Are HQI and T5s dead

ninjamini · 06/08/2012, 03:34 PM

With LEDs looking so promising is my MH and t5 combo old fashioned? Should I go led???

Donkeykong · 06/08/2012, 03:37 PM

NO, I run LED's and I will still tell you that the Metal Halide and T5's will be around for a long time. Not only will LED's be a while before they will be developed enough and in the right price range for most, but even then there is a general look that halides give that many will fight to not lose.

Jeff_NJ · 06/08/2012, 04:29 PM

My new build is T5 with just a bit of LED for the shimmer and some extra PAR.

I have a smaller tank on 100% LED and I am not a huge fan of the color I get out of the corals. I always just feel like something is missing. I also cooked quite a few of my low light corals and I can't make acan's happy, even on the sand bed and partially shaded. *shrug*

Those Radions don't look too bad... but they are $$. I've seen some coloration look better under LED than MH or T5. But in my opinion, the majority looks better under MH or T5.

grigsy · 06/08/2012, 07:00 PM

Nope. Definitely not.

I have run LEDs, T5 HO, PC, T12 and Metal Halides.

My order of preference;

1. Metal Halides
2. T5 HO (with a good reflector)
3. LEDs

I ran an AI Sol on my tank for 8 months next to a good pendant with PHX HQI and by far, the better results for growth was from the metal halide side.

moondoggy4 · 06/09/2012, 10:19 AM

I just bought a used Giesemann Infinity 150 watt 4 X24 and I live in a high elec. state. MH and T-5's are proven to be reliable.

nanoreefer1000 · 06/09/2012, 10:23 AM

I'm not a fan of halides, I like the most compact and energy saving lights ( T5HO or LED's)

karsseboom · 06/09/2012, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanoreefer1000

I'm not a fan of halides, I like the most compact and energy saving lights ( T5HO or LED's)

Do you like the lights that grow your corals the best?

Saltwatercoral2 · 06/09/2012, 11:03 AM

t5's grow coral just as well as halides do.

bongarone · 06/09/2012, 03:34 PM

Any LED fixture available on the market today will be obsolete by the time T5s and MHs go obsolete. So take your pick.

Dustin1300 · 06/09/2012, 05:31 PM

One of those threads that no one is going to win

I'm building a 600 DT and if it was not for the electricity/heat off 400 watt halides, I'd stay with halides. Unfortunately, MHs are not practical....I plan to use LEDs and possibly supplement with T5s to help bring the color out in fish more.

I quickly found out how much MH fixture prices have tanked when I sold a nice Reef Illumination fixture I paid $1200 for $300 last week. Fixture had only been used about 6 months on my previous system. Took me over a month to find a buyer and gave up on RC forums, local club, and CL. eBay was the winner

James77 · 06/09/2012, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ninjamini

With LEDs looking so promising is my MH and t5 combo old fashioned? Should I go led???

Would doing so save any sort of substantial money? Are you having heat problems? Just becuase they are no the latests and greatest, halides especially and T5s are some of the most proven lighting there is. I have had zero issues growing any coral under them.

LEDs are all the rage right now, just as T5s were all the rage 5-ish years ago. T5s eventually settled down and took their place in the market. IMO purchasing one of these LED fixtures nowadays will have that fixture obsoloet, lacking parts and service in a short couple years. T5 equipment and halide equipment is all but universal and can be found cheaply. Unless you are going to save a bunch of money through electric and heating problems, if it aint broke dont fix it.

James77 · 06/09/2012, 06:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dustin1300

I quickly found out how much MH fixture prices have tanked when I sold a nice Reef Illumination fixture I paid $1200 for $300 last week. Fixture had only been used about 6 months on my previous system. Took me over a month to find a buyer and gave up on RC forums, local club, and CL. eBay was the winner

I love the used prices on the halide equipment, it made switching back to halides from LEDs all that much cheaper for me. Great time for someone starting a new tank. I just got a killer deal- a SLS Blue Wave dual 150 ballast, 2 lki new LumenMax 3 reflectors, and newer Phoenix bulbs for $200 shipped. Not bad.

James77 · 06/09/2012, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grigsy

Nope. Definitely not.

I have run LEDs, T5 HO, PC, T12 and Metal Halides.

My order of preference;

1. Metal Halides
2. T5 HO (with a good reflector)
3. LEDs

I ran an AI Sol on my tank for 8 months next to a good pendant with PHX HQI and by far, the better results for growth was from the metal halide side.

+1 on this. Although I tend not to like the lack of shimmer on the T5s, they do produce some fantastic coloration.

I was at my LFS today where he is still running an AI Sol Blue, it looked so blah. Last I had checked, he was anticipating switching all his corals lighting to them to save money. That has not happened, I'll ask him why next time I am there.

Mmiller40gt · 06/09/2012, 08:30 PM

Prices are great on T5 and halide fixtures and it's the best lighting you can find. Yes there is heat and electric consumption. But if you want look and growth nothing comes close

TimeConsumer · 06/09/2012, 08:32 PM

Dead? No.
Dying? Yes.

Mmiller40gt · 06/09/2012, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TimeConsumer

Dead? No.
Dying? Yes.

I disagree. They are not then newest fad at the moment but many are going back to the tried and true. Let me know in 2 years

James77 · 06/09/2012, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mmiller40gt

many are going back to the tried and true.

I have seen a significant amount that have done exactly this......

Purple Rocks · 06/10/2012, 04:44 PM

yep ask anyone who grows indoors, Hell look at any indoor hydroponic tomato, pepper,cucumber greenhouse. We laugh at led's! Blahahahahaha poop!

Indoor Comercial agriculture has been around for decades you would be hard press to find indoor gardens sporting leds, with all the science and energy savings you think they would be growing hectares of tomatoes with leds but instead use halides. Go's to show you the pros know what works best, leds have a long way to go still.

IMHO.

grigsy · 06/10/2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James77

I just got a killer deal- a SLS Blue Wave dual 150 ballast, 2 lki new LumenMax 3 reflectors, and newer Phoenix bulbs for $200 shipped. Not bad.

That is an INCREDIBLE good deal you got. $200 shipped for that!! Sweet.

chrisneill1987 · 06/10/2012, 08:56 PM

i had leds and then i changed to a power modual all i can say is wow t5 all the way growth exploded and colour is 100% better tanks looks more healthy in general

JAustin · 06/10/2012, 09:18 PM

I used LEDs over my old 120g....i have since gone back to MH and T-5 combination.

Don't get me worng. I love LEDs....I just love MH more.

nanoreefer1000 · 06/10/2012, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by karsseboom

Do you like the lights that grow your corals the best?

Yes, I didn't say Halides were bad I said I'm not a fan of them because they consume so much energy. Just my opinion and I'm fine if you a different opinion.
P.S. It hasn't been proven that halides grow coral the best.

Mmiller40gt · 06/10/2012, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nanoreefer1000

Yes, I didn't say Halides were bad I said I'm not a fan of them because they consume so much energy. Just my opinion and I'm fine if you a different opinion.
P.S. It hasn't been proven that halides grow coral the best.

PAR = growth. Most everyone will agree 6500k Iwasaki bulbs allow coral the best growth. But the color Is gross. It going to be hard to ever prove one type is better than the next. Guess you could put a led directly over a colony that's just under the water and say it has the best growth. It's all about the most light in the best spectrum. Even doing a direct comparison in the same tank will have flow variances.

alton · 06/11/2012, 06:21 AM

I am using 3 x 250 watt MH Luminbrite reflectors on my 300DD and growing SPS on the sand. If I was using LED or T5HO tell me how you could do that with only 750 watts and $900? Oh and by the way two of the three Radium lamps are 16 months old and still going, the third was replaced at 12 months. Yes I use T5HO and led on smaller tanks, but on big tanks MH is still number one.

06/08/2012, 03:34 PM	#1
ninjamini Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Davie, FL Posts: 2,306	Are HQI and T5s dead With LEDs looking so promising is my MH and t5 combo old fashioned? Should I go led???

06/08/2012, 04:29 PM	#3
Jeff_NJ Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 139	My new build is T5 with just a bit of LED for the shimmer and some extra PAR. I have a smaller tank on 100% LED and I am not a huge fan of the color I get out of the corals. I always just feel like something is missing. I also cooked quite a few of my low light corals and I can't make acan's happy, even on the sand bed and partially shaded. shrug Those Radions don't look too bad... but they are $$. I've seen some coloration look better under LED than MH or T5. But in my opinion, the majority looks better under MH or T5. __________________ \| 150G 48x24x30 \| 8 Bulb T5 LET Retrofit with 24 RB LEDs \| (2) Tunze 6105 \| SRO-2000XP Skimmer \| Eheim 1262 Return \| Carbon & GFO reactors \| Geo Kalk Stirrer \| All controlled by APEX - Upgraded tank running since 11/2012!

06/09/2012, 05:31 PM	#10
Dustin1300 Reefaholic Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Carmel, IN Posts: 5,135	One of those threads that no one is going to win I'm building a 600 DT and if it was not for the electricity/heat off 400 watt halides, I'd stay with halides. Unfortunately, MHs are not practical....I plan to use LEDs and possibly supplement with T5s to help bring the color out in fish more. I quickly found out how much MH fixture prices have tanked when I sold a nice Reef Illumination fixture I paid $1200 for $300 last week. Fixture had only been used about 6 months on my previous system. Took me over a month to find a buyer and gave up on RC forums, local club, and CL. eBay was the winner __________________ INDMAS President Check out my tank in the Large Tank Forums, "A Reefaholic's 1000+ Gallon Mixed Reef System Build"! Current Tank Info: 600 Gallon DT, 140 Gallon Grow Out Tank, 125 Gallon Sump, 90 Gallon Fuge, 200 Gallon Fish QT, 15 Gallon Frag QT

06/09/2012, 08:32 PM	#15
TimeConsumer Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 1,919	Dead? No. Dying? Yes. __________________ Steve - Retired from reefing, for now.

06/10/2012, 04:44 PM	#18
Purple Rocks Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ottawa, Canada Posts: 81	yep ask anyone who grows indoors, Hell look at any indoor hydroponic tomato, pepper,cucumber greenhouse. We laugh at led's! Blahahahahaha poop! Indoor Comercial agriculture has been around for decades you would be hard press to find indoor gardens sporting leds, with all the science and energy savings you think they would be growing hectares of tomatoes with leds but instead use halides. Go's to show you the pros know what works best, leds have a long way to go still. IMHO. __________________ 180g Oceanic Mixed Reef, 4" DSB,180lbs rock 20g Sump, 60lbs shell - 75g refugium, 5" DSB 2 x 400w Sunpulse 10k running on Lumatek ballasts. & Growing bud the size of your forearm since 1999.

06/08/2012, 03:37 PM	#2
Donkeykong Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Grover Beach CA Posts: 1,847	NO, I run LED's and I will still tell you that the Metal Halide and T5's will be around for a long time. Not only will LED's be a while before they will be developed enough and in the right price range for most, but even then there is a general look that halides give that many will fight to not lose.

06/08/2012, 07:00 PM	#4
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	Nope. Definitely not. I have run LEDs, T5 HO, PC, T12 and Metal Halides. My order of preference; 1. Metal Halides 2. T5 HO (with a good reflector) 3. LEDs I ran an AI Sol on my tank for 8 months next to a good pendant with PHX HQI and by far, the better results for growth was from the metal halide side.

06/09/2012, 10:19 AM	#5
moondoggy4 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: menifee So cal Posts: 11,042	I just bought a used Giesemann Infinity 150 watt 4 X24 and I live in a high elec. state. MH and T-5's are proven to be reliable.

06/09/2012, 10:23 AM	#6
nanoreefer1000 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Bay Area,CA Posts: 1,040	I'm not a fan of halides, I like the most compact and energy saving lights ( T5HO or LED's)

06/09/2012, 11:03 AM	#8
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	t5's grow coral just as well as halides do.

06/09/2012, 03:34 PM	#9
bongarone Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: California Posts: 423	Any LED fixture available on the market today will be obsolete by the time T5s and MHs go obsolete. So take your pick.

06/09/2012, 08:30 PM	#14
Mmiller40gt arrogant reefer Join Date: May 2012 Location: N Texas Posts: 687	Prices are great on T5 and halide fixtures and it's the best lighting you can find. Yes there is heat and electric consumption. But if you want look and growth nothing comes close

06/10/2012, 08:56 PM	#20
chrisneill1987 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2011 Posts: 123	i had leds and then i changed to a power modual all i can say is wow t5 all the way growth exploded and colour is 100% better tanks looks more healthy in general

06/10/2012, 09:18 PM	#21
JAustin Acropora Nut Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Oklahoma City Posts: 1,628	I used LEDs over my old 120g....i have since gone back to MH and T-5 combination. Don't get me worng. I love LEDs....I just love MH more. __________________ 211g Planet Aquariums Hybrid PVC bottom 48"x34"x30" and steel stand from CustomReefCreations - Reeflo Super Dart - OM 4way - SRO XP3000 External - ATI Dimmable 8x54w - Apex.

06/11/2012, 06:21 AM	#24
alton Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Zuehl, Texas Posts: 4,460	I am using 3 x 250 watt MH Luminbrite reflectors on my 300DD and growing SPS on the sand. If I was using LED or T5HO tell me how you could do that with only 750 watts and $900? Oh and by the way two of the three Radium lamps are 16 months old and still going, the third was replaced at 12 months. Yes I use T5HO and led on smaller tanks, but on big tanks MH is still number one.