MH’s & LED’s

[Forty-Two]

Is anyone aware of any experiments or trials combining MH and LED?

Im strongly considering Orphek Atlantik’s (3) for a 72x30x24 tank - however I do want the shimmer effect from the MH’s and the wider spread. I originally ruled out MH’a due to heat concerns however Orphek is suggesting I need to vent the canopy anyways - So if I’m venting already - might as well consider the MH’s again.

Therefore I’m wondering if 2xOrphek Atlantik and 1x Giesmann Spectra (MH & T5 hybrid) might be a good option. Perhaps the Par would be overkill but I could dim the Orphek’s and also get the moon cycle and color control options with the Orphek’s that I’d like.

anything I missing with this? Has anyone tried it?

 

[Rtaylor]

There are MH /LED hybrids available, so people must be using them. Here’s the first one that came up when I searched:

15" SE LED/MH Hybrid Pendant

Single Ended Metal Halide and Blue XHO High Power LEDs Reef Brite Metal Halide Fixtures are easy to mount and provide great coverage with their reflectors. The aluminum housing and proprietary convection design allows for more passive cooling and produces up to 25% more light than other compact...

www.bulkreefsupply.com

 

[Forty-Two]

Great thanks!

 

[KevinC]

Is anyone aware of any experiments or trials combining MH and LED?

Im strongly considering Orphek Atlantik’s (3) for a 72x30x24 tank - however I do want the shimmer effect from the MH’s and the wider spread. I originally ruled out MH’a due to heat concerns however Orphek is suggesting I need to vent the canopy anyways - So if I’m venting already - might as well consider the MH’s again.

Therefore I’m wondering if 2xOrphek Atlantik and 1x Giesmann Spectra (MH & T5 hybrid) might be a good option. Perhaps the Par would be overkill but I could dim the Orphek’s and also get the moon cycle and color control options with the Orphek’s that I’d like.

anything I missing with this? Has anyone tried it?

How are you planning to mount that? I’m assuming MH in middle and two orphek on the side? I’d say you would have difficult blending the lights together and it would look ugly. You can however, do a GIesmann (t5/MH) and use orphek led bar as supplement

 

[Forty-Two]

How are you planning to mount that? I’m assuming MH in middle and two orphek on the side? I’d say you would have difficult blending the lights together and it would look ugly. You can however, do a GIesmann (t5/MH) and use orphek led bar as supplement

yes that’s what I was thinking originally - one Giesmann in the centre and 2 Orphek Atlantiks on the side. The LED bar is a good suggestion. Maybe a couple of the Orphek LED bars might be better suited.

 

[X-37B]

I run 2 250 watt MH and 2 OR3 light bars on my 120.
My upgrade will also be a blend of the two.

 

[Forty-Two]

I run 2 250 watt MH and 2 OR3 light bars on my 120.
My upgrade will also be a blend of the two.

nice - thanks for sharing. Looks like it has good results. How do you find the heat?

 

[KevinC]

yes that’s what I was thinking originally - one Giesmann in the centre and 2 Orphek Atlantiks on the side. The LED bar is a good suggestion. Maybe a couple of the Orphek LED bars might be better suited.

Definitely better with led bars. I run a system with MH/T5/orphek led. Plus, I think there are some mixed reviews with orphek atlantiks burnt out etc. but their light bar is the best there is with the UV

 

[Forty-Two]

Definitely better with led bars. I run a system with MH/T5/orphek led. Plus, I think there are some mixed reviews with orphek atlantiks burnt out etc. but their light bar is the best there is with the UV

How do you control the light bar? I see the full daylight one. Their dimensions seem a little odd to me - but looks like a solid product

 

[KevinC]

How do you control the light bar? I see the full daylight one. Their dimensions seem a little odd to me - but looks like a solid product

You need to buy a separate controller I think. I don’t use a controller tho. For led bars I suggest their UV, sky blue, and blue plus.
Dimension wise, they are a bit thicker. That’s about it

 

[oreo54]

How do you control the light bar? I see the full daylight one. Their dimensions seem a little odd to me - but looks like a solid product

Unless they finally added dimmable drivers..on/ off only.

 

[X-37B]

nice - thanks for sharing. Looks like it has good results. How do you find the heat?

No heat issues. I do run a 10" fan in the sump when the lights are on.

 

[Forty-Two]

Unless they finally added dimmable drivers..on/ off only.

Nuts. Hmm I guess I’m kind of back to the drawing board then.

I guess it’s back to MH’s only vs Orphek’s

Thanks for the the responses all

 

[Breadman03]

Nuts. Hmm I guess I’m kind of back to the drawing board then.

I guess it’s back to MH’s only vs Orphek’s

Thanks for the the responses all

ReefBrites can be dimmed with 0-10 V and the proper driver.

 

[rtparty]

MH with LED bars might be the best hybrid on the market. Run Reef Brite halides and XHO bars and you're set. Light will never be an issue.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I run Orphek bars on the edge at 45 degrees, then t5, and then reef brite halides. Best of all worlds! 4 ventilation fans on top of my canopy control the heat.

I lost my tank on February in the Texas freeze, five days with no power at 0 degrees F. So, nothing but a tank of frags at this point.

I've had good results in the past running t5 and kessils, but halides are just awesome for acropora.

 

[CKinLA]

Huge halide fan here. Previous 120 had two 400 watt 6.5k Iwasakis with 2 actinic VHOs, and I had great SPS growth and pretty good colors considering the spectrum. I was searching for a Giesemann fixture this go around and couldn’t find one at the time and bulbs are getting harder to find too.

I just went with three Kessil A500X, and the only reason I mention it is that you said you wanted the shimmer. From a looks perspective, I’m happy with them. I cannot comment on coral growth at this point. I also like the gradual change in spectrum and intensity throughout the day, which you can’t get with halides. Right now I’m happy my hand was forced to go with LED; I just hope the growth is there long term.

If you’re in a canopy, a halide and led strip that’s dimmable and color changeable may be the best of both worlds.

Video of 3x Kessil A500X over a 120 at 50-60% intensity mostly white (starting to shift blue at this time of day).

 

[Forty-Two]

Huge halide fan here. Previous 120 had two 400 watt 6.5k Iwasakis with 2 actinic VHOs, and I had great SPS growth and pretty good colors considering the spectrum. I was searching for a Giesemann fixture this go around and couldn’t find one at the time and bulbs are getting harder to find too.

I just went with three Kessil A500X, and the only reason I mention it is that you said you wanted the shimmer. From a looks perspective, I’m happy with them. I cannot comment on coral growth at this point. I also like the gradual change in spectrum and intensity throughout the day, which you can’t get with halides. Right now I’m happy my hand was forced to go with LED; I just hope the growth is there long term.

If you’re in a canopy, a halide and led strip that’s dimmable and color changeable may be the best of both worlds.

Video of 3x Kessil A500X over a 120 at 50-60% intensity mostly white (starting to shift blue at this time of day).

Hmm this is helpful thanks. Maybe if I get the Orpheks and add in 2 Kessils it will give me the shimmer Im looking for.

 

[minus9]

I currently run Kessil 360x’s and Orphek bars, which makes for a great all LED tank, but with 9 lights over my tank I’m not really seeing the energy savings so I’m going back to halides with Kessil as dusk/dawn supplement. It may be shimmer overkill, but something tells me I’ll like it. If it’s too much, then I’ll use Orphek bars (blue sky) with the halides. I’m going with Reef Brite halide pendants without the xho strips, so I’m not worried about heat. I’m not worried about energy consumption either, because I can run the halides for 4-6hrs and achieve, if not supersede my current lighting while using less energy.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

my opinion is that MH lights are just the best, no other light comes close to the beauty. I've been an MH user for about 15 years, will never change. I don't know about the system you mention, but I've never had heat problems with my system, I think the heat concerns are overhyped