Switch out my metal halides.... WHAT???
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tsav87
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Ah, the bulb change argument lol.
Let's do some math...
Ecotech Radion G4 Pros, $800 per fixture. To light a 4 ft tank, you would need 3. Don't give me the "oh they are rated for 24 x 24". BS. You will have shadowing everywhere.
So, 3 fixtures for a 4 ft tank. $2400 up front investment.
Hamilton 4ft, 6 bulb T5 fixture. $500, bulbs included.
Now, let's fast forward 10 years (1% of tanks make it this long, just my best guess) and you have changed bulbs 9 times. The math: ($21 x 6 bulbs) x 9 years = $1134
$1634 < $2400
Oh, and the no heat from LEDs means you will run your 300w worth of heaters 24 hours a day instead of just dearing lights out, so saving electricity by using LEDs over your tank is smoke and mirrors...
Just sayin'....
lol.
Bpb
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That stab was taken toward me. And my argument is completely legitimate. Go back through just about every “what kind of lighting should I use?” Thread and any time I suggest t5ho I get the old “weeeeeell...I really don’t want to have to change bulbs every 6 months and the wife really likes the look of LEDs....so what’s the BEST light that will color and grow corals, I want cloud cover and storm features, tank is 72”x24” and it’s our first saltwater tank!! Yay! Budget is $200”
Those aren’t even exaggerations. That’s an average of the dozen or so lighting request threads I’ve participated in this year. The bulb change schedule and cost is over exaggerated by people who don’t and never have used t5ho lighting. Face palm all you want, it was a completely legitimate comment based on ACTUAL discussion
aandfsoccr04
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Having ran t5s metal halides and LEDs on numerous tanks and experimenting with all three, I feel i can chime in here.
I like the shimmer of the metal halide and the growth and color combination was the best for me. I ran 250w radiums on M80 ballast.
I ran the photon 32 controllable led fixture. I also ran t5s with ATI bulbs. In my experience, all of the lighting options will grow coral.
For my current build, I’m going to run 3 metal halides 250w with radiums and then supplement with reefbrites or SB bars for all blue LEDs before and after halides are ran.
Good luck with whatever you decide. You can always hang on to your current lighting setup and go back to it if you don’t like the change.
I like the shimmer of the metal halide and the growth and color combination was the best for me. I ran 250w radiums on M80 ballast.
I ran the photon 32 controllable led fixture. I also ran t5s with ATI bulbs. In my experience, all of the lighting options will grow coral.
For my current build, I’m going to run 3 metal halides 250w with radiums and then supplement with reefbrites or SB bars for all blue LEDs before and after halides are ran.
Good luck with whatever you decide. You can always hang on to your current lighting setup and go back to it if you don’t like the change.
tsav87
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Sorry to have ruffled any feathers, lol
My post wasn't aimed at anyone really. Just my general thoughts.
Just showing the cost and benefits ratio differences between T5s and LEDs.
Bpb
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Feathers not ruffled. I can handle a good ribbing, as I dish them out myself. Just defending/elaborating on my comment. You won’t hear any led bashing as I am not anti led by any means. But I do like to defend t5ho as a very affordable and effective lighting source by calling out and debunking myths when I see them
tsav87
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And I would add, if you are choosing your light based on what your wife thinks looks nice, do you have your corals best interest in mind? Again, not pointing this any anyone's direction...lol
Bpb
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We are in full agreement there! I meant earlier that Squares face palm comment was aimed at me. I tend to fall in the line of thinking of your math argument. I think LEDs are absolutely a viable option for those who can afford them. But the cost savings isn’t universal across the board.
Midrats
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I always changed my T5s annually when I had them years ago. Same for halides and VHOs before that. From what I've read on here and elsewhere lots of T5 users change their bulbs with much more frequency.
Midrats
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Face palm respectfully retracted. I just thought it was a bit of a bold statement, but I totally get your point. The gimmickry of being able to induce a thunderstorm with my phone and infinitely adjustable colors are not advantages at all. In fact I'd even say the adjustability is a detriment to LEDs and probably why many fail with them.
alton
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The only advantage to me was the clean look versus large pendants mounted 8" above the tank. Cost $100 more per fixture and had to have four verses three. But I did like having two leds running with the MH. Less heat with Leds, Slightly faster growth with MH.
Bpb
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In full agreement with you there. Again. No real offense taken. I can handle sarcasm. I did feel the need to clarify my point some though. I could have worded it different as well and said try something “different” rather than “new”. Lol nothing new about t5’s
The tank with the Orpheks on it was not grown under them... they are not even a month old on that tank when the photo was taken. IIRC. They do not try and hide it or lie about it like EcoTech and AI did when they started making stuff... they flat out say that it was a T5 tank. This tank is around the interwebs if you want to look it up. Besides, those versions of the Orphek have not been around long enough to grow that tank.
...so those are both T5 tanks in essence. They could/will diverge now for better or worse in their own way.
I hate the saying "they all can grow coral." While true, it is insulting to people who care about, can see and dedicate their whole hobbies to the nuance and subtleties of the different kind of coral and know that growth is only part of the equation of being exceptional. I also think that it is misleading to those who enter the hobby who might also care about that nuance if they had a bit more experience. A diet of only McDonalds can grow humans. A diet of Dr Pepper and Moon Pies can also grow humans.
...so those are both T5 tanks in essence. They could/will diverge now for better or worse in their own way.
I hate the saying "they all can grow coral." While true, it is insulting to people who care about, can see and dedicate their whole hobbies to the nuance and subtleties of the different kind of coral and know that growth is only part of the equation of being exceptional. I also think that it is misleading to those who enter the hobby who might also care about that nuance if they had a bit more experience. A diet of only McDonalds can grow humans. A diet of Dr Pepper and Moon Pies can also grow humans.
