LED vs T5 vs ?

[Stege_saurus]

I'm debating heavily between getting LEDs or T5s. I see great things from both, I'm looking for great coral growth, with great controllability (daylight settings), and a decent price tag. I don't want a light that only allows for one color at all times, for instance something that only allows blues all day until you shut it off.
Which light do you prefer?
Why?
If possible, please leave brand, model, settings etc...

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

I was in the same boat for a little while, I was running LEDs (prime HD) on my 29g and on the new 75g I was looking at LED options but liked the coloring of the T5 and the reports of growth with them. so in the end I went with T5/ LED hybrid which is a 48" Fixture with 2 PrimeHDs on it now. the T5s run for 5 hours (2-7pm) with 4 Blue+ bulbs and I use the LEDs to add a pop to the tank while the T5s run and the LEDs for ramping in the morning and evening. I like them.

Hope this helps

 

[MTBake]

Led and t5 hybrid worked well for me when I was using led. Better than led alone, imo.

 

[Stege_saurus]

I was in the same boat for a little while, I was running LEDs (prime HD) on my 29g and on the new 75g I was looking at LED options but liked the coloring of the T5 and the reports of growth with them. so in the end I went with T5/ LED hybrid which is a 48" Fixture with 2 PrimeHDs on it now. the T5s run for 5 hours (2-7pm) with 4 Blue+ bulbs and I use the LEDs to add a pop to the tank while the T5s run and the LEDs for ramping in the morning and evening. I like them.

Hope this helps

Interesting...my only concern is how many fixtures I have to buy. I have a 120g (72" Lx 24" hx 18"w). What brand do you use for the T5s? And if you remember, where did you get the fixture?

 

[Jet915]

LED + T5 is way to go. I run 4 T5s (3 blue plus, 1 coral plus) along with marine orbit LED panel x 2 and an Orphek OR3 Blue plus LED bar. Best of both worlds.

 

[Hydrored]

I run 3 ReeFi Due Extremes over a 120 (LED) and 2 36” Reef Brites during peak for 4 hours.

All LED but I feel the best of both worlds with reef brites providing that blanket of light during peak times

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Interesting...my only concern is how many fixtures I have to buy. I have a 120g (72" Lx 24" hx 18"w). What brand do you use for the T5s? And if you remember, where did you get the fixture?

You could run two 36" fixtures or a 72"? (not sure if they make a 72") and I am running the AquaticLife T5 Hybrid.

I also did a modification and wired both ballasts together so there is only 1 cord coming form the fixture and I also have it exiting the back of the fixture in the center for a cleaner look on it. there are a few threads on here on how to do the modification. I am very used to doing electrical modifications, but the mod for the wiring is easy peasy, my 13 year old son did this fixture.

 

[ADAM]

If I had a standard rectangular display I would probably go with an ATI non-dimmable fixture with Reefbrite or Orphek LED bar add-ons for a hybrid setup. The same could be done with the AquaticLife fixtures that are so popular in recent years. I like the ATI (or similar) T5 fixtures with added LED bars because a lot of the grow out systems I have seen, and liked better personally, used this design.

 

[BradB]

Not a fan of t5s. High cost and time replacing bulbs, more electricity, less intensity and at least in my case, fixtures corroded faster. If you like the t5 look you can probably get the same look from something led if you look hard enough.

 

[Victor_C3]

I bought an ATI Sunpower T5 (8 bulb T5 only fixture) for my SPS tank. With 8 bulbs, you can mix and match spectrum easily. I’m running 4x 10k bulbs, 2x 14k bulbs, and 2x 20k bulbs.

Metal halide and T5 are used as the standard to compare the performance of LED to, so I opted to just go with T5 rather than go with something that isn’t quite as good as T5.

T5 has vastly superior light distribution to LED and they don’t use that much more energy than a similarly powerful LED setup.

 

[Stege_saurus]

You could run two 36" fixtures or a 72"? (not sure if they make a 72") and I am running the AquaticLife T5 Hybrid.

I also did a modification and wired both ballasts together so there is only 1 cord coming form the fixture and I also have it exiting the back of the fixture in the center for a cleaner look on it. there are a few threads on here on how to do the modification. I am very used to doing electrical modifications, but the mod for the wiring is easy peasy, my 13 year old son did this fixture.

That's quite interesting, do you have any pics? And is it dimmable? I'm not too familiar with T5s and what they can and can't do.

 

[Victor_C3]

I bought an ATI Sunpower T5 (8 bulb T5 only fixture) for my SPS tank. With 8 bulbs, you can mix and match spectrum easily. I’m running 4x 10k bulbs, 2x 14k bulbs, and 2x 20k bulbs.

Metal halide and T5 are used as the standard to compare the performance of LED to, so I opted to just go with T5 rather than go with something that isn’t quite as good as T5.

T5 has vastly superior light distribution to LED and they don’t use that much more energy than a similarly powerful LED setup.

In case it’s of any interest, my tank measure 36” long by x 26” wide x 28” tall. It works out to be 115 gallons. My T5 fixture is 18” wide and easily blankets my tank with excellent light distribution.

 

[Stege_saurus]

In case it’s of any interest, my tank measure 36” long by x 26” wide x 28” tall. It works out to be 115 gallons. My T5 fixture is 18” wide and easily blankets my tank with excellent light distribution.

I'm leaning heavily on doing a hybrid setup, just shopping around for the best setup for what I have in mind with my reef. I appreciate all the info though, definitely gives me alot of options to weigh.

 

[shred5]

Opps voted wrong..

If I had to pick one it would be t-5..

But personally on most of my tanks I run both as a hybrid.
I have far better result with my hybrid set ups vs my tanks that run just led.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

That's quite interesting, do you have any pics? And is it dimmable? I'm not too familiar with T5s and what they can and can't do.

I can snap some pics tonight for you. it is not dimmable, I don't see the need to be able to dim T5s, plus its really hard on the bulbs and you will have to replace them more often. dimmable T5s are more expensive as well...

 

[Stege_saurus]

I can snap some pics tonight for you. it is not dimmable, I don't see the need to be able to dim T5s, plus its really hard on the bulbs and you will have to replace them more often. dimmable T5s are more expensive as well...

Gotcha, I just enjoy the view of a simulated sunrise/sunset. But I guess maybe that's where the LEDs would come in handy.

 

[Luis1992]

I run an aquatic life x18 hybrid with 4 Radion xr15w pros. I love the even coverage across the tank. Also even with diffusers I have enough par for a mixed reef and I’m only running the leds at 50%. Will slowly increase if I decide to go sps dominant

 

[Billdogg]

Over the years (since the mid 80's) I have tried pretty much every lighting system out there, or at least have friends who have.

I switched to 100% LED on all my tanks in 2013 when I upgraded my 60 cube to a standard 120 (SPS dominant) I used AI Sol blues until about a year ago when I upgraded to Radion XR30 Gr4 pros, and used Kessil A360W's on the frag tank (shallow 60 - 4x2x12") I moved the Sol's tot he FT, and now use the Kessils on my QT.

I, for one, love the shimmer of LED's. It is so very much like diving a shallow reef on a sunny day. The only real downside is the shadowing, but with a little overlap and good coral placement that can be minimized. As far as controllability - the kessils will give you something between stark white and too blue. The Sol's are similar but at least IMO, offer a more pleasing palate. The Radions will allow you to get any (realistic reef) spectrum you like with ease and have more than enough power for my 120. They max out at 70% and a par of 250+ on the bottom so my clam is, well, happy as a clam!

I didn't want to have to bother with spectral changes and bulb replacement in any case, so the decision was really an easy one for me.

I don't see any big changes in T5 coming (ever), while with LED the journey is still beginning.

 

[Barnabie Mejia]

Gotcha, I just enjoy the view of a simulated sunrise/sunset. But I guess maybe that's where the LEDs would come in handy.

Exactly!!!! that's really what I use the LEDs for and the other plus for the LEDs is to help with the color pop when company comes over to look at the tank...

 

[Luis1992]

Picture for reference