Am I the only reefer still running metal halides ??

[E.intheC]

Really, what we can take from this thread (and TONS of others) is that all lighting methods have been proven to work, but it's really up to the individual what type of lighting to choose.

Just like you can decide on the skimmer you use, the power heads, livestock, etc. it's up to YOU.

My piece of advice- dont get sucked in to the hype.... Of ANY lighting system. RESEARCH and know what you're talking about. Know the ACTUAL positives and negatives of each system before you make the choice. You're not going to single handedly save the world of its energy consumption because you switched from MH to LEDs, and you won't kill your tank and have brown/grey corals if you use LEDs on their own.

Also, lets chill out with the hostility... Who cares if someone else uses LEDs? Or MHs? It doesn't matter one bit to me which lighting you use. Why should it matter to anyone else?

 

[jaa1456]

I agree with you 100%

 

[brunoboarder2444]

Really, what we can take from this thread (and TONS of others) is that all lighting methods have been proven to work, but it's really up to the individual what type of lighting to choose.

Just like you can decide on the skimmer you use, the power heads, livestock, etc. it's up to YOU.

My piece of advice- dont get sucked in to the hype.... Of ANY lighting system. RESEARCH and know what you're talking about. Know the ACTUAL positives and negatives of each system before you make the choice. You're not going to single handedly save the world of its energy consumption because you switched from MH to LEDs, and you won't kill your tank and have brown/grey corals if you use LEDs on their own.

Also, lets chill out with the hostility... Who cares if someone else uses LEDs? Or MHs? It doesn't matter one bit to me which lighting you use. Why should it matter to anyone else?

very well put

 

[Dre]

mabe some where in the middle I want growth but still have a blue tint.Im looking in toi getting a fixture but I dont have experience like some you you guys have.I want to get the right fixture IM not sure if the 2-150 or the 250 mh is better I dont want to fry the corals either.I would like to have the light focused on growth I figure it is best for the coral,I would assume if they are growing the the tank is at its best.IF I can have that and some blue tint what would you reccomend?This is my first reef tank But my goal is to have the corals grow as I work my way up to sps ,this way I atleast know I can create a stable environment for them,if they are growin im doing something right.

I can give you a two 175 watt MH fixture i was about to toss out. You may need to change the bulbs though. 10,000K -12,000K is good for growth and an actinic 96watt will give you the blue hue...

 

[dubs]

E well said but if ur talking about my comment to kres or anyone else and u find it rude its not suppose to be in any way the people I respond to like that are my friends and they know that and this thread seems to be taken in a wrong way its not a compition thread its simply a thread put to see if the some of the old time reefer are still out there running mh or they all throw in the towel and converted to LEDs ... A lot of my friends running LEDs so bi don't have a problem with them to be honest it cool to see how the corals look different in there tanks vs mine but as far as my own tank I like mh

 

[E.intheC]

E well said but if ur talking about my comment to kres or anyone else and u find it rude its not suppose to be in any way the people I respond to like that are my friends and they know that and this thread seems to be taken in a wrong way its not a compition thread its simply a thread put to see if the some of the old time reefer are still out there running mh or they all throw in the towel and converted to LEDs ... A lot of my friends running LEDs so bi don't have a problem with them to be honest it cool to see how the corals look different in there tanks vs mine but as far as my own tank I like mh

I wasn't talking about anyone in particular dubs. I haven't seen anything remotely resembling hostility in your posts about the subject. It's really the people on each side who take it to the absolute extreme that I was talking about. (And they're not even making me mad :lol2

FWIW-- in general, this thread has been helpful overall. It shows there are still people out there who aren't running LEDs and are happy with their choices.

 

[tomtoothdoc]

well said e. about the lighting system. even though i haven't really been reefing that long compare to many old-timers (~7 yrs. or so), i do consider myself old-school. i've gone through all sorts of equipment. many are trial and error....what you have read online or taken advice from others may or may not work for you.

as far as lighting, i have used from t12's to power compacts to vho's to t5's to mh's+t5's to mh+t5's+led's to mh's+vho's+led's to all led's. i still use most of them (with the exception of the t12's) albeit different light for different purpose....like i still have my power compacts on the qt tank. i have the t5's on my macro tank and man the colors i get on it, jerl77 would be jealous....j/k.

many lighting decisions were made based on various factors, be it colors, growth, configuration on what fits or don't look intrusive, cost, availability, etc. we all have different priorities thus inevitably will make different decisions on what lighting works for that situation at that time. most of us want to try the next "holy grail" of reefing equipment. so we do the research on line, in person, read these threads and eventually make our decisions. whether it'll work or not, we'll never know if we don't try.

i'm switching to all leds on all my tanks except for the algae tank......i just love the colors from the t5's......lol. i'm keeping the t5's on it because it fits in that location and i still have 2 sets of new bulbs.

 

[SteveZ15]

I can give you a two 175 watt MH fixture i was about to toss out. You may need to change the bulbs though. 10,000K -12,000K is good for growth and an actinic 96watt will give you the blue hue...

Thankyou if you tossing it any way ill take it,that would be great I have no lighting yet so that would help alot I can see what i like and dont about that type of lights.

 

[Tonyscoots84]

Really, what we can take from this thread (and TONS of others) is that all lighting methods have been proven to work, but it's really up to the individual what type of lighting to choose.

Just like you can decide on the skimmer you use, the power heads, livestock, etc. it's up to YOU.

My piece of advice- dont get sucked in to the hype.... Of ANY lighting system. RESEARCH and know what you're talking about. Know the ACTUAL positives and negatives of each system before you make the choice. You're not going to single handedly save the world of its energy consumption because you switched from MH to LEDs, and you won't kill your tank and have brown/grey corals if you use LEDs on their own.

Also, lets chill out with the hostility... Who cares if someone else uses LEDs? Or MHs? It doesn't matter one bit to me which lighting you use. Why should it matter to anyone else?

I was gonna say from on the 2nd post of this thread who caressssss lmao

 

[Durk]

I run 3 x 250 wat metal halides and never tried LEDs .......

Expensive to run...no doubt, but they look great

 

[ducati335i]

I had to move all of my chalices into my other tank with T5's. the LEDs were always at 30% and would bleach them on a 24" tank and 12" above the water. All of my softies and zoas stayed closed any lps never fully opened and the SPS started to bleach as well. Anything under 30% and the lps were ok along with the zoas, softies still closed up and SPS started to brown. This was over a year with LEDs on that tank. Throw the T5's back on and 2 weeks later the tank looks good again. That tank is now gone and the new one is up,and running but not stocked yet. I will post pics soon.

Your SOS browned? What led were u running? Mine better not do that!

 

[jaa1456]

It browned on all 3 I used, the AI sols, Radions and the maxspect Razor. I gave them all plenty of time on the tanks.

 

[lcj2046]

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature2

 

[lcj2046]

Great points from some of you guys. Some missed points as well. mh and t5's are great for you guys not paying electric. I have been running them your over 17 years.Was changing bulb every six months in the earlier years to doubled ended came to the hobby.Some people then said those wouldn't work as well as t5's. Now this thread asked "How many people are using them" All i see are some members bashing led the shimmer no good... the world is flat.lol Corals don't like sudden change. Stability is key. Acclimate your leds they work!!

 

[lcj2046]

Please read the above link.

 

[lcj2046]

Far as taking picture with leds you need to use a UV lens or change the color spectrum in settings point and shoot cameras don't work.Good luck to all.Happy Reefing!!

 

[E.intheC]

The above link mentions a comparison test that was done with outdated LEDs. It was relevant when it was published (2010) but it's not as relevant now. (This statement is a positive one for LEDs, as they've improved since then).

Further, the "conclusions" this article come to say, essentially: "LEDs have sufficient light output to grow and sustain corals". ....Not many people are arguing that point, especially in 2013. I'm certainly not. It doesn't have much purpose in this thread either, IMO. I'm not the thread creator, but it looks like Dubs is trying to hear from people who still have Metal Halides.

 

[dubs]

E that exactly my point this thread was not a compitition thread its was to see if there are still old school reefer running similar light like my self but the led fanatics always feel that the light over there tank was created by god him self

 

[DCG1286]

Still 'old school' with my 250W MH.

I tried the AI's about a year and a half ago. Not bad. Still not the look of MH, but that's ok.
I am open to trying LED's again however. Maybe in the near future.

 

[Hecdr34]

Running a 250w mh with 4 x t5's and I'm adding a 24" blue ReefBrite soon. My MH's give me the growth, t5s give me the color and the ReefBrite will give me the pop