Metal Halides vs. T5's vs. LED's vs. Ecofriendly Bulbs Which is better?

[kien]

Originally Posted by JDigital

I've got MH over one tank and LEDs over the other.

I've had ALWAYS used MH over my tanks up until I picked up the Mitra. I'm currently struggling to like my MH setup (no T5 supp.) purely due to the heat issues and the need for supplementation (it's just more cables, more cost, more bulb replacements, more more more).

On the other hand, I really like the Mitra. While the initial investment is higher typically, the controllable light spectrums, next to zero heat, compact size, etc have been worth it so far. I'm still trying to find the light spectrum that I want to run as the possibilities are endless. I can't however say much with regards to how coral looks under them in the long run. I have had so many issues with keeping SPS alive in my tank for unknown reasons. I can say that while the SPS I did have looked great in the short term under LEDs the pieces STN'd on me so can't say anything about long term.

I would really like to bring my Mitra to work and do a side by side comparison of my 15K MH next to a 15K Mitra and see which side of the tank looks/grows/colors better. (This is doable seeing as I have only a few measly looking zoa frags at home right now).


I have also considered recently about going full T5's on the MH tank. A few of my favorite tanks out there are T5 only tanks and they all grow/look great!

Personally, I would (and I do) recommend that any new setups just go straight to LEDs. Unless you're a die hard MH or T5 fan, LEDs should do you fine. I've seen lots of nice SPS and mixed reefs under various LEDs. I don't remember exactly, but with your office tank, didn't your boss already have MH fixtures for you to use?

[JDigital]

Originally Posted by kien

Personally, I would (and I do) recommend that any new setups just go straight to LEDs. Unless you're a die hard MH or T5 fan, LEDs should do you fine. I've seen lots of nice SPS and mixed reefs under various LEDs. I don't remember exactly, but with your office tank, didn't your boss already have MH fixtures for you to use?

Yea, Fresh Water LEDs..

These ones to be exact. No where near capable of lighting a reef tank 30" deep. I'm actually using one of them as a Sump light. (not refuge, just sump illumination)

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...id=23688&r=518

[smokinreefer]

people visually see colors different than one another, so every bodies opinions will be just that. an opinion of what they think looks best.

to say if finances weren't an issue, that everyone would want to run LEDs is simply funny to me. (to a point)

if finances weren't an issue, I would definitely use halides. having the money to not have to bat an eye on costs of bulb replacement, dealing with the extra heat, HRV/AC, extra electricity. i'm all for it!

having said that, if money were no issue, i'd probably run a ton of LEDs as supplements for my halides, maybe.

I use LEDs at my place right now, simply because my old house heats up so easily when the sun is out, I'm simply doing my best to keep the house more comfortable for my family. and not necessarily what I think looks nicest over my tank. albeit i'm not using high end fixtures.

when I recover from surgery, i'll be upgrading my 24G to a 65G and i'm leaning towards T5s. I haven't used them myself yet, but from what I've seen i'm ipressed. (except no shimmer!) so I might add a LED bar just to supplement. if I have the $$$

I still run halides at my Dads place, but I don't pay those bills!

[ponokareefer]

I switched from a MH/PC combo to DIY LED's from modularled, and love it. The initial cost was a little high, but I'm going into my 2nd year and I love the fact that I haven't had to spend money to switch my lights out for a long time. Next year, I break even on the initial cost on the savings from not having to replace bulbs and energy savings.
Heat used to be an issue in the summer for me as well, but for the 2nd straight summer, it isn't. On top of that, my corals have been growing crazy, and my RBTA's bubbled up ever since I switched to LED's. As for color, I have dimmer's, so I can adjust however I want them to be, and could set up the system however I wanted it to be.

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by smokinreefer

if finances weren't an issue, I would definitely use halides.

Absolutely!