Pick the best around now and stick with it, just choose the colors that work best for most.
LED, MH, T5 battle ground.
- Thread starter Young Frankenstein
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Pick the best around now and stick with it, just choose the colors that work best for most.
Dasani
Well-Known Member
I am flat broke. Plus I already have 12 LED's over a 6 gallon tank. They are only running about 20%. I don't have much to work with.
creefer
Valuable Member
This is a difficult one to vote on as many have said each system has its advantages. Then, there's the advantage of mixing each lighting type. On my new build I went with T5 because I was not satisfied with the LED I had on my previous cube. That being said, I went with T5 with the intention of supplementing the lighting with DIY LED in the future so I can get the shimmer of the LED in addition to the color I'm looking for with the T5. No question that each system has the capacity to grow coral and grow it well, but to can a system for all tanks is not appropriate IMO.
apicturepaints
Active Member
I need to do more research on LEDs before I make the switch as I have heard many complaints from acan/chalice keepers. I run a MH and T5 set-up and when adding pieces from other's LED tanks - chalices and acans color up much nicer.
WesF
Well-Known Member
I've used all 3 and I prefer halides for SPS.
I had MH on my display and LEDs on My frag tank. So it was the same water on the same system, the same corals always looked much better in the display under halides. So I removed the led fixture and hung a 150w Phoenix over the frag tank and colors are just as good as they are in the display.
I had MH on my display and LEDs on My frag tank. So it was the same water on the same system, the same corals always looked much better in the display under halides. So I removed the led fixture and hung a 150w Phoenix over the frag tank and colors are just as good as they are in the display.
turfster26
Active Member
Agreed MH RULE........LED's are simply not all figured out yet and will take a couple of more years for me to trust them on my SPS corals.
IMHO.............
VIPReef
Active Member
I don't think you will get too many replies as this topic has been beaten down to death, but I'll help you.
I run all 3 different modes at the shop and like others that have posted above "it depends".
IMHO:
Leds : LPS, softies, nice coloration if using a bunch of different spectrum leds
T5's : SPS, LPS, softies, awesome coloration and good growth if you using quality bulbs
MH : SPS, LPS, softies, excellent growth, color looks best when enhanced with leds or T5's
The future tends to point towards leds becoming the standard wether people like it or not. Oh let's not forget the emerging technology of plasma lighting as well.
So in essence if I had only one to pick from it would be T5 bulbs. The ability to manipulate color is outstanding and bulbs like ATI really do wonders on corals. My SPS display tank never looked so good as when I had T5's and like I told you I've been thinking about going back to T5's since I'm not truly happy with MH in this tank (300 display SPS display).
Frank
I run all 3 different modes at the shop and like others that have posted above "it depends".
IMHO:
Leds : LPS, softies, nice coloration if using a bunch of different spectrum leds
T5's : SPS, LPS, softies, awesome coloration and good growth if you using quality bulbs
MH : SPS, LPS, softies, excellent growth, color looks best when enhanced with leds or T5's
The future tends to point towards leds becoming the standard wether people like it or not. Oh let's not forget the emerging technology of plasma lighting as well.
So in essence if I had only one to pick from it would be T5 bulbs. The ability to manipulate color is outstanding and bulbs like ATI really do wonders on corals. My SPS display tank never looked so good as when I had T5's and like I told you I've been thinking about going back to T5's since I'm not truly happy with MH in this tank (300 display SPS display).
Frank
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ifarmer
Valuable Member
There are a lot of good looking tank with LED. I just think that the corals in T5 tank are much more colorful and nicer than LED. Taking picture are much easy with T5 light.
T5 for me for now. But I think I like to do a mix of T5 and LED in a year because looks like technology is getting shift to LED now.
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ifarmer
Valuable Member
looks like LED is going to be the standard now.
Even new beginner that do not even know anything about coral or fish. I bet he/she would choose to go with LED if they are in the market for a light.
Even new beginner that do not even know anything about coral or fish. I bet he/she would choose to go with LED if they are in the market for a light.
SteveM
New Member
Once they get LED's figured out I may switch but as long as THE NEXT BIG THING IN LED keeps coming out, I'll wait. I'm extremely happy with my 150 MH with a 14000K Phoenix bulb. And I've yet to see LEDs that match MH glitter lines.
