Which would you choose..

[Calireef11]

Hello, I just set up a 220 gallon Leemar tank and I am indecisive on what light I want to get. I plan to keep SPS and LPS. I am open to T5/LED/MH or Hybrid.
So here's the question.

If you could choose any lighting system to light your tank, which would you choose?

[The Grim Reefer]

LED's

T5/Halide combo

T5's

Halides

That order

[zarryah]

Led forsure

[Luwe2008]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

LED's

T5/Halide combo

T5's

Halides

That order

What LED manufacturer would you guys say has the best LEDs?

[Luwe2008]

Because Ive heard that the Vertex is the best?

[grigsy]

Halides for sure.

#1 Choice - Metal Halide

#2 Choice - T5 High output

#3 Choice - LED

[The Grim Reefer]

I think most people consider the AI to be best. Personally I would DIY or at least research to see which fixtures are using a good mix of LED's. Royal Blue and Cool white is the combo most are using and I don't like the look. Want to see some neutral or warm whites in the mix myself.

Duh, just re read, for individual LEDs Cree seems to be the choice.

[wicz101]

That's a hard one, LEDs seem pretty awesome but I've never worked with them up close and personal. If money was no object it would the super high end LEDs.

Right now I have an ati dimmable sunpower t5 and I think think they are the next best thing. I had metal halides in the past and had more issues then I was expecting, and I was never super happy. I might be the only one in the reef world that isn't really impressed with the shimmer look.

[jpsika08]

Just now, ReefLedLights dot com is offering the CREE XML Cool Whites which are much more powerful than the ones AI has.

I personally have the AI's and no complaints, the only reason I went with them instead of DIY is the warranty and support but that's is, DIY is a great choice.

[James77]

Mine would be halides with LED actinics first, straight LEDs, then T5s last.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by wicz101

I might be the only one in the reef world that isn't really impressed with the shimmer look.

I think the shimmer selling point is a joke too. I prefer the look of T5's over any other lighting in this hobby and I have used most of them. PC, T5, MH and now LED.

T5's are still my hands down favorite but LED's are growing quickly. I hated replacing bulbs once a year with T5's so that is a huge bonus to LED's but just like Grim said, the blue:white LED mix doesn't look good. It is way too cold and colors suffer. Adding in some warm spectrum LED's sure helps out.

[bartek101]

Cree LEDs 3W

[zarryah]

Evolution leds diy kit

[djk83]

1) LEDs
2) MH with T5 supplementals
3) T5

[Felixc395]

Originally Posted by jpsika08

Just now, ReefLedLights dot com is offering the CREE XML Cool Whites which are much more powerful than the ones AI has.

Great, something that will fry my corals even faster than my AI's!!!

Still LED's are the way to go IMO.

[Calireef11]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

I think most people consider the AI to be best. Personally I would DIY or at least research to see which fixtures are using a good mix of LED's. Royal Blue and Cool white is the combo most are using and I don't like the look. Want to see some neutral or warm whites in the mix myself.

Duh, just re read, for individual LEDs Cree seems to be the choice.

What do you think about RGB LEDs?

[Calireef11]

What do you guys think of RGB LED systems?

[The Grim Reefer]

Originally Posted by Calireef11

What do you think about RGB LEDs?

If its what I think you are talking about not much. I see no reason for using red or green LED's. I get great color rendering with no spotlighting because of radically different color LED's.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

If its what I think you are talking about not much. I see no reason for using red or green LED's. I get great color rendering with no spotlighting because of radically different color LED's.

They are different than you think. They are different LED chip that is used. There isn't actually 3 different chips that are red, green and blue. (At least on mine and others I have seen.)

I am using the Ecoxotic RGB module on my Nano Cube right now. I think the white is a more full-spectrum light then other whites that are used. With the touch of a button I can go from white to blue. It is nice for me because I am slowly piecing together my entire lighting scheme.

The one drawback is that there are colors with this system that are totally pointless for our application.

[The Grim Reefer]

It is what I am thinking. Not a fan of paying for features that are useless. Not sure what the LED placement it but unless it has a whole lot of LED's you get the spotlight effect at the upper regions on the tank if you use radically different colors.

[rtparty]

Originally Posted by The Grim Reefer

It is what I am thinking. Not a fan of paying for features that are useless. Not sure what the LED placement it but unless it has a whole lot of LED's you get the spotlight effect at the upper regions on the tank if you use radically different colors.

With mine you don't. I know all about the crazy spotlighting with LED's. I had it with my PAR38 light over my one tank.

When I change the color of my LED's, it changes the entire LED chip. So all you see is that one color. There aren't multiple colors showing in the aquarium.

That is one of my biggest complaints with LED's is the color banding that goes on with them.

[The Grim Reefer]

So it's the low power LED's or a 3 up star? I thought the Exotics where 3 watt LED's.

[Arkayology]

I would get some nice used MH pendents and wait for the LEDs to improve/come down in cost a bit.

[scarface70706]

AI LEDs all the way bro. MH consume way too much electricity. also if you go LEDs you dont have to buy a chiller. in the long run the LEDs will make your money back within 3 to 4 months with the energy you will be saving compared to powering your MH and chiller.

[BonsaiNut]

Originally Posted by Calireef11

If you could choose any lighting system to light your tank, which would you choose?

When asking this question, it is important to understand one basic fact:

LED's are going to replace all lighting in the world within your lifetime. Incandescent bulbs are already going, fluorescent bulbs and HID bulbs are next, and compact florescent will follow. It is just a question of time - LED's are following an improvement curve similar to computer CPU's. They are becoming brighter, more efficient, and lower cost all at the same time. Right now LED prices are falling about 50% every three years. They are already the most efficient light source on the planet (in terms of lumens generated per watt of electricity used) and they are becoming more efficient on a daily basis.

So the question is not "if" to switch to LED's, but "when". Right now you are seeing what I would consider "2nd generation" aquarium LED fixtures. They are still VERY expensive, but when all costs and benefits are added up, they may make sense. If you are looking for a "plug and play" solution that doesn't require changing bulbs every 6 months, heat management, etc, they are the only game in town.

A lot depends on where you live. If you live in a warm climate with high electricity rates, LED's may pay for themselves quickly. If you live in the Pacific NW, have cool weather year round, and pay less than $.10 per kWh for your electricity, you may not care.

If cost were no object I would go with:

(1) LED
(2) T5 / MH
(3) T5
(4) MH solo