New 180 gallon leds or MH

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

Hey everyone I just picked up a new tank and started setting it up. I'm moving from an 80 gallon fowlr to a 180 gal reef. It came with 3 400watt MH. Should I stick with those three?! I'm new to the reef stuff and I'm looking to do his the right way. The tank is 6ftx2ftx2ft. I'll post picture of the tank and ballist as well!

Thank you for any advice!

Latinreefer · Apr 28, 2015

Ive used every type of light and I settled with T5's. I like MH for growth but hated the heat it created in my tank and then had to run a chiller. T5's can grow anything, generates minor heat and you can change bulbs to get the right color you want for your tank. The only issue you have to replace bulbs every 6-9 months depending on your time cycle, I can push 9-12 months. Good Luck !!

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

It came with a chiller also! Lol

TJ's Reef · Apr 28, 2015

Well COOL, yet another Hoosier to the R2R family. I to have used all light sources but Plasma and have settled on LED, IMHO with just a little learning cannot be beat for value, efficiency and longevity. Just need to understand some basic lighting needs and choose one of the many broad spectrum units available or build your own DIY fixture. It will take three or more of the typical 90-160 watt fixtures. There are some larger fixtures that would only take two fixtures to cover 72" with. Depending on budget anywhere from $500 --> $1500 depending on brand or program capabilities.

Cheers, Todd

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

I could probably sell all of my lighting now including chiller and get an led setup

nsrogue · Apr 28, 2015

I would use what it came with for a short time and see if the chiller is doing ok with with the heat. With that cabinet you could always ad extra fans in the bulkhead.

I have switched to LED on my 180 about 3 months ago and really like them as well, the MH has a little different look to them.

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

I'm excited to start up this tank! I got a heck of a deal for it.

reefjunkie53 · Apr 28, 2015

I love my LEDs they make the coral pop and don't have to worry about heat or the electric bill lol

reefjunkie53 · Apr 28, 2015

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1430278134.518657.jpg

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

That's kind of why I'm wanting to use the LEDs. But I've also heard so much about how MH grow corals

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

That looks great!

reefjunkie53 · Apr 28, 2015

Yea u do defiantly get really good growth with MH but I'm getting really good growth with my LEDs also another thing to put into consideration is with T5 and MH over time have to swap out bulbs witch Can get pricey

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

Yea I got 3 replacement bulb as a part of the deal! As well as a bunch of stuff!

1.0reef · Apr 28, 2015

I'd do LEDs + T5HO if I could.

reefjunkie53 · Apr 28, 2015

ImageUploadedByREEF2REEF1430278707.752380.jpg

I also have a 180 lol but mine is the high glass show tank so it's a little taller but skinnier

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

Looks like LEDs are winning the race lol.

Coydawg6 · Apr 28, 2015

this is the 80 I upgraded from!

Coydawg6 · Apr 29, 2015

I just hooked up 2 MH.. These things are crazy!!

Coydawg6 · Apr 29, 2015

hart24601 · Apr 29, 2015

TJ's Reef said:
Well COOL, yet another Hoosier to the R2R family. I to have used all light sources but Plasma and have settled on LED, IMHO with just a little learning cannot be beat for value, efficiency and longevity. Just need to understand some basic lighting needs and choose one of the many broad spectrum units available or build your own DIY fixture. It will take three or more of the typical 90-160 watt fixtures. There are some larger fixtures that would only take two fixtures to cover 72" with. Depending on budget anywhere from $500 --> $1500 depending on brand or program capabilities.

Cheers, Todd

+1, I really like LED over other lighting sources on the market. Get some decent fixtures and enough of them (I am a big fan of having enough violet and near UV in the spectrum) and you will grow corals just as well or better than any other lighting. People just like to fight about things on the internet! I am a fan of people running whatever lighting they like, many people that dislike LEDs had large MH systems for years if not decades and switched, they didn't like LED because they were not MH and switched back and now discourage LEDs. It's fine, but some folks have to justify the switching beyond "I just didn't like the change" so you hear ppl bashing LED over MH.