T5 or Led? 46 bow front

golferbud101691 · 09/05/2014, 12:08 PM

Can anyone give me some experience they have had with t5's or led's on a 46 bow front? Not sure what I'm going to go with yet. I am wanting to grow sps, but the prices obviously are higher for those intense lights. Does anyone have any good recommendations? 36" long tank.

Hentz · 09/05/2014, 12:36 PM

This literally comes down to personal preference. Each genre of lighting is proven to produce growth of corals.

Do you mind replacing bulbs?
Do you want to keep heat to a minimum?
Do you are about controllability?

These are just BASIC questions to ask yourself.

I haven't had a '46 Bowfront' though I did just recently switch to LED from T5. Did I mind replacing bulbs? No. I did miss the controllability I had before though. I wanted to always see my tank. I couldn't do that late at night since my T5 unit didn't have moon lights.

I'm happy with LED's. Very happy. Though would love to have a T5/LED Combo.

What's your budget?
Prices are clearly higher for my "intense" lighting. But we cannot give you options without info like above since we don't know what you're willing to spend.

golferbud101691 · 09/05/2014, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hentz

This literally comes down to personal preference. Each genre of lighting is proven to produce growth of corals.

Do you mind replacing bulbs?
Do you want to keep heat to a minimum?
Do you are about controllability?

These are just BASIC questions to ask yourself.

I haven't had a '46 Bowfront' though I did just recently switch to LED from T5. Did I mind replacing bulbs? No. I did miss the controllability I had before though. I wanted to always see my tank. I couldn't do that late at night since my T5 unit didn't have moon lights.

I'm happy with LED's. Very happy. Though would love to have a T5/LED Combo.

What's your budget?
Prices are clearly higher for my "intense" lighting. But we cannot give you options without info like above since we don't know what you're willing to spend.

I really don't want to spend more than 250. Which model do you have? It doesn't have to grow sps, but it would be nice.

Pete1399 · 09/05/2014, 11:36 PM

For $250 you would have to buy LED's used or a DIY. Dont go cheap with LEDs though (no 1w chinese). I did two DIY LED fixtures on 16" heatsinks with 24 3w CREEs on each. It lights up my 48" 75g very well. They have been on there for 2 years. SPS, Anemone, LPS, softies....they are all happy and growing. For a 36" tank you could get away with 30-36 LEDs between 2 12" heat sinks and you will be fine. BTW i came from a 6 bulb T5 fixture, I like the LEDs much better.

FirstContact · 09/06/2014, 08:55 AM

Have a bow front and used to run T5s. Solely for the choices listed above, I would not go back to T5. If you go T5 assuming you don't have a fixture there's cost there too. There's also huge differences in reflectors, number of bulbs, bulb types and bulb manufacturers. This doesn't even mention quality or the fact that changing bulbs regularly can be more costly if you are on a regimen. Heat was never an issue for me with T5s. Not that this would be your choice, but you could postpone the decision and save some more dough until you can get what you want for your purposes instead of what you can afford. I remember purchasing the best I could afford on a skimmer in 2006, RedSeaBerlin hang on. I worked it and modded it for years, but I am so glad to be rid of it when I did. Also, many T5 designs sit right on top of the tank and block the top surface. It just kind of ruins the experience.

Whatever your decision, good luck and Happy Reefing!

reepher315 · 09/06/2014, 09:14 AM

There are alot of options for that size and price range in the LED market. I got 2 of the debated "chinese led's". I went for the 165 watt got 2 for my 90g for under 200 bucks. They also have a 120w fixture. Love em

09/05/2014, 12:08 PM	#1
golferbud101691 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: NC Posts: 310	T5 or Led? 46 bow front Can anyone give me some experience they have had with t5's or led's on a 46 bow front? Not sure what I'm going to go with yet. I am wanting to grow sps, but the prices obviously are higher for those intense lights. Does anyone have any good recommendations? 36" long tank.

09/05/2014, 12:36 PM	#2
Hentz Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada Posts: 2,016	This literally comes down to personal preference. Each genre of lighting is proven to produce growth of corals. Do you mind replacing bulbs? Do you want to keep heat to a minimum? Do you are about controllability? These are just BASIC questions to ask yourself. I haven't had a '46 Bowfront' though I did just recently switch to LED from T5. Did I mind replacing bulbs? No. I did miss the controllability I had before though. I wanted to always see my tank. I couldn't do that late at night since my T5 unit didn't have moon lights. I'm happy with LED's. Very happy. Though would love to have a T5/LED Combo. What's your budget? Prices are clearly higher for my "intense" lighting. But we cannot give you options without info like above since we don't know what you're willing to spend. __________________ A Reef in the Desert: 120 Gallon (4x2x2) - MP40 x2 - Gyre 130 - ATI Sunpower - Simplicity Pump/Skimmer - Controlled by Apex

09/05/2014, 11:36 PM	#4
Pete1399 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Im right here Posts: 369	For $250 you would have to buy LED's used or a DIY. Dont go cheap with LEDs though (no 1w chinese). I did two DIY LED fixtures on 16" heatsinks with 24 3w CREEs on each. It lights up my 48" 75g very well. They have been on there for 2 years. SPS, Anemone, LPS, softies....they are all happy and growing. For a 36" tank you could get away with 30-36 LEDs between 2 12" heat sinks and you will be fine. BTW i came from a 6 bulb T5 fixture, I like the LEDs much better. __________________ Pete Current Tank Info: 75g, CSS220 Skimmer, DIY CREE LEDs, DIY Canopy, DIY Stand, 29g sump/fuge, Tunze nanostreams

09/06/2014, 08:55 AM	#5
FirstContact Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Glenn Dale, MD Posts: 1,613	Have a bow front and used to run T5s. Solely for the choices listed above, I would not go back to T5. If you go T5 assuming you don't have a fixture there's cost there too. There's also huge differences in reflectors, number of bulbs, bulb types and bulb manufacturers. This doesn't even mention quality or the fact that changing bulbs regularly can be more costly if you are on a regimen. Heat was never an issue for me with T5s. Not that this would be your choice, but you could postpone the decision and save some more dough until you can get what you want for your purposes instead of what you can afford. I remember purchasing the best I could afford on a skimmer in 2006, RedSeaBerlin hang on. I worked it and modded it for years, but I am so glad to be rid of it when I did. Also, many T5 designs sit right on top of the tank and block the top surface. It just kind of ruins the experience. Whatever your decision, good luck and Happy Reefing! __________________ No man is an island entire of itself; any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee. John Donne Current Tank Info: 120g Reef 100g Rubbermaid Sump, 20g Refugium; previous tank: 46g Drilled; Self Plumbed, Birds Nest, Anchor, Xenia, Zoas, Yuma Yuma Ricordea, Chalice, Mushrooms, Brain, Acan, Anenome Plate; Clams, Other Inverts, Fish, Live Rock

09/06/2014, 09:14 AM	#6
reepher315 Humble Student Join Date: May 2014 Location: Geneva, NY Posts: 816	There are alot of options for that size and price range in the LED market. I got 2 of the debated "chinese led's". I went for the 165 watt got 2 for my 90g for under 200 bucks. They also have a 120w fixture. Love em __________________ 90g mixed reef 55g sump/refugium