Cheapest lighting cost for SPS coral

chilumba · #1 08-20-2009, 03:22 AM

What is the cheapest lighting cost for a sps coral tank? Example: LED cheap to run. Metal Halide costly to run.

Ryan · #2 08-20-2009, 03:31 AM

LED is the cheapest to run and the intitial start up cost is about the same as a High end T5HO or MH fixture.

T5's will give you more play with the exact colour you want. For example if you like a bluer looks but want alot fo growth you could run 2 10K bulbs then the rest actinic or a mixture of 20K and Fiji Purples.

fkshiu · #3 08-20-2009, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chilumba

What is the cheapest lighting cost for a sps coral tank? Example: LED cheap to run. Metal Halide costly to run.

The sun

whatcaneyedo · #4 08-20-2009, 03:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

The sun

lol Good answer. Heres a thread from RC on a solar lighting system. http://reefcentral.com/forums/showth...7#post13212347

Ryan · #5 08-20-2009, 05:28 AM

Nice lighting. But at $400 per tube your not really ahead of LED.

imisky · #6 08-20-2009, 06:45 AM

you are going to get alot of opinions in this thread.

IMO if you can DIY your own LED lighting that would be the most cost effective in the long run if none of your LEDs burn out before there lifespan is up that is.

if thats not the case and your not very handy with electronics then look into MH as you only have 1 bulb to change every year or so compared to T5s which need to be changed out at 9month mark usually for the best PAR values.

Ryan · #7 08-20-2009, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imisky

you are going to get alot of opinions in this thread.

IMO if you can DIY your own LED lighting that would be the most cost effective in the long run if none of your LEDs burn out before there lifespan is up that is.

if thats not the case and your not very handy with electronics then look into MH as you only have 1 bulb to change every year or so compared to T5s which need to be changed out at 9month mark usually for the best PAR values.

Depending on the size of the T5 fixture and the amount of bulbs this is true. But what about running costs? Its going to cost alot less running say 6 T5's than it would 1 250W Metal Halide.

calgaryreefer · #8 02-07-2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

The sun

hahaha I love it!!!