MH along with t5 combo or replace with LED

jtp79 · 07/26/2013, 01:29 PM

I have only had my tank for about a week. It has 2 250 watt metal halide lights that are due to be changed in a couple months. It also has 2 dual t5 setups without reflectors and the bulbs are ready to be changed now.

What would you guys suggest? Should I try to buy 2 retrofit t5 setups with reflectors? Is what I have ok? Or should I upgrade the entire system to LED. I have been looking at the DIY setup, especially the one from stevesled.

Am i better off to buy a DIY kit or to build the kit myself ordering the parts individually. I dont know much about the LED lights but I do work in the automotive industry and can basically do anything myself. But it might take a lil while.

The tank is a 90 gallon reef tank. I have 5 or 6 corals now that have opened up and are growing well and the color is good for only having the tank up and running for 5 days. It was a full setup that I traded for. I eventually want the tank to be FULL of corals and inverts.

Bring on the suggestions and thanks in advance.

I didnt know where this belonged so I put it in the lighting forum and here, Mods, if this is inappropriate please remove the one you need to.

Omen1090 · 07/26/2013, 02:15 PM

Why dont you go with a 6xt5 setup and just get out of MH. The cost of bulbs and replacement every 6-8 months for mh is expensive if you do with t5s only you can them for at least a year depending on how much you are running per day. LEDs are okay but $$$ for now they are still going down in prices.

lurch71 · 07/26/2013, 02:18 PM

I was in the same boat last year. I decided to go the led route because I hated replacing metal halides every year. I went with DIY LEDs but I'm not sure I would go that way now with all the cheaper options out there. I also saved quite a lot on electricity.

HumbleFish · 07/26/2013, 02:24 PM

If you're planning on SPS & clams then keep the MH.

Otherwise, the 6xT5 will get the job done & save you $$$ on bulbs (and electricity).

I just don't have enough confidence in LEDs to recommend them.

jtp79 · 07/26/2013, 02:37 PM

The bulbs the previous owner used are called aquarium bulbs on the website he told me about but they are unprotected arc tubes. Does this create a danger? The bulbs on the website are only about 15 bucks a piece. I am inexperienced in this but the color of the corals seems to be good and they look healthy to me.

jtp79 · 07/26/2013, 06:23 PM

Here are the pics of the setup. Sorry they are iphone pics.

1 t5 setup is the original that came with the aquarium. It has been moved to the front of the hood and has no reflectors.

the second t5 setup has no reflectors and is just a high output ballast wired on top of the canopy with nothing but t5 ends screwed to the canopy with the bulbs in them. Also no reflectors.

The metal halides are two 250 watt bulbs and these do have a full length reflector that runs the full width of the tank. only has one bend on each side and this has had holes drilled and bolted to the center of the canopy.

msnwld · 07/26/2013, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

If you're planning on SPS & clams then keep the MH.

Otherwise, the 6xT5 will get the job done & save you $$$ on bulbs (and electricity).

I just don't have enough confidence in LEDs to recommend them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by HumbleFish

If you're planning on SPS & clams then keep the MH.

Otherwise, the 6xT5 will get the job done & save you $$$ on bulbs (and electricity).

I just don't have enough confidence in LEDs to recommend them.

+1 on the confidence on LEDs.I'm not 100% either and am in the market for new light myself. Probably just gonna replace my current T5 bulbs There so expensive but a DIY can be done for so cheap with the same material. So why are they so expensive? I Would really like one of the T5 MH combos with LED lunars. I would Even would take a used one in good condition if I could find one.

msnwld · 07/26/2013, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtp79

The bulbs the previous owner used are called aquarium bulbs on the website he told me about but they are unprotected arc tubes. Does this create a danger? The bulbs on the website are only about 15 bucks a piece. I am inexperienced in this but the color of the corals seems to be good and they look healthy to me.

If there T5 get urself some ATI bulbs for $20ea and try that. If you don't like them your only out $80-$90 .

07/26/2013, 01:29 PM	#1
jtp79 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sparta TN Posts: 125	MH along with t5 combo or replace with LED I have only had my tank for about a week. It has 2 250 watt metal halide lights that are due to be changed in a couple months. It also has 2 dual t5 setups without reflectors and the bulbs are ready to be changed now. What would you guys suggest? Should I try to buy 2 retrofit t5 setups with reflectors? Is what I have ok? Or should I upgrade the entire system to LED. I have been looking at the DIY setup, especially the one from stevesled. Am i better off to buy a DIY kit or to build the kit myself ordering the parts individually. I dont know much about the LED lights but I do work in the automotive industry and can basically do anything myself. But it might take a lil while. The tank is a 90 gallon reef tank. I have 5 or 6 corals now that have opened up and are growing well and the color is good for only having the tank up and running for 5 days. It was a full setup that I traded for. I eventually want the tank to be FULL of corals and inverts. Bring on the suggestions and thanks in advance. I didnt know where this belonged so I put it in the lighting forum and here, Mods, if this is inappropriate please remove the one you need to.

07/26/2013, 02:15 PM	#2
Omen1090 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 66	Why dont you go with a 6xt5 setup and just get out of MH. The cost of bulbs and replacement every 6-8 months for mh is expensive if you do with t5s only you can them for at least a year depending on how much you are running per day. LEDs are okay but $$$ for now they are still going down in prices.

07/26/2013, 02:18 PM	#3
lurch71 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: oregon Posts: 55	I was in the same boat last year. I decided to go the led route because I hated replacing metal halides every year. I went with DIY LEDs but I'm not sure I would go that way now with all the cheaper options out there. I also saved quite a lot on electricity.

07/26/2013, 02:24 PM	#4
HumbleFish Moved On Join Date: Feb 2013 Posts: 4,757	If you're planning on SPS & clams then keep the MH. Otherwise, the 6xT5 will get the job done & save you $$$ on bulbs (and electricity). I just don't have enough confidence in LEDs to recommend them.

07/26/2013, 02:37 PM	#5
jtp79 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Sparta TN Posts: 125	The bulbs the previous owner used are called aquarium bulbs on the website he told me about but they are unprotected arc tubes. Does this create a danger? The bulbs on the website are only about 15 bucks a piece. I am inexperienced in this but the color of the corals seems to be good and they look healthy to me.