MH switch back

[jzdad]

Are there any reefers out there that changed from MH to T5s because of the heat issues ,especially in the summer . Then realizing that they like the MH better( not because of the shimmer) and then switched back?

What made you switch back?

And when you switched from MH to T5 did you notice a difference in your electric bill? The heat factor? by how much?

All input and responces are greatly appreciated.
Thanks.

[James77]

Yes I have, and I am also about to switch back to halides from LEDs. The difference in electric is negligible for me, it was 7 or 8 more in electric, that is just by the mAth of it... My electric bills fluctuate anyways. Heat made me switch to LEDs, but opening my top helped that more than anything.... I had a canopy before.

Halides just plain look better than t5s. The lack of shimmer was my biggest reason. LEDs have shimmer, but I just miss halides. If i were to rate them in order of my liking, it would be halides 1st, LEDs then t5 s

[Squidward5]

For me the jury is still out on LEDs due to some test results "SPS" I have heard and seen from them, I will stick to my halides and wait for more data to ride that train..jzdad = great thread....James77=great post

[ddavefish]

I have an extra hood for my JBJ 28 in the garage with the MH 150 watt . I have not even tried it yet I got it for 100 bucks from a listing. I am still using my PC since I just replaced the bulb and being in florida -the heat.
Might break it out for the winter.
I was at a guys house who set aside his LED setup from his 180 Gal tank and went back to MH last month.
At the Local LFS store they Have Cannons LEDS that blind you above the frag tanks they seem just as BLINDINGLY bright as MH htere are only 4 bulbs above a 6ft by 10ft tank I think the bulbs are like 650 each.

[jzdad]

James 77

Halides just plain look better than t5s. The lack of shimmer was my biggest reason. LEDs have shimmer, but I just miss halides. If i were to rate them in order of my liking, it would be halides 1st, LEDs then t5 s

I agree but wow with everyone wanting to switch to LED you are switching back to MH,

The thing I love most about MH is that the unusual growth, like some braches longer than others, the twisting around other corals and the reaching torward the light source

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by Squidward5

For me the jury is still out on LEDs due to some test results "SPS" I have heard and seen from them, I will stick to my halides and wait for more data to ride that train..jzdad = great thread....James77=great post

Yea, Thanks Squidward

I too also follow the LED builds and threads and for some reason I'm not impressed with LEDs and it not so much the price althougt it is somewhat but what is the main factor? Less heat or the lifelike look of corals? I' ve seen several tanks with LEDs and to me it seemed like something was missing.

It get hot as h*** in the house from the tank in the summer , so hot I cant stand it sometimes but when I sit there and look at my tank , I realize how much I love this hobby and MH .

[James77]

Originally Posted by jzdad

James 77
I agree but wow with everyone wanting to switch to LED you are switching back to MH,

The thing I love most about MH is that the unusual growth, like some braches longer than others, the twisting around other corals and the reaching torward the light source

The LED craze also happened with T5s a few years ago, with some T5 fixtures backordered for months. For some, the power savings with LEDs and the lack of heat imparted to the tank( = no chiller) can save them alot of money. My figuring had me breaking even after about 5 years with electric an bulb savings for my DIY fixture. Yes, LEDs can match or beat halides with PAR. But I miss the look of a nice, full spectrum halide in the 14k-ish area. I do think LEDs will be the future lighting. I am just stepping back and giving them another 2 or 3 years to see long term results, and to see their current shortcomings addressed.

My main reason for trying LEDs was I was struggling with heat...but I was also using a canopy. I think the combo of the canopy and halides was my problem. Also, in the winter....I need tha added heat, so my heater will most likely run more with LEDs anyways, washing the savings. The electric difference going back to halides is negligible for myself. The added bulb cost of 100-ish a year is nothing to myself, so it is break even. Not to mention, with everyone switching to LEDs, you cna get killer deals on high end halide systems .

I will just add that I am going to be using LEDs for actinic supplememt, I had before and I was impressed with how they worked. Just switching that aspect of their lighting, people copuld save the cost of VHO or T5 bulbs costs and electric usage/heat.

[jzdad]

ddavefish

Wow ,I heard about the heat you get in FL but is it as humid as it is up north being that your state is surrounded by water. you guys have beautiful homes with central air which is a plus when you are reefing

but getting back to MH try that fixture that you got ,you are gonna like it especially the shimmer.and when you do make a thread or respond back to this thread I'll be following close.

As far as the guy who sat his LEDs a side and went back to MH , did he tell you why he went back to MH?

I've heard about those Cannons but have yet to see them.Sometimes if you look at a MH at the wrong time you too will get a blinding of light.

[jzdad]

James 77

The LED craze also happened with T5s a few years ago, with some T5 fixtures backordered for months. For some, the power savings with LEDs and the lack of heat imparted to the tank( = no chiller) can save them alot of money. My figuring had me breaking even after about 5 years with electric an bulb savings for my DIY fixture. Yes, LEDs can match or beat halides with PAR. But I miss the look of a nice, full spectrum halide in the 14k-ish area. I do think LEDs will be the future lighting. I am just stepping back and giving them another 2 or 3 years to see long term results, and to see their current shortcomings addressed.

Funny you saying that. In this hobby you have to be really careful following the hot item when they are new and there is more research to get . For me when I first got in the hobby I kinda got confused with things , new products and then finding that that product not perfoming the way they are supposed to and if you get it and all the bugs or the kinks are not all out and now the competiter comes up with the better product ,now what?

But what happends when you get LEDs and a few go out. how do you replace them and if you save money by not replacing MH bulb yearly do you have to buy that initial set up again which is a big deciding factor for switching

[James77]

Originally Posted by jzdad

But what happends when you get LEDs and a few go out. how do you replace them and if you save money by not replacing MH bulb yearly do you have to buy that initial set up again which is a big deciding factor for switching

On well thought out fixtures, or DIY type fixtures, you can swap LEDs for about $4-$5. On other fixtures, that may not be possible, or you may be able to swap a section of several LEDs. There is also the possibility of driver failures as well. People just tend to calculate the stated watts of the LED, and figure everything on that. There are long term costs associated with any lighting system that should be accounted for.

T5s are even worse in long term costs, or just as costly as halides. When they first starting gaining popularity, people were claiming up to 2 years before you needed to change bulbs out. Now we have learned that it is more like every 10 months, greatly adding to their cost. But they are proven and definitely have their pluses that may work for some people. Halides to me are proven long term, are not really that much more expensive electric wise than T5 or LEDs for me. Added heat can be needed or easily dealt with by many people with thought out canopies and fans.

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by James77

T5s are even worse in long term costs, or just as costly as halides. When they first starting gaining popularity, people were claiming up to 2 years before you needed to change bulbs out. Now we have learned that it is more like every 10 months, greatly adding to their cost. But they are proven and definitely have their pluses that may work for some people. Halides to me are proven long term, are not really that much more expensive electric wise than T5 or LEDs for me. Added heat can be needed or easily dealt with by many people with thought out canopies and fans.

yea, that is where I 'm at now. Extreem heat ,bad canopy .I tried a luman bright reflector on a different tank my cube and love it and working on a canopy for my 150g with proper ventilation so I can replace my spider reflectors with Lumen brights.

Now on T5 ,you are right on replacement I have a friend that replaced lights within 12 months and is going to start replacing every 10 months. now on a 10 bulb fixture at 22$ a bulb equals 220$ and 2 MH at 80$ equals 160$ on a 48 inch tank with money saved for the few dollar increase on the electric bill
kind of balances out for me.

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by James77

On well thought out fixtures, or DIY type fixtures, you can swap LEDs for about $4-$5. On other fixtures, that may not be possible, or you may be able to swap a section of several LEDs. There is also the possibility of driver failures as well. People just tend to calculate the stated watts of the LED, and figure everything on that. There are long term costs associated with any lighting system that should be accounted for

I dont think I'm ready for this yet and with the proven track record on MH,I'll stay right here for how.

[alton]

I cut back on the hours I run my MH's during the summer, yesterday here in SA I cut them off and just ran 1 VHO because it was 102. Call it a very cloudy rainy day in my reef with just a little UV.

[tcoral]

I'm debating switching back. I had 2 250 watt radiums on my tank before and switched to t5 (Tek fixture 6x80 watt 5 foot). I didn't swap out the bulbs from the previous owner so that may be a factor and I had some other issues but my sps have been having problems except for really high on top. On a good note my chiller has been coming on less (I think this is where electric savings would come from. Since I still have my mh ballast I may try switching back to see the differences and may cut back the time the mh is on or make a retro fixture with both t5 or LED and mh. I do miss the look of radiums too.

[beadlocked450r]

Ok so my my question is what if any is the benifit from175watt to the 250w,400w? I have 175 now,which I know is older but seems to work. With ech of these diff wattages is there a differance in the heigh in which they are above the tank? Like say my 175w I have 11"above the water surface,if ihad the *w50 do they get put highr then my 175?or is the height set on how hot the light makes the water? Hope that makes sence.

[jazzmanb]

i switched 2 months ago from my 1 radium 250 20k and lumenarc mini on my 75 gallon cube reef to 2 kessil 15k led pendants and man what a differnce, first off, im using 1/5 the electricity, my corals seem happier than ever, the shimmer seemed to double[crazy shimmer] and its cooler. the colors just pop like crazy. Now ill have to wait and see if these pendents last 10 years or so as advertised, but even if they last half of that id be saving tons of $$$ and the tank looks better. Its deffinatly not as bright as radiums to the eyes, but corals seem happier with the subdued blueish white l;ighting that is soooooo pleasing to the eye. I did some research and i think the kessil led pendents are the best led you can get. my 2 cents jazzmanb

[jazzmanb]

Also the kessil 15ks are perfect in terms of color, no supplementaion needed:]

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by alton

I cut back on the hours I run my MH's during the summer, yesterday here in SA I cut them off and just ran 1 VHO because it was 102. Call it a very cloudy rainy day in my reef with just a little UV.

This has been a hectic summer so far lots of days over 90*and I should do the same thing but the funny thing about this hobby ( ADDICTION ) Although MH project heat I love the look and Try to deal with the heat like ( whew its hot but please let me look at my lonk longer before the lights go out.... like a hit youknowwhatimean LOL!!!!!!! )

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by tcoral

I'm debating switching back. I had 2 250 watt radiums on my tank before and switched to t5 (Tek fixture 6x80 watt 5 foot). I didn't swap out the bulbs from the previous owner so that may be a factor and I had some other issues but my sps have been having problems except for really high on top. On a good note my chiller has been coming on less (I think this is where electric savings would come from. Since I still have my mh ballast I may try switching back to see the differences and may cut back the time the mh is on or make a retro fixture with both t5 or LED and mh. I do miss the look of radiums too.

Yea I know what you mean about the Radiums AWESOME !
Chiller on less = less electricty = goood
Change those bulbs/combo and se what happends
I may try switching back to see the differences and may cut back the time the mh is on or make a retro fixture with both t5 or LED and mh. ......When you do let me know how this turns out.. Thanks

[PupPuP]

I went from MH to LED and you get crazy shimmer from LED. It's more chaotic compared to MH though...

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by beadlocked450r

Ok so my my question is what if any is the benifit from175watt to the 250w,400w? I have 175 now,which I know is older but seems to work. With ech of these diff wattages is there a differance in the heigh in which they are above the tank? Like say my 175w I have 11"above the water surface,if ihad the *w50 do they get put highr then my 175?or is the height set on how hot the light makes the water? Hope that makes sence.

Sorry for the wait on the responce my computer was down and mini vacation


Just my guess is

175w less than 18"
250w up to 24"
400w for deeper than 24"

But most important is...what corals are you planing to keep.
How high off the surface of the water level in the tank is the bulb
Reflector also plays a apart ( Put that 175w in a lumen bright mini you get higher par and would have to put it up higher off the water level, it will be like you just got a 250w bulb but you are using the same ballast and bulb ..awesome reflector ,I have 1 )
And the higher the watts the more heat then the need for a chiller to cool off the water = more money for electricity

Hope that made sence

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by jazzmanb

i switched 2 months ago from my 1 radium 250 20k and lumenarc mini on my 75 gallon cube reef to 2 kessil 15k led pendants and man what a differnce, first off, im using 1/5 the electricity, my corals seem happier than ever, the shimmer seemed to double[crazy shimmer] and its cooler. the colors just pop like crazy. Now ill have to wait and see if these pendents last 10 years or so as advertised, but even if they last half of that id be saving tons of $$$ and the tank looks better. Its deffinatly not as bright as radiums to the eyes, but corals seem happier with the subdued blueish white l;ighting that is soooooo pleasing to the eye. I did some research and i think the kessil led pendents are the best led you can get. my 2 cents jazzmanb

You have got to show me a pic......Pleeaassseee !!
Did you notice the diff in elec right away or after a few months?
Double shimmer? Not doubting sounds good , pics Plleeaasseeeee !
Where do you get these Kessil led pendent?


Thanks for the heads up . But pleeaassee post a pic...

[jzdad]

Originally Posted by PupPuP

I went from MH to LED and you get crazy shimmer from LED. It's more chaotic compared to MH though...

Nice !!!!!!
Jazzmanb said the same thing .
WOW any pics?
Which one/s did you get?