Help me decide

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

Currently running a 6bulb sunpower with an orphek v2 and reefbrite xho supplement. Thinking about switching to leds. Found a good deal on xr15s. Thinking about putting an xr15 on the left, xr30 in the middle and xr15 on the left. Tank is 48inchs and I'm running a more sps dominant tank. What would you guys go with? Torn between keeping what I have because I have had great results and switching to leds so I dont have to pay for replacement bulbs.

The Aquatic Arsenal · Jan 18, 2020

I see your point about replacing bulbs, but if isn't broken why fix it. You may have hot spots with LED's and finding that right schedule for your tank may take a little while. I run LED's myself, but that is what I started with on my frag system as well.

Radions are a great light along with others as well. Many coral farms run with Radions. I use Reef Breeders myslef with great success with coloration and growth.

Scrubber_steve · Jan 18, 2020

RickG said:
Currently running a 6bulb sunpower with an orphek v2 and reefbrite xho supplement. Thinking about switching to leds. Found a good deal on xr15s. Thinking about putting an xr15 on the left, xr30 in the middle and xr15 on the left. Tank is 48inchs and I'm running a more sps dominant tank. What would you guys go with? Torn between keeping what I have because I have had great results and switching to leds so I dont have to pay for replacement bulbs.

OR3 Reef Aquarium LED Bar •Orphek

Orphek OR3 Reef Aquarium LED Bar, OR3 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 for Coral Pop Fluorescent Color Growth and Illumination – 5Watt Dual Chip LEDs

orphek.com

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

The Aquatic Arsenal said:
I see your point about replacing bulbs, but if isn't broken why fix it. You may have hot spots with LED's and finding that right schedule for your tank may take a little while. I run LED's myself, but that is what I started with on my frag system as well.

Radions are a great light along with others as well. Many coral farms run with Radions. I use Reef Breeders myslef with great success with coloration and growth.

Yeah man I'm definitely torn between the two. Sucks replacing bulbs but my tank has been growing great. LEDs just look like they color better. I have leds on my frag tanks and my sps have been getting better colors. Also, I see alot of people going towards hybrid to get the t5s so kind of second guessing going just leds

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

Scrubber_steve said:
OR3 Reef Aquarium LED Bar •Orphek

Orphek OR3 Reef Aquarium LED Bar, OR3 60 / 90 / 120 / 150 for Coral Pop Fluorescent Color Growth and Illumination – 5Watt Dual Chip LEDs

orphek.com

Yeah I have these mounted on my sunpower in the front side and xho in the back

The Aquatic Arsenal · Jan 18, 2020

RickG said:
Yeah man I'm definitely torn between the two. Sucks replacing bulbs but my tank has been growing great. LEDs just look like they color better. I have leds on my frag tanks and my sps have been getting better colors. Also, I see alot of people going towards hybrid to get the t5s so kind of second guessing going just leds

I have the hybrid kits. I have mostly LPS and softies right now. I will use the T5's when that system turns into my SPS system later this month. I love the look of the two lights on together. I run the Blue plus bulbs.

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

Yea exactly lol! Hybrid has been the go to as of recent. I've thought about it but it would still be replacing 4 bulbs so might as well stay with what I have if I do that

Scrubber_steve · Jan 18, 2020

RickG said:
Yeah I have these mounted on my sunpower in the front side and xho in the back

Oh, I read Orphic V2 in the op, not Orphic OR2. Thought the OR2 would be a good replacement for t5
Cool

csb123 · Jan 18, 2020

If your tank is doing great, why mess with it. Any big change will likely set your reef back for a while.

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

Scrubber_steve said:
Oh, I read Orphic V2 in the op, not Orphic OR2. Thought the OR2 would be a good replacement for t5
Cool

Yea sorry that's what I meant the or2s. Great supplement bars for the money. Thinking of switching xho if I stay with the sunpower

RickG · Jan 18, 2020

csb123 said:
If your tank is doing great, why mess with it. Any big change will likely set your reef back for a while.

Yeah true

biecacka · Jan 18, 2020

Guess it also depends on how good the deal is, as in if it is $1300.00 (just making up a number) how many bulbs can you buy for that? Will you even run the leds that long without issues or switching to a new version etc.

corey

Bpb · Jan 19, 2020

First off. His tank IS a hybrid already so suggesting he trade a sunpower with blue LEDs, for an aquatic life with radions is a lateral move and would cost a ton of money for nothing.

Second. I know bulb replacements are irritating. But the cost of radions is so high such that it would be many years before you even reach the break even point. You’d be basically just saving yourself the physical labor of bulb changes every 18 months or so

X-37B · Jan 19, 2020

You have a great light setup and things are growing why change?
If you buy one bulb a month at like $20 its less than almost all frags. Ati bulbs last 12+ months easily. The "it costs to much to replace proven T5's" makes no sense to me.
Any pics of your system?