Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board - Metal Halides vs. T5's vs. LED's vs. Ecofriendly Bulbs Which is better?

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- - Metal Halides vs. T5's vs. LED's vs. Ecofriendly Bulbs Which is better? (http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=94942)

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 795582)

It goes the other way as well, while many vote for T5s and Halide I would wager most of these users would prefer to run some kind of LED if it was financially feasible. On the other hand the amount of people running LEDs that would switch back are probably pretty scarce. Personally if you're a light snob like me the sols are not the right LEDs to use. I've never liked the color or effect from them and the full spectrum fixtures available today are significantly better for color. Anyone that's used them both will likely agree.

I think the financial comments make you a snob, not your choice in lights :)

I think the SOLs are great. If were making a LED purchase all over again, I would choose them again. I think they compare well to the Radion at a lot less money, and I didn't personally like the light on the Mitras. Vertex is nice, but not worth the cost for my needs.
Don't get me wrong, LED are nice, and have tons of great features that MH don't, but for pure light quality and the effects of that light on SPS corals, that I have personally viewed, MH is a superior light source. Does that make it an all around better light? No, probably not.

I'm OK with being a snob, whether it's because I use the best lights or because I tell it how it is or perhaps just the fact I make comments like this. Don't care. When you're right, you're right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sphelps (Post 795592)

I'm OK with being a snob, whether it's because I use the best lights or because I tell it how it is or perhaps just the fact I make comments like this. Don't care. When you're right, you're right.

I've been hoping to find a right person...quick question, which better, salmon or halibut? :)

which ever is fresher, obviously.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aquattro (Post 795596)

Which better, salmon or halibut? :)

The answer to that question is Bacon.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Parker (Post 795601)

The answer to that question is Bacon.

You've heard this question before, obviously!! Yes, when you're right, you're right!

I like the way LEDs make the colors pop. When I first put them over the tank I thought they looked almost artificial, all those glowing polyps! It didn't take long to get used to it. I've had a few issues with the startup of this tank, so I'm not so sure about long term health. The past 3 or 4 months has been great.

Then there's controllability, less heat, no bulb replacement cost, lower electrical cost (maybe), the shear joy of lighting my tank with something I made myself :biggrin: Not seeing the downside yet... maybe later?

My opinion with the leds atm is if your going to do it, do it yourself. There's extruded heatsinks now that don't require drilling and tapping or gluing, its cheaper, and more satisfying. Its easy to change color ratios if you want and other equipment if needed. The white and blue only fixtures are outdated. there are so many more options out there. All the sellers are good at answering questions and the builds on forums are a great help.

I'm swapping all my lights out for solar tubes! Natural sunlight baby!!
Or better yet selling everything and moving to the Caribbean build an underwater house and just enjoy.

(I'm sorry this is the worst thread ever did anyone other than Brad vote for something different than the what they are using)

OHHH and LED'S FTW!