Metal halides or LED for a new Tank?

Drachs · 04/19/2008, 01:01 PM

I'm buying a new 125 with a wood canopy. The LFS recommended the installation of a aqualight 3x150 Metal Halide and HQI retrofit, but I'm wondering if I should be considering LED instead?

Won't using LED save me alot of money on a chiller and power bills?

photobret · 04/19/2008, 07:17 PM

LEd is still an unproven technology long term and you will find many mixed reports on this website. MH is good but be wary about LFS and what they want you to buy from them. That lighting setup would be good and would suit you fine but 2x250w in Lumenarc III Reflectors using 14k bulbs would be good too. Have you considered using T5 at all?

How deep is your tank? I am using T5 now but have used MH. I needed a chiller before and right now I use fans to cool my T5's, water stays around 78 deg. With Lumenarcs you can suspend them above your tank and use fans to blow the heat away, several dozen reefers use this method and it works great for them.

Waxxiemann · 04/19/2008, 07:23 PM

Cool candy skull photobret.

My vote is with halides, I think LED or somthing similar will be a viable lighting source for aquariums in a few years time.

rockworm · 04/19/2008, 08:13 PM

Drachs, it is a tough decision. I faced the same decision as you with a new tank and decided to do LED. They have been out for a couple years now and the technology has improved a lot in very short time.

It is true that there is no long term history on LEDs. However, I looked at the pros and cons and decided the former outweighed the latter. In addition to the electric and chiller costs, also consider the cost of replacing MH bulbs (and fluorescent if you use actinic) every year. My tank is a 180g, 6 ' and 25" deep. My options were 250w x 3 plus t5 or LED. I ended up getting the Solaris I series.

I too read a lot of comments, and while there have been some negative comments from actual users of LED, I found that most problems arose in the early generations (i.e. Solaris G and H series). The intensity was not what they had expected and some returned to MH.

The next generation is now out. These include the Solaris I series and Aqua Illumination.

There have not been many I series users as they have only recently made it into the distribution pipe. However, the users who have reported, for the most part, have been happy.

There are even fewer aqua illumination reviews, so little info is out about them.

Given my tank is still being set up, I cannot give you a "progress" report. Well at least not for a few monthjs and by then you will have probably made your decision. Good luck.

04/19/2008, 01:01 PM	#1
Drachs Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: East Moline, IL Posts: 140	Metal halides or LED for a new Tank? I'm buying a new 125 with a wood canopy. The LFS recommended the installation of a aqualight 3x150 Metal Halide and HQI retrofit, but I'm wondering if I should be considering LED instead? Won't using LED save me alot of money on a chiller and power bills?

04/19/2008, 07:17 PM	#2
photobret Rude, Screwd and Tattooed Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Oahu, HI Posts: 1,331	LEd is still an unproven technology long term and you will find many mixed reports on this website. MH is good but be wary about LFS and what they want you to buy from them. That lighting setup would be good and would suit you fine but 2x250w in Lumenarc III Reflectors using 14k bulbs would be good too. Have you considered using T5 at all? How deep is your tank? I am using T5 now but have used MH. I needed a chiller before and right now I use fans to cool my T5's, water stays around 78 deg. With Lumenarcs you can suspend them above your tank and use fans to blow the heat away, several dozen reefers use this method and it works great for them. __________________ Free Discover Scuba Experience - Ask Me How Current Tank Info: Contemplating 40gal Hawaii Tank

04/19/2008, 07:23 PM	#3
Waxxiemann Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Winnipeg Posts: 2,364	Cool candy skull photobret. My vote is with halides, I think LED or somthing similar will be a viable lighting source for aquariums in a few years time. __________________ "Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the the universe." Albert Einstein

04/19/2008, 08:13 PM	#4
rockworm A-counting guy Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Posts: 673	Drachs, it is a tough decision. I faced the same decision as you with a new tank and decided to do LED. They have been out for a couple years now and the technology has improved a lot in very short time. It is true that there is no long term history on LEDs. However, I looked at the pros and cons and decided the former outweighed the latter. In addition to the electric and chiller costs, also consider the cost of replacing MH bulbs (and fluorescent if you use actinic) every year. My tank is a 180g, 6 ' and 25" deep. My options were 250w x 3 plus t5 or LED. I ended up getting the Solaris I series. I too read a lot of comments, and while there have been some negative comments from actual users of LED, I found that most problems arose in the early generations (i.e. Solaris G and H series). The intensity was not what they had expected and some returned to MH. The next generation is now out. These include the Solaris I series and Aqua Illumination. There have not been many I series users as they have only recently made it into the distribution pipe. However, the users who have reported, for the most part, have been happy. There are even fewer aqua illumination reviews, so little info is out about them. Given my tank is still being set up, I cannot give you a "progress" report. Well at least not for a few monthjs and by then you will have probably made your decision. Good luck.