The ultimate reef light! POLL!

[Reefiness]

So regardless of what you actually use over your tank whether that choice be for... functionality, original purchase price, cost to operate, lack of bulb changes, heat issues, or just because you got some crazy good deal.

If you had to pick what you thought was the best light source/combination for our reef tanks what would you go with?

 

[Reefiness]

I voted for the trifecta. I think it would be sweet to have a mainly halide/t5 combo but throwing 2 reefbrite xho strips on as icing on the cake I think would be incredible!

Currently I use LEDs with 2x t5s. Used to run halides and loved them, but the decreased cost to operate tempted me over to LEDs

 

[chefjpaul]

Voted, but I would opt for the sun first.

I just added x2 T5's to my leds as well.

 

[Killer Karma]

I feel that the heat/radiation from the halide is unnecessary. T5 with Led is awesome, however the cost of operating the T5's really adds up with bigger tanks and the curve with the bulbs on light production as they age makes it harder to maintain stability without using a par meter.

 

[Reefiness]

Voted, but I would opt for the sun first.

I just added x2 T5's to my leds as well.

I did think about putting sunlight as an option, but being I think that is very much based on where you live and I dont think people would move where they live in order to supply light for their fish, but then again maybe some people would.

I feel that the heat/radiation from the halide is unnecessary. T5 with Led is awesome, however the cost of operating the T5's really adds up with bigger tanks and the curve with the bulbs on light production as they age makes it harder to maintain stability without using a par meter.

The heat may be excessive, but I love them. If I had to choose a single light source without factoring in costs I would definitely pick halides every time. The shimmer on them is a wonderful thing, and they do a great job with spread.

 

[3mm3]

MH/T5 hands down

 

[ReefBeta]

I think LED is the best source of light because of its consistency over long periods of time.

Many like to use IT to supplement LED, because the limit area of light source on most popular LED. But that doesn't mean LED cannot do that job as well. As a technology it's very versatile to be implemented in different form factor and distribution. So using a different form factor LED with proper diffuser to supplement the main led is totally doable technical wise. Whether manufacturers willing to develop modules for that purpose is another question. Reefbrite is close, but it need a version with major diffuser to suit the need.

 

[Ghxst]

There is an awesome exeriment that I can't find that showed skeletal growth of corals under the 3 lights. I believe mh, t5, led were from most original to most deformed. That said I think all 3 would give the best combo even though I voted for mh/t5 cause I didn't see the option and use t5/led myself.

 

[BigJohnny]

I'm almost using it, ATI sunpower and kessils, + 2 reef Brite strips lol. I have a 6ulb sunpower with 2 kessil a350ws and absolutely love it. I'm obsessed with blue/ actinic supplementation though so I'll probably add some reefbrites too[emoji41]

 

[prsnlty]

MH/T5


Provided the MH weren't so expensive to cool and energy cost wise. ATM I have 6 bulb t5 with AI leds down the center.

 

[GoVols]

I currently run a Kessil/T5 hydird.

But... Until prove otherwise:
MH/T5 is still the Golden Standard in Reef Lighting.

Radium 20k... ;Drool

 

[hybridazn]

Voted mh/t5, although I almost put mh/led. I currently run 20k radiums with reefbrites but I miss my t5s on the tank. I just need to find a way to mount 2 (in my case 4) t5 bulbs over my 180. It's tough to find a 72" fixture that would work.

 

[Bronx19]

Trifecta is unnecessary. There is no need for MH with T5 around.

Therefore, the best combo going is T5 for coral growth and LED for shimmer.

 

[Peng]

I would go with LED/T5. MH is very nice but produces too much heat. Trifecta is a good though but hard to implement.

 

[Trueblue17]

Dual T5HO , Kessils and Current USA led strip for sunset and sunrise on my 55gal mixed reef. Had to turn off T5's for picture , was too bright for my camera

 

[Mal11224]

I have to say that I kind of wish I had a T5 to go along with my AP700 but I also have to say that since I've had the AP700, I have seen excellent growth, especially with my sps corals. I guess I want to try a T5 with them just to see how well my reef can do. I see so many combo tanks that look great. Can't argue with results. Maybe when I upgrade to a larger tank

 

[Duraticate]

I had a t5 and led fixture on my 60 at one point. I liked it the growth i saw was nice. The t5 fixture did not like falling into the tank a few times and burned out on me. I would like to take it apart to tru and fix it. While i had the t5 i had an orbit current pro i think is what its called. I since then upgraded to an ai hydra hd its been a 3 months with this light. The adjustability of leds and high quality leds is nice.i just took this picture 10 mins ago

 

[120reefkeeper]

I voted for MH/T5 combo because it works. This combination enables the user to grow anything and it really is plug and play. It is an affordable alternative to expensive LED lighting. It does have some downsides... but for the most part I believe this combo has gotten a bad rap.

1. It's more expensive to run i.e. Electricity cost.

2. Heat .... this has gotten way better over the years with better ballast.

3. Cost of bulb replacement.

4. The plus side.... your reef will grow and grow and grow. Awesome colors, perfect shimmer.

 

[Reefiness]

Trifecta is unnecessary. There is no need for MH with T5 around.

Therefore, the best combo going is T5 for coral growth and LED for shimmer.

Again, if money wasnt an option, I think they all have their perks. If I had to just choose 2, it would be T5 and MH, but I think the added reefbrites would give the tank some more pop as well.

 

[Reefiness]

I would go with LED/T5. MH is very nice but produces too much heat. Trifecta is a good though but hard to implement.

Depends on what you are using each light source for. As I mentioned, I would like to have it added as a reefbrite strip to add some pop to the tank which can easily be done. If you wanted to use it as a main sort of light source then yes it would be difficult to get it lined up within the t5s, and they would need to be sitting very close to the metal halides which would probably cause damage to the LED units with all the heat.