lED or t5 lighting?

codigoins · Nov 12, 2013

Hey guys, I'm starting too make plans too setup me a new tank! I plan on making it 75-90 gallons mixed reef, and keep everything from mushrooms to rare sps and was wondering which lighting would be best for growth and color, I have a 10 gallon reef right now under an t5 fixture with 4 bulbs 2 blue and 2 whites and my corals seem too keep bleaching and not having great color, I just want your guys input on what would be best ! Thanks !

ValorG · Nov 12, 2013

I've had both, started with t5 and now using leds. A fixture with both would be my ideal lighting system. t5s just light up the entire tank without much shadowing which you can get from leds. Led's have amazing power, efficiency and controlability but can create shadows. If I had to pick one of the 2, I would choose leds. But my ideal tank would definitely have both. Main lights would be leds with t5 ati blue + supplementing.

codigoins · Nov 12, 2013

What size tank do you run? Which led brand do you use and do you get good growth?

Ron Reefman · Nov 12, 2013

I had t5 over a 55g local tank and mh/t5 over 2 DT's (180g & 70g) and a 24g frag tank. They all work just fine. But I like the look and savings the leds offer, electricity for the lights, electricity for the chillers and electricity for the home A/C; not to mention no more bulbs to buy. Now I have 4 tanks (500g total) all under leds for a year now and I couldn't be happier. And my electric bills for May through Oct (A/C months in SW Florida) averaged about $40-$45 less than the same time frame last year. But remember, I have 4 tanks. And all 6 led fixtures only cost me about $1400. So between electricity and bulbs, they will pay for themselves in just about 2 years. $350-$375/yr in electricity and $260-$280/yr in bulbs. The corals are happy and so is my wallet... and my eyes!

ValorG · Nov 13, 2013

codigoins said:
What size tank do you run? Which led brand do you use and do you get good growth?

I have a 75 gal and I have a diy led fixture from rapid led. I only have frags right now and still running at a low % to acclimate the tank to leds so cant tell you how growth it yet. Intensity and power and great though.