T5's ,LEDS or metal halides?

[scoobysnack77]

I have a 75 gallon sps dominated reef tank and im upgrading to a 125 or a 150 gallon in a few months. Im torn as to what lighting to go with on my new tank. So far I've tried the aqua illumination vegas and i returned them cuz they were too spotty and left a lot of dim spots in the tank. and now I'm using 2X 250 watt metal halide reef brite pendants with blue XHO LED's in the hood. Bulb wise I'm running reef brite's twin arc 20k bulbs. And so far neither fixtures have given me the fluorescent colors I'm looking for in my SPS's. Im thinking of trying Radium 20k bulbs but i was told i should use HQI M80 ballasts to get the best results with the radium bulb. So far I've liked what I've seen from t5 fixtures but i don't know much about them. Should i go FULL t5 with my new tank or should i stick with metal halides? or should i try to find a fixture that has both metal halide and t5's in them? can anyone recommend a good brand of t5/metal halide fixtures i can look into?

 

[Rob&Gab]

T5's or LEDS. But MH is good as well. just use all 3 combine ! DIY FTW.

 

[Rob&Gab]

its not cheep But these are very very good.

giesemann metal-halide / t5-fixtures.

 

[scoobysnack77]

T5's or LEDS. But MH is good as well. just use all 3 combine ! DIY FTW.

how can i find all three together in a quality unit with good reflectors?

 

[scoobysnack77]

its not cheep But these are very very good.

giesemann metal-halide / t5-fixtures.

i did see those on ebay but i didn't wanna jump on em til i knew they were worthy quality

 

[prsnlty]

I like the T5/LED combo. Cooler and less $ on the power bill. With MH you will need more fans and/or a chiller. Check out the AI 54 Leds, they are amazing. Those are to be my next addition to the Sol Blues that I have already when I move up to a 180g. On the 125g I have sol Blues and ATI T5s.

 

[ibepressin]

Couldn't recommend these more! For the $ of a halh decent t5 set up you get a lot more and absolutely amazing customer service. LUMENTEK PRO 240 - Reef Radiance

 

[ibepressin]

half decent*

 

[ShawnSaucier]

I've had amazing luck with the new ATI LED Powermodule. T5's are dimmable and you can mimic any ATI T5 color with the LEDs. The transitions are smooth, and the T5 dimming is also. $$$ but I think it's worth it. 1 cord to run them all

 

[Rob&Gab]

if you also want, T5/ LED combo here is a really good brand ATI is one of the most well Made fixtures out there. A bit on the high side but well worth it i have a 8Bulb Sunpower ATI fixture.

here is the link to the t5/led combo.

ATI LED Powermodule

 

[prsnlty]

if you also want, T5/ LED combo here is a really good brand ATI is one of the most well Made fixtures out there. A bit on the high side but well worth it i have a 8Bulb Sunpower ATI fixture.

here is the link to the t5/led combo.

ATI LED Powermodule

Nice setup And really, it's cost is about the same as running 4 of AI's new LED modules for a 6' tank if you think about it. Maybe just a little less cuz you would have to buy a separate controller for the Hydras

Jackie

 

[scoobysnack77]

I've had amazing luck with the new ATI LED Powermodule. T5's are dimmable and you can mimic any ATI T5 color with the LEDs. The transitions are smooth, and the T5 dimming is also. $$$ but I think it's worth it. 1 cord to run them all

awesome! i love the colors t5 lighting gives SPS. I'm going to try radium bulbs to see if they are better than what i have now. if not i might go with these. i don't think LED technology is quite there yet so i don't want to depend on them alone for color. i want TRUE color from my corals, not just cool lights making them look good by fooling the eye. corals natural pigment is what i want and i want lighting that not only brings that out but showcases it

 

[Dowtish]

You will love the Radium bulbs! I know i do!

 

[ifarmer]

i started the hobby with T5. two years ago, I tried out LED and wasn't happy (maybe it was the color combination on my DIY light).
After 12 months with LED, I went back to T5 last year and my current tank is still running with T5
With that being said, my brain always makes me think of LED every day and every night.

 

[scoobysnack77]

if you also want, T5/ LED combo here is a really good brand ATI is one of the most well Made fixtures out there. A bit on the high side but well worth it i have a 8Bulb Sunpower ATI fixture.

here is the link to the t5/led combo.

ATI LED Powermodule

thanx

 

[scoobysnack77]

i started the hobby with T5. two years ago, I tried out LED and wasn't happy (maybe it was the color combination on my DIY light).
After 12 months with LED, I went back to T5 last year and my current tank is still running with T5
With that being said, my brain always makes me think of LED every day and every night.

yea i haven't tried t5's yet but i do like the results on other tanks i see. and so far I've seen the radions and it just looks like a light show to me. i don't want a black light poster, i want natural pigment to be brought out and showcased by my lighting. not have my lighting throwing crazy colors all around so that my SPS's look completely different than they are supposed to. Thats why I've avoided LED's. But in their defense they make LPS's look very cool.

 

[Daddio]

Had metal halide PC combo, lost one light at a time and switched to radions. Love them. Not quite as awesome light as MH but they are quiet, not hot, not dangerous and my LPS are doing great - haven't tried SPS with them though.

 

[scoobysnack77]

Had metal halide PC combo, lost one light at a time and switched to radions. Love them. Not quite as awesome light as MH but they are quiet, not hot, not dangerous and my LPS are doing great - haven't tried SPS with them though.

yea my new reef brite digital/dimmable metal halide ballasts run very quiet and are warm to the touch on the hoods and ballast. 30% more energy effient as well. just haven't tried the radium bulbs yet but their in the mail

 

[exonn]

Am using 2x250w 14K MH + 2xT5 (54w actinic and 54w blue+) + 63 w RB LED strip
Love this combo.