LEDs or T5?

chefbill · 01/03/2015, 04:19 PM

This has probably been asked, but could I get some opinions on whether to go with t5 or LED for a new 125 gallon mixed reef? A 6 bulb t5 fixture is about the same price as a cheap Chinese LED. Is the bulb replacement cost for the t5 worth it or are LEDs more cist effective vs coral health and growth rate ?

PaleHorse · 01/03/2015, 04:25 PM

Get some mh and call it a day.....

chefbill · 01/03/2015, 04:44 PM

Looking to keep costs down. MH plus fans plus energy costs, is MH competitive?

Triggercdog · 01/03/2015, 04:48 PM

Go with LEDs....used to have t5's.....I love the LEDs, I bought 3 a360we kessil lights.....awesome color and shimmer(like MH but without the heat and high electric bill)

cloak · 01/03/2015, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaleHorse

Get some mh and call it a day.....

I agree...

They might generate a lot more heat and the costs will be up, but this is an expensive hobby to begin with. The heat they give off can be alleviated by a cheap household fan if need be. Don't get me wrong, LED's are definitely a viable option, but these MH setups are just tried-&-true IMO.

RocketEngineer · 01/03/2015, 05:00 PM

I'm the opposite, I had LED and went back to T5. I had issue with the color and killed every coral I owned because they put out too much light. If I could do it all over again I would have just gotten a 6x80W fixture and adjusted the bulb combination to match the needs of the corals and the color I want.

FraggledRock · 01/03/2015, 05:27 PM

Both

ReefKeep66 · 01/03/2015, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Triggercdog

Go with LEDs....used to have t5's.....I love the LEDs, I bought 3 a360we kessil lights.....awesome color and shimmer(like MH but without the heat and high electric bill)

+1 I have two a360we. The a360 puts out a bunch of light too. The kessil at 100% intensity, 100% color is supposedly the same as a 250w mh. After using mh, didn't think leds would impress me, the kessil changed my mind.

JR8999 · 01/03/2015, 10:00 PM

I just switched to LEDs about a month ago...so far so good. Very high light output if you want but easily programable. Check out reefbreeders.com photon series. IMO great value.

97dezertranger · 01/03/2015, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReefKeep66

+1 I have two a360we. The a360 puts out a bunch of light too. The kessil at 100% intensity, 100% color is supposedly the same as a 250w mh. After using mh, didn't think leds would impress me, the kessil changed my mind.

Im also thinking the same thing but I wanna use 2-3 kessils in the center of my canopy then add 4-6 t5 tubes in front and behind the kessils. Almost using the same concept of the old metal halide fixtures but instead replacing the halides with LED.

01/03/2015, 04:19 PM	#1
chefbill Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 530	LEDs or T5? This has probably been asked, but could I get some opinions on whether to go with t5 or LED for a new 125 gallon mixed reef? A 6 bulb t5 fixture is about the same price as a cheap Chinese LED. Is the bulb replacement cost for the t5 worth it or are LEDs more cist effective vs coral health and growth rate ?

01/03/2015, 05:00 PM	#6
RocketEngineer Space is big. Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Maryland Eastern Shore Posts: 3,226	I'm the opposite, I had LED and went back to T5. I had issue with the color and killed every coral I owned because they put out too much light. If I could do it all over again I would have just gotten a 6x80W fixture and adjusted the bulb combination to match the needs of the corals and the color I want. __________________ -RocketEngineer "Knowledge is what you get when you read the directions, experience is what you get when you don't." - Unknown Current Tank Info: None Currently

01/03/2015, 05:27 PM	#7
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	Both __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

01/03/2015, 10:00 PM	#9
JR8999 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2014 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 345	I just switched to LEDs about a month ago...so far so good. Very high light output if you want but easily programable. Check out reefbreeders.com photon series. IMO great value. __________________ 56g Column DT, 11g Aqueon sump with/socks, Lifereef overflow, Aqumaxx HOB-1 Skimmer, 2 Jaebo heaters, DT: 2 OC Clowns and 1 Royal Gramma along with various corals grown from frags. Current Tank Info: 56g Column

01/03/2015, 04:25 PM	#2
PaleHorse Moved On Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 421	Get some mh and call it a day.....

01/03/2015, 04:44 PM	#3
chefbill Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2013 Posts: 530	Looking to keep costs down. MH plus fans plus energy costs, is MH competitive?

01/03/2015, 04:48 PM	#4
Triggercdog Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Cape coral, Fl Posts: 131	Go with LEDs....used to have t5's.....I love the LEDs, I bought 3 a360we kessil lights.....awesome color and shimmer(like MH but without the heat and high electric bill)