Switching from T5: LEDs or MH?

[oreo54]

What if you get more than one bulb? Aquabrightsolutions.com is new company manufacturing quality bulbs, promising fixtures/ ballasts

They don't manufacture bulbs. The Chinese do.
Exception would be Radium's

 

[kdx7214]

I ran a 250w MH for about a year a long time ago. It raised the room temperature by about 22F. Had to run the air conditioning all the time and still had tank temperature problems. I currently have an LED setup and it's working quite well, although I need to add a couple more to get better PAR at some point.

 

[bobnicaragua]

They don't manufacture bulbs. The Chinese do.
Exception would be Radium's

The old Hamilton bulbs and new aqua bright bulbs are identical and manufactured by JJ electronics in the Czech Republic. JJ is the last vacuum tube manufacturer in Europe. They make good bulbs/tubes.

 

[14A]

I ran a 250w MH for about a year a long time ago. It raised the room temperature by about 22F. Had to run the air conditioning all the time and still had tank temperature problems. I currently have an LED setup and it's working quite well, although I need to add a couple more to get better PAR at some point.

Wow, 22F with a single 250w bulb? Was the room small?

It's pretty hard for me to compare my T5 fixture to MH, since I have never tried it. I have experience with LEDs and I know how cool it runs.

My T5 (6x39w) increase my room's temperature by around 5°C (25m² and around 75m³).

I have never shared my tank publicly, but here it is. I still need to do some hardscape (had to remove all the rocks due to an aiptasia outbreak), but you can see what the color looks like. I would say it looks a bit darker than IRL.

 

[oreo54]

The old Hamilton bulbs and new aqua bright bulbs are identical and manufactured by JJ electronics in the Czech Republic. JJ is the last vacuum tube manufacturer in Europe. They make good bulbs/tubes.

Not that it matters but there is an import form showing them coming from a Chinese manuf. to aquabright

Maybe old, past, or whatever ..

 

[zheka757]

I think about 2700w of helides, t5s and leds in this canopy, and ever since I did to this setup. My 400gallon tank temperature would go as high as 83*F. Fish room would heat up as high as 95F. Adding a/c unit in fish room fixed my room temp issue and tank water

 

[bobnicaragua]

Not that it matters but there is an import form showing them coming from a Chinese manuf. to aquabright

Maybe old, past, or whatever ..

Interesting, the Hamilton bulbs I’m running now are stamped by JJ. The aquabright bulbs are supposed to be identical. I guess the manufacturer changed.

Hamilton bulb with JJ stamp:

 

[oreo54]

Interesting, the Hamilton bulbs I’m running now are stamped by JJ. The aquabright bulbs are supposed to be identical. I guess the manufacturer changed.

Hamilton bulb with JJ stamp:

Well it's all weird.
At one time I was informed most "cores" were produced in e Europe by a small factory.
Maybe even JJ. This was an old long ago not exactly verified discussion.
Wouldn't surprise me since dealing w/ mercury nowadays is " problematic".

Bulbs were assembled elsewhere.
Which can lead to the " made in" label

Your bulb does imply more than just the core though.

Point is at least they are still and will be available for some time in one form or another.
May not always be a smooth supply since it's " small lot" product.

 

[VintageReefer]

I have 2 original Phoenix 14k 250w DE. They had a less than 2 weeks of use. Then removed and put back in the original box. Anyone interested ?

Pics here

Metal Halides Making a Come Back? Don’t call it a come back?

What is the definition and qualities of coral health? How important is the health of corals in captivity? What are the main factors to provide health? How much do you care about coral health and how much about aesthetics? What are the differences we find with different lighting technologies and...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Reefering1]

They don't manufacture bulbs. The Chinese do.
Exception would be Radium's

My understanding was that they are manufacturing bulbs... and selling radiums

 

[Reefering1]

I have 2 original Phoenix 14k 250w DE. They had a less than 2 weeks of use. Then removed and put back in the original box. Anyone interested ?

Pics here

Metal Halides Making a Come Back? Don’t call it a come back?

What is the definition and qualities of coral health? How important is the health of corals in captivity? What are the main factors to provide health? How much do you care about coral health and how much about aesthetics? What are the differences we find with different lighting technologies and...

www.reef2reef.com

@Troylee

 

[Troylee]

I have 2 original Phoenix 14k 250w DE. They had a less than 2 weeks of use. Then removed and put back in the original box. Anyone interested ?

Pics here

Metal Halides Making a Come Back? Don’t call it a come back?

What is the definition and qualities of coral health? How important is the health of corals in captivity? What are the main factors to provide health? How much do you care about coral health and how much about aesthetics? What are the differences we find with different lighting technologies and...

www.reef2reef.com

If you wanna sell them lmk!

 

[Lasse]

You use 234 W T5. All of this electric energy will end up as heat as and endpoint.

The first law of thermodynamics states that energy can neither be created nor destroyed and that heat is a form of energy transport.

This means that it does not matter if the it is 234 W T5, 234 E LED or 234 W MH - the total heat all these three light produce its the same. However - there is a difference which type of heat they produce LED produce mostly convection heat from the electronics and heat the air - only a small part will be radiant heat that heat the water and the air in the light beam. T5 is nearly the same with a low IR radiation (wavelengths above 700) and much convection heat. MH have much more radiant heat and heating up the water by radiation,

Its also important to say that all three have nearly the same ratio of photons/w

With your AC capabilities - its easier to handle the heat in the air compared with stored heat in the water - LED or T5 is preferred - IMO.

With LED and ins some degree T5 you can more or less control which wavelengths you use your watts for.

If you look for something near T5 - do not miss GHL Mitras lightbar 2 and the new lightbar 3 I use lightbar 2 for my aquarium and I´m very pleased with them. You can use the without a controller - its on or of - or with a controller and the possibility to control each wavelengths intensity and total Kelvin degrees

You need 3 or 4 of the 90 model of Bar 2 or 3

I have 4 of the 120 model of Bar 2 and my aquarium is 120*50*50

And at last - the best - they have no fan that can be broken

Sincerely Lasse

 

[oreo54]

Quanta Helix

Includes mounting brackets and hanging kit. NOTE: This light is air-cooled and is not designed for unventilated enclosed canopies. Please refer to warranty for more information.

www.quanta-lights.com

35" (88.9cm),60w $120 each
4 would probably do ..
$480/240w
Choice of mix/ match colors is yours.

6 tubes = 234 watts

 

[14A]

Quanta Helix

Includes mounting brackets and hanging kit. NOTE: This light is air-cooled and is not designed for unventilated enclosed canopies. Please refer to warranty for more information.

www.quanta-lights.com

35" (88.9cm),60w $120 each
4 would probably do ..
$480/240w
Choice of mix/ match colors is yours.

6 tubes = 234 watts

I've just seen their new light! I will try to contact Luca about it.

 

[TaylorPilot]

6x39W = 234 Watts
MH = 250 Watts

Heat outputs are going to be almost identical. Now, the question is, can you get the spread you need with only one 250w MH. Two lower wattage bulbs might make more sense, but I imagine those are going to get even harder to find as time goes on. 250 and 400 watt bulbs are going to be around in some form for awhile.