T5's or LED to light my 60gl. Cube

turfster26 · Nov 6, 2011

Need to make a hard decision for lighting my new 60gl Cube. I have MH's on my 180gl SPS tank, but really want to go T5's or one of the newer LED setups.

I am looking into the ATI Sunpower 24" fixture or an EcoTech, AI or DIY fixture.

It will be a mixed reef; probably 70-30 split with LPS-SPS. Anyone that could offer advice would be great appreciated.

Many thx.......

CJO · Nov 11, 2011

I think that you'll find a bunch of people saying T5 and a bunch saying LED. I prefer LED, but I think you'd be fine either way.

CJ

luke33 · Nov 11, 2011

I think you'll be fine either way, but anyone who purchases a mh or t5 fixture is moving backwards imo. LED's are here to stay and are the best option imo ofcourse : )

cdness · Nov 11, 2011

I would put it this way: I HAVE T-5 and they work fine, but I WANT LED for all the benefits they offer, it's just a large cash investment up front when I have the T-5 fixture already...

flyfish4trout · Nov 11, 2011

luke33 said:
I think you'll be fine either way, but anyone who purchases a mh or t5 fixture is moving backwards imo. LED's are here to stay and are the best option imo ofcourse : )

I guess I am moving backwards. I currently have a biocube with a 24 (3 wattt) Cree LED retro. On my new tank I am setting up I decided to go back to T5 because IMO the colors or my coral were just better. I will miss the shimmer, but not that much. Either way you will certainly be able to grow nice corals.

FiReBReTHa · Nov 11, 2011

cdness said:
I would put it this way: I HAVE T-5 and they work fine, but I WANT LED for all the benefits they offer, it's just a large cash investment up front when I have the T-5 fixture already...

Ecotech is pricey at 2/3 additional cost compared to DIY. Too much for 3 hours of your time per unit.

turfster26 · Nov 11, 2011

Thank you very much everyone for all your input. You are correct....it is like tossing a coin in the air and you will gets heads or tails 50% of the time.To that end, I really want to go LED and would not mind DIY. The problem with DIY is that you will still need a good controller to get the flexibility you get with a plug-n-play from AI, ETM or others major players. DIY does offer you better BIN selection and better custom install, but still feel the cost is about approx 80% or closer to a plug-n-play.Also, with an AI or ETM Radion I am afraid of the backwards compatibility with the technology changing as fast as it is. But I do agree that LED will be better in the long run to a ATI T5 fixture.Augrrrrrr........what I tough decision...lol.Many thanks again for any and all input!:confuse:

turfster26 · Nov 11, 2011

Thank you very much everyone for all your input. You are correct....it is like tossing a coin in the air and you will gets heads or tails 50% of the time.To that end, I really want to go LED and would not mind DIY. The problem with DIY is that you will still need a good controller to get the flexibility you get with a plug-n-play from AI, ETM or others major players. DIY does offer you better BIN selection and better custom install, but still feel the cost is about approx 80% or closer to a plug-n-play.Also, with an AI or ETM Radion I am afraid of the backwards compatibility with the technology changing as fast as it is. But I do agree that LED will be better in the long run to a ATI T5 fixture.Augrrrrrr........what I tough decision...lol.Many thanks again for any and all input!

FiReBReTHa · Nov 11, 2011

turfster26 said:
Thank you very much everyone for all your input. You are correct....it is like tossing a coin in the air and you will gets heads or tails 50% of the time.To that end, I really want to go LED and would not mind DIY. The problem with DIY is that you will still need a good controller to get the flexibility you get with a plug-n-play from AI, ETM or others major players. DIY does offer you better BIN selection and better custom install, but still feel the cost is about approx 80% or closer to a plug-n-play.Also, with an AI or ETM Radion I am afraid of the backwards compatibility with the technology changing as fast as it is. But I do agree that LED will be better in the long run to a ATI T5 fixture.Augrrrrrr........what I tough decision...lol.Many thanks again for any and all input!

with a kalk reactor im surprised you dont have a controller yet to keep your tank safe. Getting an Apex is a win for you because it will keep your tank safe at the same time.

The amount of control with AI compared to apex is a joke, its like a christmas timer compared to those guys with crazy houses and flashing lights and music :wink:

gar732 · Nov 11, 2011

Do both. I have LEDs over my frag tank and t5 over my display and after debating on gong led on the display I've decided to have the best of both worlds. IMO it's what looks best.

Bobbofin · Nov 23, 2011

I think people are missing the point that LEDs are narrow spectrum. Just blue and white won't cut it. Your SPS will thrive but your zoas and LPS will decline. At least that's my experience. You need RGB (red, green, blue ) like the Radion to get full spectrum. I hate to say it but PFO had it together with colored LEDs on the Solaris 10 years ago! They were ahead of the curve. Too bad about the lawsuit and the questionable drivers that caused so many of them to fail. I store near me still has one working, it's nice. A local LFS has a Radion on a tank. It is amazing. In demo mode it will do red, orange, purple, blue, teal, green, yellow. It's adjustability and programability is endless via the software.

jaytizzle · Nov 23, 2011

If you're looking at the nice LED fixtures, the real winner is the Vertex series. They're truly stunning and very powerful. I have a local reefer friend who has two and they're awesome. I have a set of cheap chinese box leds and they've worked great for me. I also recently did a DIY build for my new small cube tank and can't be happier. Actually, I'm selling my box units shortly and replacing with brand new DIY rigs. I really think you get the best bang for your buck from DIY but not everyone wants to put in the effort to design their own lighting.

creefer · Nov 24, 2011

flyfish4trout said:
I guess I am moving backwards. I currently have a biocube with a 24 (3 wattt) Cree LED retro. On my new tank I am setting up I decided to go back to T5 because IMO the colors or my coral were just better. I will miss the shimmer, but not that much. Either way you will certainly be able to grow nice corals.

I have been fighting the same battle however I am nearly set on doing a DIY LED for my new tank. I just need to do some proper planning to get the RGB spectrum that's typically missing. I use LED now, but have no RGB and it's a bit of a bummer. If you go T5, you can always add a stunner strip for shimmer.

FaviaFreak · Nov 24, 2011

LEDs and Plasma are the wave of the future but I still think LEDs are a bit pricey at the moment and the cream is just starting to rise to the surface in the industry, too many company's involved right now, each claiming to be the best, so if you have deep pockets look into the Radions, AI, Maxspect, Acanlighting, etc.

as for T5 I am still a big fan and imo the shimmer not being there is not that big of a deal, I can live without it personally. T5 is still a great option no matter what people say about LEDs

turfster26 · Nov 24, 2011

Well.....I chickened out at the last minute and bought a T5 ATI PM fixture. I just could not pull the plug and go LED at this point and time. Maybe within the next 12-18 months I will be there with LED's but not now. I had to get my 60gl Cube up and running and there are some great prices on ATI PM right now.

HTH and many thanks for all the responses......