Are metal halides the modern version of the horse and buggy?

torero500 · 07/19/2011, 10:08 AM

With the massive advances in LED's over the past year, and all the new LED strips, bars, controllers, and modules that have come out, have to wonder how much life the energy hogging, heat producing halides have left. The halide color, shimmer, and proven track record with SPS will probably keep its place in the industry for awhile longer--but I wonder how rapid the change will be once it becomes accepted practice among hobbyists that proper LED setups can grow SPS. Some further price drop on LED would help fuel the growth, but energy savings alone right now helps make up some of the cost gap.

And I don't know where we'll end up on price for the fancier systems, but I think high powered, reasonably priced LED systems connected to the Internet to mimic real time reef conditions for locations across the world would really drive future interest in the hobby. We're certainly not there yet in terms of price and simplicity, but can't see that not happening within the next 3-5 years.

reefmanmatt · 07/19/2011, 10:19 AM

i say if the price came down it would be an over night shut out . i cant think of one person off hand that wouldnt spend a few hundred to try them , its the idea of a few thousand that puts off most reefer's . even the bulb replacement makes it well worth it but the shear cost upfront is the killer. now with a little research available , we also know that some ... just dont work . i love my halides !!! i dont know if thats what i was supposed to reply with , or if i was at all , but thats my though after reading yours . do you run halides or leds ???

reefmanmatt · 07/19/2011, 10:21 AM

and meant to mention my halides would be on craigslist in the morning if i could cough up the dough to light all my stuff with led . what about plasma ?? do you think it will soon take led too ????????

ksc · 07/19/2011, 10:25 AM

I just upgraded one of my tanks from LEDS to halides. While leds will garner market share, so too will mh and flouro.

orangekush4 · 07/19/2011, 10:32 AM

Nothing will put out the same look of the MH. I have used LEDs and T5. IMO they don't look good . Even if LEDs cost the same I would use MH. I don't like the disco ball look of the LED and I don't like the flat look of the T5. Call me old school but I have grown basketball size SPS with my MH from frags in a short time. I can also deal with the heat using fans.

doctorgori · 07/19/2011, 10:52 AM

This could be a good "blog" writup as well

alton · 07/19/2011, 03:32 PM

I have all three MH T5HO, and LED. Remember when they said T5HO will last twice as long 18 to 24 months saving you money over MH? I change my T5HO lamps every 12 months, because my meter doesn't lie. In 3 months I have gone through 3 LED light fixtures for the same reason meters don't lie. How many LED users check there PAR levels or Foot Candles every month and can say after two years there levels are still the same, what about five? I want to switch eveyrthing over to LED the way of the future, but it is still new technology that has not been tested. I'll attest LED grows corals much better than T5HO just wish they would warranty a fixture for 5+ years

ct_vol · 07/19/2011, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by orangekush4

Nothing will put out the same look of the MH. I have used LEDs and T5. IMO they don't look good . Even if LEDs cost the same I would use MH. I don't like the disco ball look of the LED and I don't like the flat look of the T5. Call me old school but I have grown basketball size SPS with my MH from frags in a short time. I can also deal with the heat using fans.

I concur... I just like MH's better as my main light source...

Right now the debate for me is T5 vs LED actinic supplement...

James77 · 07/19/2011, 09:04 PM

While halides will not ever completely go away, LEDs will be the predominant lighting soon and for quite a while. Having owned all types of aquarium lighting, halides and LEDs are my favorites. The longer life of quality LEDs and their minor electric use make them a smarter choice financially. The shimmer is greater with the LEDs than with the halides, the heat is absent. I think as different spectrums come out and more efficient LEDs, the choice will be even easier

torero500 · 07/19/2011, 09:39 PM

I have to agree that the natural color output of halides will be its saving grace for a fair amount of people. They do look nice, consequences be damned.

moondoggy4 · 07/19/2011, 10:50 PM

I think LED 's will be very popular in the high electricity states and hot states, they can justify the expense. MH are just another option just like the T-5's

ksc · 07/20/2011, 11:48 AM

I think once more people realize that their LED fixtures are junk after 2 years or so you will see the hype die down. I've been monitoring a par38 w/crees and a 250 Radium. After about 18 months the Radium has lost less par output than the par38's.

klrreef · 07/20/2011, 12:37 PM

MH are still oftenly used.

Im a T5 person.

After using leds for a few months I found out that some corals just cant take the lighting they produce and will almost instantly bleach,brown,or die.

After I switched back to T5's I noticed EVERY SINGLE coral that was previously under leds was brown. So corals coming from my tank would only look good in tanks powered by leds. Other people besides myself have had this experience.

I think it is a problem with the spectrum,some people say the modern leds lack UV, which is suppose to give the corals something to turn the right colors. Im not sure,im no light expert.

I like T5's the best because they do not get scorching hot,you can get basically any color of you choice,and you can grow anything under them.

But certain corals grow alot faster under leds,maybe even 4 times faster,but they just dont have the color.

Ive seen some stores grow corals under led lights,then put them in a T5 tank for coloring up(T5's are imo the best for coloring up corals), then put them on display under 20k lighting with blue led supplement.
A good use of all of the lighting.

I think if they can fix the leds browning out problem and make them more affordable,they will take over the lighting market(for this hobby),since they dont produce alot of heat and are easy on the electric bill.

07/19/2011, 10:08 AM	#1
torero500 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 289	Are metal halides the modern version of the horse and buggy? With the massive advances in LED's over the past year, and all the new LED strips, bars, controllers, and modules that have come out, have to wonder how much life the energy hogging, heat producing halides have left. The halide color, shimmer, and proven track record with SPS will probably keep its place in the industry for awhile longer--but I wonder how rapid the change will be once it becomes accepted practice among hobbyists that proper LED setups can grow SPS. Some further price drop on LED would help fuel the growth, but energy savings alone right now helps make up some of the cost gap. And I don't know where we'll end up on price for the fancier systems, but I think high powered, reasonably priced LED systems connected to the Internet to mimic real time reef conditions for locations across the world would really drive future interest in the hobby. We're certainly not there yet in terms of price and simplicity, but can't see that not happening within the next 3-5 years.

07/19/2011, 09:04 PM	#9
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	While halides will not ever completely go away, LEDs will be the predominant lighting soon and for quite a while. Having owned all types of aquarium lighting, halides and LEDs are my favorites. The longer life of quality LEDs and their minor electric use make them a smarter choice financially. The shimmer is greater with the LEDs than with the halides, the heat is absent. I think as different spectrums come out and more efficient LEDs, the choice will be even easier __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

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07/19/2011, 10:19 AM	#2
reefmanmatt Registered Member. Join Date: May 2011 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 396	i say if the price came down it would be an over night shut out . i cant think of one person off hand that wouldnt spend a few hundred to try them , its the idea of a few thousand that puts off most reefer's . even the bulb replacement makes it well worth it but the shear cost upfront is the killer. now with a little research available , we also know that some ... just dont work . i love my halides !!! i dont know if thats what i was supposed to reply with , or if i was at all , but thats my though after reading yours . do you run halides or leds ???

07/19/2011, 10:21 AM	#3
reefmanmatt Registered Member. Join Date: May 2011 Location: pennsylvania Posts: 396	and meant to mention my halides would be on craigslist in the morning if i could cough up the dough to light all my stuff with led . what about plasma ?? do you think it will soon take led too ????????

07/19/2011, 10:25 AM	#4
ksc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 415	I just upgraded one of my tanks from LEDS to halides. While leds will garner market share, so too will mh and flouro.

07/19/2011, 10:32 AM	#5
orangekush4 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 367	Nothing will put out the same look of the MH. I have used LEDs and T5. IMO they don't look good . Even if LEDs cost the same I would use MH. I don't like the disco ball look of the LED and I don't like the flat look of the T5. Call me old school but I have grown basketball size SPS with my MH from frags in a short time. I can also deal with the heat using fans.

07/19/2011, 10:52 AM	#6
doctorgori Moved On Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Simon Bar-Sinistar Posts: 1,097	This could be a good "blog" writup as well

07/19/2011, 03:32 PM	#7
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I have all three MH T5HO, and LED. Remember when they said T5HO will last twice as long 18 to 24 months saving you money over MH? I change my T5HO lamps every 12 months, because my meter doesn't lie. In 3 months I have gone through 3 LED light fixtures for the same reason meters don't lie. How many LED users check there PAR levels or Foot Candles every month and can say after two years there levels are still the same, what about five? I want to switch eveyrthing over to LED the way of the future, but it is still new technology that has not been tested. I'll attest LED grows corals much better than T5HO just wish they would warranty a fixture for 5+ years

07/19/2011, 09:39 PM	#10
torero500 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 289	I have to agree that the natural color output of halides will be its saving grace for a fair amount of people. They do look nice, consequences be damned.

07/19/2011, 10:50 PM	#11
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I think LED 's will be very popular in the high electricity states and hot states, they can justify the expense. MH are just another option just like the T-5's

07/20/2011, 11:48 AM	#12
ksc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 415	I think once more people realize that their LED fixtures are junk after 2 years or so you will see the hype die down. I've been monitoring a par38 w/crees and a 250 Radium. After about 18 months the Radium has lost less par output than the par38's.

07/20/2011, 12:37 PM	#13
klrreef Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Posts: 63	MH are still oftenly used. Im a T5 person. After using leds for a few months I found out that some corals just cant take the lighting they produce and will almost instantly bleach,brown,or die. After I switched back to T5's I noticed EVERY SINGLE coral that was previously under leds was brown. So corals coming from my tank would only look good in tanks powered by leds. Other people besides myself have had this experience. I think it is a problem with the spectrum,some people say the modern leds lack UV, which is suppose to give the corals something to turn the right colors. Im not sure,im no light expert. I like T5's the best because they do not get scorching hot,you can get basically any color of you choice,and you can grow anything under them. But certain corals grow alot faster under leds,maybe even 4 times faster,but they just dont have the color. Ive seen some stores grow corals under led lights,then put them in a T5 tank for coloring up(T5's are imo the best for coloring up corals), then put them on display under 20k lighting with blue led supplement. A good use of all of the lighting. I think if they can fix the leds browning out problem and make them more affordable,they will take over the lighting market(for this hobby),since they dont produce alot of heat and are easy on the electric bill.