Led back to Halide, T5, or combo.

danangelo · Nov 8, 2013

I know this is a debatable subject im not here to argue or debate with anyone. I know there is some of us going back from Led to Halide or T5 or a combination. .I just want to know how is the progress from when you guys switch back and to what did you switch to ..I myself is switching im doing a combination of led and t5 im getting growth but not what I expected like how I used to get growth with halides..so I decided to switch I will be experimenting with
This combo as much as I want to go back to my 400w halides not gonna happened due to electric bill so high for cali..I would love to seee some pics of before and after thanks guys

gacolt · Nov 8, 2013

i would like to hear some stories aswell.im thinking about changing from my leds to 250w metal halides with 2 build my leds strips.right now i have 2 120w led fixtures over my 120g i get good grow but not like halides.

danangelo · Nov 9, 2013

My t5 led combo. .

nature786 · Nov 9, 2013

danangelo said:
My t5 led combo. .

This is one of the Best Combos I've ever seen! Which bulbs are you using?

Scribe · Nov 9, 2013

I'm in for the ride. I just switched from two 250s and two 36 inch t5s over my 90, to led setup. Honestly the thing I like the most is no loud fans. I miss the shimmer. Definitely like the black like popping colors of the LEDs though. Can't say I'm overly concerned about growth. As long as everyone is healthy it's all gravy.

GrampaDon · Nov 9, 2013

opcorn: You just wait the LED police will be right here.
And boy will you be sorry.

Says the the guy still rockin [and luvin] MH + T5s

danangelo · Nov 9, 2013

nature786 said:
This is one of the Best Combos I've ever seen! Which bulbs are you using?

At the moment 6 blue+ and 2 actinic is what it came with the fixture I will replace it with different combination once I get it dialed in the way I want it to look and the growth ...
Ya I like the way it looked with the vegas so I decided to just use it with the t5 I guess will find out how well it does..thanks.

danangelo · Nov 9, 2013

Scribe said:
I'm in for the ride. I just switched from two 250s and two 36 inch t5s over my 90, to led setup. Honestly the thing I like the most is no loud fans. I miss the shimmer. Definitely like the black like popping colors of the LEDs though. Can't say I'm overly concerned about growth. As long as everyone is healthy it's all gravy.

I miss the growth with my 400w but dont miss the heat..im gonna try this combo and see how it does..I have it might as well use it..

GrampaDon said:
opcorn: You just wait the LED police will be right here.
And boy will you be sorry.
I know I figured that..lol

Says the the guy still rockin [and luvin] MH + T5s

Tab28 · Nov 10, 2013

I switched back to mh t5 combo from led. Several LFS i visit did as well. Some use led in display tanks and mh on growth tanks. I say use what works for you. Mh has been around for awhile for a reason. I can not take picture of my setup because my canopy weighs a ton. But its 2 250 mh with t5 strip on front and back. I also have a 36" 120watt led all blue. They are 3watt bulbs on a dimmer. I do loved the blue led pop on corals. The strip is mounted and pivets so i can always adjust it for coverage.

cromag27 · Nov 10, 2013

Switched from led to t5 on my nem tanks. Growth and color improved. I still have leds on one of my reef tanks. After seeing them side by side, the led (crees) tank looks so cartoonish.

nickjr000 · Nov 10, 2013

Mh and traditional vho super r

KologneKoral · Nov 11, 2013

Nice to hear all your experiences. I'll not be going back to halide or T-5s, as I have never had such amazing growth and colour (plus low leccy bil, no bulb replacements, etc. You know the arguments), which leads me to think much more is involved that lighting source. Clearly, one may prefer one look to the other (I hate T-5s, looks like candy store plastic) and certain corals respond to specific types of lighting much better than others. If you like pastels, than T-5s are more your thing, while deeper tones benefit from halides. I found I can achieve both with LEDs and the main difference is not so much intensity, but spectrum and available nutrients. Once one learns to manipulate these in a manner that benefits your collection of corals, you may find yourself getting on with them.

Our expectations dictate how we interpret our results. If you like Boskop apples, don't expect a Red Delicious to give you the same taste experience.

jtucker022187 · Nov 11, 2013

KologneKoral said:
Nice to hear all your experiences. I'll not be going back to halide or T-5s, as I have never had such amazing growth and colour (plus low leccy bil, no bulb replacements, etc. You know the arguments), which leads me to think much more is involved that lighting source. Clearly, one may prefer one look to the other (I hate T-5s, looks like candy store plastic) and certain corals respond to specific types of lighting much better than others. If you like pastels, than T-5s are more your thing, while deeper tones benefit from halides. I found I can achieve both with LEDs and the main difference is not so much intensity, but spectrum and available nutrients. Once one learns to manipulate these in a manner that benefits your collection of corals, you may find yourself getting on with them.

Our expectations dictate how we interpret our results. If you like Boskop apples, don't expect a Red Delicious to give you the same taste experience.

Very good point

But I have run strictly T5 with just a little led strip for night and I have had far more growth then my friend with his led. Led coloration is a lot better and the shimmer, but growth I love t5's

KologneKoral · Nov 12, 2013

jtucker022187 said:
Very good point

But I have run strictly T5 with just a little led strip for night and I have had far more growth then my friend with his led. Led coloration is a lot better and the shimmer, but growth I love t5's

Exactly! You have found your light source. Satisfaction is paramount in the end, and this includes not only colours and growth, but your investment in time and money versus enjoyable results.

ciao,

Rockhead · Nov 14, 2013

Had leds , then back to T5s then to a halide combo http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p772/tsvcmv80/20131109_183211_zps892c99f3.jpg
Found I get the best growth and color

danangelo · Nov 17, 2013

Rockhead said:
Had leds , then back to T5s then to a halide combo http://i1350.photobucket.com/albums/p772/tsvcmv80/20131109_183211_zps892c99f3.jpg
Found I get the best growth and color

Verry nice. .

I finally finished my diy acrylic canopy with my t5 led hybrid now the experiment begins.

danangelo · Nov 17, 2013

I like color the combo color so far. ..will see how it will grow

Rockhead · Nov 17, 2013

Now that looks

IBEW41 · Nov 17, 2013

Tab28 said:
I switched back to mh t5 combo from led. Several LFS i visit did as well. Some use led in display tanks and mh on growth tanks. I say use what works for you. Mh has been around for awhile for a reason. I can not take picture of my setup because my canopy weighs a ton. But its 2 250 mh with t5 strip on front and back. I also have a 36" 120watt led all blue. They are 3watt bulbs on a dimmer. I do loved the blue led pop on corals. The strip is mounted and pivets so i can always adjust it for coverage.

what LED's did you have a brand name or DIY

IBEW41 · Nov 17, 2013

jtucker022187 said:
Very good point

But I have run strictly T5 with just a little led strip for night and I have had far more growth then my friend with his led. Led coloration is a lot better and the shimmer, but growth I love t5's

all tanks are different I had an ATI power mod and I have better sps growth with my leds,but I also went from manual dosing to a cal reactor