LED light help

[Metrontech]

Thanks for the insight

I did research, I was trying to save money as lighting isn't cheap as we all know

I find it so complicated to understand

Watts per gallon seems to be the way to go

Mike

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Metrontech

Watts per gallon seems to be the way to go

Probably the most useless rating for choosing lights

[Metrontech]

So I just spoke with the Elive guys

I guess their HO LED POD is a 60 degree focused lens which allows for deeper light penetration

With a smaller tank like mine they didn't seem to think I would have to add too many more HO Pods to make it functional

I have an opportunity to purchase a 250W Halide lighting setup

What should I do?

LED or HALIDE?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by Metrontech

What should I do?

LED or HALIDE?

Well that's going to depend on who you ask

But personal opinion aside, what are you going to keep eventually? Where is the tank and will heat be an issue? If so, how will you deal with the heat issue? Is it a fixture or do you need to build a canopy/hood?

[Metrontech]

So it's in our basement and heat isn't an issue so far

In using a dual Ho T5 right now

I want to keep soft coral:

Leathers
Plate coral
Enenemies
GSP
Currently have Red blasto (growing successfully)
Bubble
Hammer coral

Mike

Originally Posted by Aquattro

Well that's going to depend on who you ask

But personal opinion aside, what are you going to keep eventually? Where is the tank and will heat be an issue? If so, how will you deal with the heat issue? Is it a fixture or do you need to build a canopy/hood?

[reefwars]

prob a bit extreme but your getting the right idea , on 4ft you would need 2 x halides. 250w at the most but 150w would do just fine too.

softies dont need a lot of light to survive but they will grow fast and do quite well under stronger lighting and then your also not limited to what you want to keep (your taste now could change in three years )

[Metrontech]

So you would go with Halides over the LED solution?

I think they are proven over time to be best from what I have read

Mike

Originally Posted by reefwars

prob a bit extreme but your getting the right idea , on 4ft you would need 2 x halides. 250w at the most but 150w would do just fine too.

softies dont need a lot of light to survive but they will grow fast and do quite well under stronger lighting and then your also not limited to what you want to keep (your taste now could change in three years )

[rishu_pepper]

Originally Posted by Metrontech

So it's in our basement and heat isn't an issue so far

In using a dual Ho T5 right now

I want to keep soft coral:

Leathers
Plate coral
Enenemies
GSP
Currently have Red blasto (growing successfully)
Bubble
Hammer coral

Mike

Plate, blasto, bubble, and hammers are not softies, but LPS. Anemone (if enememies ) is not a coral. HTH.

Though I've never used T5HO, I have had experiences with 150w MH and LEDs (Hydra52) and have found the LEDs to be more productive with my corals. JME, YMMV. My new build I'm going back to LEDs, this time with Ecotech Radions.

I used to try to pinch pennies in the hobby but I changed my stance eventually as I want the best for my tank's inhabitants. Not to say you can't keep a tank with a small budget, in fact many are successful with the basics. I'd rather buy once cry once though.

[jason604]

If u don't want to spend to much u can try those chinese made leds on eBay. They are super cheap(around 100-150) and can grow everything including sps. They might not thrive n best colors might not come out in sps but it's more than enough for Ur applications. Just type in 165w dimmable led fixture on ebay. Good luck!

[gobytron]

just get a 4 bulb t5 ho fixture or a couple of 150W MH.

They will grow all the coral you have listed.

I ran those lights over a 72 gallon bowfront over the course of a few years and no problems.

My preference is for a combo of T5 AND MH.

LED can be super fancy, but it's still an emerging technology (solaris anyone) and until the hobby reaches a consensus on it, I'm out.