Switch out my metal halides.... WHAT???

hybridazn · Mar 9, 2018

So for anyone who knows me I am a die hard metal halide guy. I run radiums with the m80 ballasts and supplement with t5 and leds. But lately t5s seem to be drawing me in, picture after picture I see beautiful reefs glowing with t5s. Now that can be achieved by halides I know that, but let's face it, Halides might not always be around.

What to do? Should I make the switch? I'd def go with a 60" 8 bulb ATI fixture and attach my reefbrite to it, possibly even my 2 reefbrite supra single bulb t5 fixtures.

So r2r, what should I do? Stick with what works? Or make the switch?

And just for fun, post up some pics of your tanks to show me some proof lol

Let's have some fun!

Crabs McJones · Mar 9, 2018

hybridazn said:
So for anyone who knows me I am a die hard metal halide guy. I run radiums with the m80 ballasts and supplement with t5 and leds. But lately t5s seem to be drawing me in, picture after picture I see beautiful reefs glowing with t5s. Now that can be achieved by halides I know that, but let's face it, Halides might not always be around.

What to do? Should I make the switch? I'd def go with a 60" 8 bulb ATI fixture and attach my reefbrite to it, possibly even my 2 reefbrite supra single bulb t5 fixtures.

So r2r, what should I do? Stick with what works? Or make the switch?

And just for fun, post up some pics of your tanks to show me some proof lol

Let's have some fun!

Not familiar with metal halides, however, I was in a similar situation. I used to be a die hard led fan. And then made the switch over to led t5 hybrid, and I'll never look back

I say make the switch

worse case scenario you go back to what you were at if you don't like it lol

ReefQueen · Mar 9, 2018

why not go totally crazy and do all LED?

Actually the ATI would be my 1st choice, except I HATE buying and swapping bulbs all the time. I'll stick with LED for now and just look at pics of other people's beautiful T5 tanks lol.

ritter6788 · Mar 9, 2018

I never could give up the MH or LED shimmer for t5.

bif24701 · Mar 10, 2018

ritter6788 said:
I never could give up the MH or LED shimmer for t5.

Me either. When I switched to LED from MH there was only one way, Kessil. At that time Kessil was very new and not quiet “proven” yet. I gambled and it paid off for me. I think if you went from MH to T5 there will be something missing to your eye that you have become accustomed too and will be disappointed. Honestly I would keep the MH until the very end of you can stand it. I just couldn’t deal with all that heat in Phoenix AZ, and now in Florida. Kessils with some T5s have not only proven to grow awesome colored corals but looks awesome too! That’s my thoughts.

Water Dog · Mar 10, 2018

Go for it... 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with Reefbrites and never look back!

In case you weren’t sure...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/big-e-rimless-80g-sps.206607/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/before-and-after.359581/

hybridazn · Mar 10, 2018

ReefQueen said:
why not go totally crazy and do all LED? Actually the ATI would be my 1st choice, except I HATE buying and swapping bulbs all the time. I'll stick with LED for now and just look at pics of other people's beautiful T5 tanks lol.

Been there, done that, got the t shirt with leds haha. I ran radions years back, tank did well but always thought something was missing. Switched back to halides and instantly saw a difference. I doubt I'll ever go back to full leds, but the orphik Atlantic v4's are def compelling.

ritter6788 said:
I never could give up the MH or LED shimmer for t5.

I hear you, I do have a couple nano box duo's I could add to the t5s to give me the shimmer.

Water Dog said:
Go for it... 8 bulb ATI Sunpower with Reefbrites and never look back!

In case you weren’t sure...

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/big-e-rimless-80g-sps.206607/

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/before-and-after.359581/

Yea @Big E was one of the reasons what made me think of this switch. Haha maybe he will chime in.

bif24701 said:
Me either. When I switched to LED from MH there was only one way, Kessil. At that time Kessil was very new and not quiet “proven” yet. I gambled and it paid off for me. I think if you went from MH to T5 there will be something missing to your eye that you have become accustomed too and will be disappointed. Honestly I would keep the MH until the very end of you can stand it. I just couldn’t deal with all that heat in Phoenix AZ, and now in Florida. Kessils with some T5s have not only proven to grow awesome colored corals but looks awesome too! That’s my thoughts.

Heat isn't too much an issue for me, summer in PA gets hot but my tank is in a room with no windows and the AC runs in the summer haha.

Water Dog · Mar 10, 2018

After picking Big E’s brain extensively, I sold my Kessil AP700 and picked up a 6x39 ATI Sunpower (3B+ and 3C+ a la Big E style

) and a Reefbrite Blue XHO for dawn to dusk ramping. Can’t wait to get it up and running!

A. grandis · Mar 10, 2018

hybridazn said:
...
So r2r, what should I do? Stick with what works? Or make the switch?
...

I'm not sure what you mean by the sentence above.
MHs are great and works.
T5s are great and works.
If you put both together will simply explode with beauty and growth!!!

LEDs not aways IMO. I've tried and still looking for something to convince me, but I'm sorry... Just my opinion...

Bottom line is:
Do you want shimmer?
Is the tank more than 24" deep?
Halides then, specially with SPS.
For shallower tanks you can certainly have an ATI T5 only fixture and will be so happy that you'll want to eat your coral candies. Haha!

Colors and healthy growth!

But I can tell you there are pigments that only halide can bring out from your cnidarians!
The T5s will do a tremendous job too!!!!
I have T5s on my 75gal. systems, and it's simply amazing, but had halides over a 55gal in the past and there is nothing like that!!!!!!
There is nothing like halides IMO, even though I love my ATI Powermodule.

Just get both running and you'll have the very best for your Acros! ;Wideyed
Grandis.

A. grandis · Mar 10, 2018

hybridazn said:
Been there, done that, got the t shirt with leds haha. I ran radions years back, tank did well but always thought something was missing. Switched back to halides and instantly saw a difference. I doubt I'll ever go back to full leds, but the orphik Atlantic v4's are def compelling.
...

Could you please tell us what the difference was?
Thanks.
Grandis.

DSC reef · Mar 10, 2018

I'd make the switch to try something different. Keep your halides incase you miss the shimmer after a while.

reefndude · Mar 10, 2018

I switched from all t5's to halides and supplement with a couple t5 bulbs. Been 5 months now and I absolutely love the halide t5 combo. Love the shimmer and tank looks more natural.

Skynyrd Fish · Mar 10, 2018

Stop the crazy talk!! right now you have the best of both worlds. I'm running an ATI 6 bulb. I love it. I however wish I had a 250w Radium in the middle! My Next upgrade I may just do this. 2 ATI 4 bulb fixtures with radiums in between. on a 36" front to back tank. I do know this, T5 are Sweet, T5 Halide are sweet, T5 LED are sweet. The common element is T5.
I may add reef brights to my fixture, for shimmer. You could add some T5 with your set up and run all 3.

Velcro · Mar 10, 2018

Retrofit t5 plus kessil would probably be best if you care about shimmer. I used to care.

Now I'm full both t5 with reefbrites and I think it's the best for viewing all the colors of the sps. Might look flat to some people, but I feel like the glow and crazy even distribution of light is worth it.

I ran 8 bulbs of retrofit t5 with two kessil a360 before this and that was awesome for shimmer and tank color customization, but I found the par from this retrofit bulbs pretty disappointing compared to an ATI fixture.

skiergd011013 · Mar 10, 2018

I love t5's. You'll be happy with them. Go with ati bulbs as well.

cracker · Mar 10, 2018

I went from led to t5's over my 75. I really like them ! I went with the mid range 12 -16k package suggested by ATI I 'm going to try the more blue 16-20 k next round.
I don't think I can use the add on led lighting as I have so much already . I do run mine at 100% though. The bulbs are 10 months old haven't lost any par.

Bpb · Mar 10, 2018

While shimmer is cool and all, you may not miss it that much. I like it when I see it. But I started with all T5HO, then went to strictly MH, then MH/LED combo, then all LED, and I’m back around to all T5HO. Shimmer is cool but there’s just a certain simple and easy effectiveness you get from t5ho that the others don’t necessary offer. I enjoy shimmer from friends tanks, and would I like it? Yes, but it isn’t too priority for me like it is for some. The growth growth, color, manageable heat, moderate energy use, and affordable bulb change schedule (every 6 months is a ridiculous over exaggeration used by the led community as an excuse to not even consider something different) simply make it the best option for me personally. It’s got the most perks and the fewest drawbacks. Give it a try, Keep your halide gear just in case the shimmer ends up being a huge deal breaker for you

james983 · Mar 10, 2018

I say if it ain't broken, don't fix it. I'm a T5 guy, but that is mainly because I have an acrylic tank and worry about heat issues. MH still grows and shows coral best, but there are drawbacks which push reefers away. Despite the trend I think there are still enough buyers that MH will be here for some time. Like I said I am a T5 guy, but I believe you will be disappointed if you switch. Perhaps as suggested you can add some supplemental T5s and have the best of both worlds?

All I'm saying is, if your OK with the heat and cost of MH I wouldn't switch.

tsav87 · Mar 10, 2018

My tank is less than a year old, but I am running a 6 bulb Hamilton T5HO fixture. Had LED in the past, had MH many years ago. As long as they keep making T5HO bulbs, they will always be my main lighting source.

jda · Mar 10, 2018

If you are going to switch, then do it for other reasons than "MH might not be around forever." Hamilton is having their best years ever. LED has peaked and more folks are either going back to T5s and MH, or just plain old switching over. Of the 25-30 guys that I trade acropora with, about 10 are T5, 15-20 have MH and nobody uses LED anymore except to supplement. Just because the MH crowd is not on the board front-running their recent purchase as "the best ever" with no other experience with anything else, do not assume that they do not have a good market share.

IMO, make your decisions on other factors.