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

[A. grandis]

jda: I hate when you write saying that you guys trade Acros and such!!! ;Shamefullyembarrased
I feel like taking off work for a week and go meet you guys there!!!! LOL!
Man, how happy and lucky are you guys? Gotta love Acros! ;Nailbiting

And yes.. there are many people going back to their halides/T5s from LEDs! Numbers are growing.
Grandis.

 

[lcatoni1]

Hey keep them man till you can't afford it anymore for what ever reason or they stop making them. I love them I actually run a guiseman spectra with 2 Reefbrite and a Kessil A700 in the middle of the MH everything about 14" above the water. If I ever get rid of metal halide I keep T5 and 2 Kessil A700 on my 48 the shimmer is like MH. Bottom line stability is the key to this hobby.

 

[lcatoni1]

 

[tsav87]

To me it also comes down to the characteristics of the light source itself.

The sun is a flood light, so are T5s and MH with a good reflector (key).

LEDS are like a bunch of clustered pin lights. It doesn't take a genius to figure out which lights are more natural in the way they deliver light.

This is why you are starting to see more diffusers for LED lights.

 

[stylaster]

all grown under ecotech radion gen1 lights

 

[DSC reef]

all grown under ecotech radion gen1 lights

Amazing growth and color with the gen 1 radions. Simply stunning.

 

[tsav87]

I know they can grow coral, but if you look at a mature tank lit by LEDs then look at a mature tank lit by T5s, the difference is astounding.

The growth patterns under LEDS looks muddled/muted as they do in your picture. No offence. You have done an excellent job with your husbandry to make them grow, light isn't everything.

Example, T5 tank.

LED tank

I think these are fair comparisons that I found on google.

The corals in the LED tank seem to be branched tighter together, my definition of muted growth.

My offered hypothosis is that the light is much more focused than the blanked style light of T5s.

It's a recurring theme that I have noticed with LED tanks.

 

[DSC reef]

IMO out of the pics you just posted, the led tank looks better. Im a halide/T5 user and your right, it's more than just light that makes corals into colonies. I have to disagree with your statement on stylasters tank though, it's one of the nicest I've seen pics of, doesn't look muddled at all.

 

[tsav87]

See I made it hard on myself, posting two amazing tanks, but lit with different lights lol.

To my eyes, the corals under T5 are reaching for the light, the way they do in nature. Under LED, they grow up and then away, horizontally from the light. You can see that in stylaster's tank.

 

[Water Dog]

That SPS tank with the Orpheks, while stunning is quite hilarious at the same time. Pretty well illustrates the point of how many fixtures a person really needs in order to get proper coverage over a fully mature SPS tank.

 

[tsav87]

That SPS tank with the Orpheks, while stunning is quite hilarious at the same time. Pretty well illustrates the point of how many fixtures a person really needs in order to get proper coverage over a mature SPS tank.

Ha! I wasn't even gonna go there. But yeah, it is ridiculous how much money it takes to replicate T5s....

 

[DSC reef]

Coverage issues are another discussion, I was simply saying that the tank with leds looks great. With all the options there are lights to fit everyone's needs.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

From a visual and design aspect , get white and blue leds to supplement, not just blue.
It’ll match the MH look better.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Ha! I wasn't even gonna go there. But yeah, it is ridiculous how much money it takes to replicate T5s....

Cost me a couple af pieces of sanded acrylic sheets in my B.B. leds, $0.
To make the other tank look like MH, I pulled some lenses.
But I kinda agree. A lot of folks just aren’t approaching us correctly.

Rember back when even suggesting diffusion was heresy? Lol. Now it’s a sales pitch.

 

[Water Dog]

It was heresy right up until Ecotech made them for Radions. Now, it’s cutting edge innovation...

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

It was heresy right up until Ecotech made them for Radions...

Hahah , right ?
The Orphek ones are really gunna be spendy.

 

[themcnertney]

Thought I would share...
Here is my old 55 with t5s. (Ran for a few years)

Then I upgraded to my 220 with (3) 400w MH. (Ran for a couple years)

Then I changed to (3) AI Hydra 52HD.

 

[Midrats]

The bulb change schedule for T5s was contrived by LED users to promote LEDs and as excuse to not try something new? LEDs have peaked? ;Facepalm

 

[lcatoni1]

I think that we can all sit here and have a discussion on what works better. But bottom lights no one has a proven formula on 100% what works and I think part of that is cause we are always changing stuff in our tanks. I say you stick to what ever works for you and what you like and can afford. Cause anytime you make changes something goes wrong or helps your tank. Some corals might like the light some will beach the same same with clean water some like it dirty some won't. Bottom line stick to what it's in you budget try to get the best equipment for long term success and have patience is the key. Stabily and patience is the key we are a chemist in this hobby. I look at it as if I can find the way to keep my life stock and corals alive I'm doing great. Buy the best you can and let it ride and you will have success. For me their is no room for error I have 2 much invested I love this hobby.

 

[lcatoni1]