Who's made the switch?

[Skibum]

To Metal Halide from LED ;-). I'm contemplating going from Radion Gen4 Pros to 250 watt MH with an old Cayman sun fixture with T5.

Current setup:
1 Gen4 xr30
1 Gen4 xr15
4 39 watt T5

(All wrapped up in an Aqua Illumination fixture)

Proposed

Cayman Sun fixture (pendant)
1x 250 watt MH 14k phoenix
4x 24 watt T5 ATI Blues
Cover the rest of the 36" inch span with the ecotech XR30

This will light an Red Sea Reefer 250.

___

I'm generally happy with the ecotech LED's except for one thing, the Acro growth. I get GREAT growth with my LPS, Montis, stylos, etc. However my Acros are growing PAINFULLY slow. My Par numbers are good on the top of the tank, 350-400. In the middle 250-275, On the bottom 200.

What say you fellow SPS keepers?

Skibum

 

[Hemmdog]

I’m all for MH but what spectrum are you running your lights on? People grow acros like crazy with gen4 30xr’s to my knowledge.

 

[Skibum]

 

[Skibum]

Also, remember I have 4x T5 10k bulbs as well to balance out

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive made the switch as i have a new system. My 72” MH/T12 combo grew acro like weeds. The type of canopy I now have will not support the unit otherwise I’d keep it. Was easy on the electrical bill but now timy to sell :-(

AND YES- T12, not t5. Talk about color delivery !!

 

[Skibum]

Ive made the switch as i have a new system. My 72” MH/T12 combo grew acro like weeds. The type of canopy I now have will not support the unit otherwise I’d keep it. Was easy on the electrical bill but now timy to sell :-(

AND YES- T12, not t5. Talk about color delivery !!

Can you even get T12's any longer?

 

[SeaDweller]

You’re running all blues, all the time?

 

[Skibum]

You’re running all blues, all the time?

No, between the hours of 12:30 p.m and 7:00 p.m I run 4 39 Watt 10k T5's. So while the ecotech is running all blues all the time, the aquarium is lit more evenly between those hours.

 

[SeaDweller]

No, between the hours of 12:30 p.m and 7:00 p.m I run 4 39 Watt 10k T5's. So while the ecotech is running all blues all the time, the aquarium is lit more evenly between those hours.

I didn’t realize you’re running t5 too.

I feel a lot of my frags are growing slowly under all LEDs as well, but they ARE growing and holding color just fine. I bet if I added some T5 or MH, I’d do much better.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Ive made the switch as i have a new system. My 72” MH/T12 combo grew acro like weeds. The type of canopy I now have will not support the unit otherwise I’d keep it. Was easy on the electrical bill but now timy to sell :-(

AND YES- T12, not t5. Talk about color delivery !!

Yes

 

[Skibum]

Yes

Heh, you quoted your own post ;-). Are you going to run Halides on your new system? What are you running and why?

 

[Skibum]

As far as my acros growing, they are growing, just not as fast as I would like. I also miss the dead simplicity of halides+T5.

 

[vetteguy53081]

Heh, you quoted your own post ;-). Are you going to run Halides on your new system? What are you running and why?

No, because the canopy with my new tank will not support the fixture. I am currently running 4 - Orphek Or2 120's and 2 Orphek Atlantiks and One Orphek Linus and an SB reef Ultra WiFi

 

[vetteguy53081]

I didn’t realize you’re running t5 too.

I feel a lot of my frags are growing slowly under all LEDs as well, but they ARE growing and holding color just fine. I bet if I added some T5 or MH, I’d do much better.

Yes- Likely