back to Mh and T5 combo.

 

[broach]

I Personally ran led for years from the original black boxes to radions. Switched to T5 led combo a year ago and I will say it's the best choice in reefing of 10+years. Color and growth is night and day with T5 or hakides

 

[LostInTheDark]

When you say T5 and led combo are they separate units or one?

 

[broach]

ATI fixture with reef bar pro LEDs strips retrofitted inside

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

I Personally ran led for years from the original black boxes to radions. Switched to T5 led combo a year ago and I will say it's the best choice in reefing of 10+years. Color and growth is night and day with T5 or hakides

+1
Led's are neat BUT...

 

[Tyler Roth]

Are there any good Combo made from factory good Fixtures that have both T5 and LEDs already in ti that would grow great mixed reefs?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Yes. It's an easy Google. Marine depot is a pretty big catalog to browse.

 

[Thunt4jr]

I have better results with LED than T5. I like the colors better with LED and how I can adjust them. The only thing T5 can't do is on the chart below. This is very similar to what mine is set on. All my corals are happy with whatever LED I have put on my tanks!

Here is a picture of my tank which I believe it's at 10 am or 11 am.

 

[Mike in CT]

There is no doubt good quality Led's will grow coral, but they will be pricey and you still might have to take time dial them in. T5s are proven to grow coral and there are bulb combinations that pretty much take the guess work out of it.
Check out the BRS videos on the types of lighting types... Very informative!

 

[BryanS4]

I just recently made the switch from 026's to an ATI 6x80 and the difference is unreal. I wish I made the switch a year ago instead of going led to begin with.

The growth is much better and I no longer have the annoying shadows.

Make the switch, you want regret it.

 

[PedroYoung]

Are there any good Combo made from factory good Fixtures that have both T5 and LEDs already in ti that would grow great mixed reefs?

I have been looking at fixtures by both ATI (LED PowerModule) and Geisemann (Aurora), that look good and have happy users. Of course there seem to be happy and unhappy users of just about every lighting technology.........

 

[ihavecrabs]

I just switched a few months back from evergrow LEDs to a 6x54 Used Nova Extreme Pro. I never got my LEDs dialed in properly and since the switch my sps and my acan colonies have never looked better.

Thinking about adding some supplemental LEDs but more so for the look under blues for me, not the coral [emoji16]

 

[ihavecrabs]

I just switched a few months back from evergrow LEDs to a 6x54 Used Nova Extreme Pro. I never got my LEDs dialed in properly and since the switch my sps and my acan colonies have never looked better.

Thinking about adding some supplemental LEDs but more so for the look under blues for me, not the coral [emoji16]

Oh and one of my red/orange acan colonies started to turn rainbow (greens and yellows visible now). Woo!

 

[LostInTheDark]

I think I'm leaning toward the T5's. Whats the recommended time interval to change the bulbs.

 

[Pete polyp]

I think I'm leaning toward the T5's. Whats the recommended time interval to change the bulbs.

It depends on how many hours per day and how hot the fixture is. I change mine once a year. There's a noticeable difference in brightness when I switch but overall the health of the corals don't diminish at the 1 year mark. Then again I use more bulbs than recommended. I always put as many t5 bulbs over a tank that will fit.

 

[chrisparks]

I switched to LEDs when I set up my new tank after being out of the hobby for over a year and I think if you are in it to grow coral faster T5s are the way to go but be prepared to drop at least $100-$200 a year on bulbs. Don't get me wrong my LEDs are growing things great but I will say T5s did seem to have an advantage in that aspest. On the other hand I don't have to worry about buying bulbs, a higher electric bill, or wishing I could change the color of my tank within seconds. There are advantages either way you want to look at.

 

[Pete polyp]

Depending where you are electricity costs can be a definite factor. Being $0.08/kwh here it doesn't make a big difference.