Thinking about halides.

[P-Dub]

There are many people, including myself, that didn't see any differences between running LEDs or T5s in regards to paying more or less electricity. I still had to run the chiller too... I think with the halides it would be another story, but we still can cheat the electricity bill!! If you get a Spectra, for example, and run the halides 4 hours a day and after that you turn the T5s on for another 4 hours you will be saving electricity and keeping your tank in an amazing shape!!
Grandis.

Yup, that's an option however not a realistic one for me as it is not so much the halides alone that will run up the bill but the ancillary equipment needed to keep the rest of the home and tank down in temp. We live in a tropical, i.e. very hot climate now and I would need to run the AC more to combat the rise in ambient room and consequently home temp. We average 88 deg F with the average summer temps jumping higher and the winter rarely a whole lot lower. For every buck we spend on Kw's we spend about $1.20 in fuel surcharge. It would likely work out to another $50 a month but that adds up. If I/m not happy with the LED's I still have my MH's. Would likely need to invest in electronic ballasts though. Old school here. The tank has been in storage for a loooong time.

 

[A. grandis]

Yup, that's an option however not a realistic one for me as it is not so much the halides alone that will run up the bill but the ancillary equipment needed to keep the rest of the home and tank down in temp. We live in a tropical, i.e. very hot climate now and I would need to run the AC more to combat the rise in ambient room and consequently home temp. We average 88 deg F with the average summer temps jumping higher and the winter rarely a whole lot lower. For every buck we spend on Kw's we spend about $1.20 in fuel surcharge. It would likely work out to another $50 a month but that adds up. If I/m not happy with the LED's I still have my MH's. Would likely need to invest in electronic ballasts though. Old school here. The tank has been in storage for a loooong time.

Unfortunately you gotta consider as you want/need. The fact is that halides are aways the my personal preferable way to duplicate the sun. Here in Hawaii is also very hot, specially during summer months. I didn't have chiller when was running my halides back in the day and had also magnetic ballast. Everything here is so expensive! I still see my reality trying to offer what I believe it's the very best for my tank. My systems are small. The biggest I've ever went was a 150gal. That is another way to save money and keep the budget. I prefer to have a nice small tank than a larger lacking because of my budget. If you want to try an electronic ballast you could consider the Luxcore. It will also allow you to choose different wattages per ballast.
Grandis.

 

[reefndude]

Still enjoying the halides. I have one stick that has always been brown. Never seen a hint of color before. Not the case anymore

 

[reefndude]

Here's a little progression from a couple pieces. Some corals have moved around and are in their permanent spot.
Halides are now running 5 1/2 hrs a day. T5's 12 hrs, and blue bars going 14 hrs.

12/20

01/12

12/20

01/16

12/20

01/16

Don't have any befores of this but it was completely brown

Couple more