- Location
- new jersey
T5 lights are still the way to go I have been bouncing back and forth for the last 2 yrs studying and measuring everything t5's are easier and most coral is happier over all just my thought
Lights
- Thread starter JRLBRENNAN
- Start date
- Location
- Stamford ,CT
+1!!!
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn
+1 best switch I ever made,
However I have no problem with heat and I have all six on
However I have no problem with heat and I have all six on
- Location
- Franklin Lakes, NJ
Without PAR readings and spectral output charts, this thread is basically like saying that chocolate is better than vanilla.
Until someone comes out with solid evidence that one light is best for every situation, this argument will continue. You can pick werewolf and sparkly vampire sides all day, it doesn't change the fact that it's only opinion.
Until someone comes out with solid evidence that one light is best for every situation, this argument will continue. You can pick werewolf and sparkly vampire sides all day, it doesn't change the fact that it's only opinion.
- Location
- Franklin Lakes, NJ
Oh, and I currently have MH, T5, LED, and PC lights. They're all fine for where I use them.
When u pay for the bill, make sense, to go T5 or LED, i find up the Best (for me) is Combo, 4- T5 (ATI) + LED (Evergrow IT 2080) SPS +Zooas.
I use to have my tank at work, use MH (14.000 K) LOVE it, now i have to pay , so T5 + LED.
+1
"Without PAR readings and spectral output charts, this thread is basically like saying that chocolate is better than vanilla.
Until someone comes out with solid evidence that one light is best for every situation, this argument will continue. You can pick werewolf and sparkly vampire sides all day, it doesn't change the fact that it's only opinion."
__________________
I use to have my tank at work, use MH (14.000 K) LOVE it, now i have to pay , so T5 + LED.
+1
"Without PAR readings and spectral output charts, this thread is basically like saying that chocolate is better than vanilla.
Until someone comes out with solid evidence that one light is best for every situation, this argument will continue. You can pick werewolf and sparkly vampire sides all day, it doesn't change the fact that it's only opinion."
__________________
Last edited:
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn
+1 no one wants to pay a few hundred for there own par reader that's why there no solid argument
- Location
- Queens, NY
I too look at cost, not just at the electric bill, but fixture and bulb cost over the life of lets say 5 years.
Assume all PAR is equal (and color can be customized to suit everyone individual taste be it T5 or LED).
for a 4 foot tank, A good 6-bulb T5 fixture, such as ATI costs $550
Razor LED fixture is $420 and you'd want 2 of them, comes to $840.
5 years of T5 bulbs, (6 bulbs changed every 6 months = 12 bulbs/year or 60 bulbs) or (changed every 9 months = 12 bulbs/1.5 years or 42bulbs)
Get the bulbs on sale for $15 each comes to $900 or $630
Total, T5 fixture $550 plus 42 bulbs at $630 = $1180
Total LED was $840.
Seems to make a case for LEDs right? Except do LEDs really last 5 years? I know a few people who had to replace burnt out pucks on their Ecotech Radions after a year.
I personally have moonlight LEDs on 2 of my T5 fixtures, and they don't work any more. I'm not sure if the LED burnt out, the transformer burnt out, or the salts corroded some internal component.
PS, in a quest for stretching out the life of my T5 bulbs, I have 3 tanks, the main tank gets fresh bulbs every 6 months. Then for month 6-9 I rotate them over my frag tank, which is only 12" deep, then for month 9-12 they rotate onto my quarantine tank, and finally after 12+ to the kitchen cabinet and general shelf lighting, till they burn out.
Assume all PAR is equal (and color can be customized to suit everyone individual taste be it T5 or LED).
for a 4 foot tank, A good 6-bulb T5 fixture, such as ATI costs $550
Razor LED fixture is $420 and you'd want 2 of them, comes to $840.
5 years of T5 bulbs, (6 bulbs changed every 6 months = 12 bulbs/year or 60 bulbs) or (changed every 9 months = 12 bulbs/1.5 years or 42bulbs)
Get the bulbs on sale for $15 each comes to $900 or $630
Total, T5 fixture $550 plus 42 bulbs at $630 = $1180
Total LED was $840.
Seems to make a case for LEDs right? Except do LEDs really last 5 years? I know a few people who had to replace burnt out pucks on their Ecotech Radions after a year.
I personally have moonlight LEDs on 2 of my T5 fixtures, and they don't work any more. I'm not sure if the LED burnt out, the transformer burnt out, or the salts corroded some internal component.
PS, in a quest for stretching out the life of my T5 bulbs, I have 3 tanks, the main tank gets fresh bulbs every 6 months. Then for month 6-9 I rotate them over my frag tank, which is only 12" deep, then for month 9-12 they rotate onto my quarantine tank, and finally after 12+ to the kitchen cabinet and general shelf lighting, till they burn out.
Last edited:
Is hard judge, its all about test, if u play w/PAR meter is much easy to understand.
MH
Cons. Heat,replace light bulbs,lots $ on bill, lots $ good light fix.(Hamilton Technology) u may need chiller.
Pros.No dead spots, u got light all over the tank,best grow for SPS (in my opinion)
T5
Cons. replace light bulbs,not to cheap on bill, not cheap light fix,not to strong like MH.
Pros.Nicer color than MH, less heat.
LED
Cons. reflect light , like rain, to vertical, i check 90 degr. also 120 degr. same , not cover like T5 or MH, u need more than one fix., change the real color, to many brands,large confusion.
Pros. Some guys love the Disco color, great for LPS, no heat, very Dimmable.
MH
Cons. Heat,replace light bulbs,lots $ on bill, lots $ good light fix.(Hamilton Technology) u may need chiller.
Pros.No dead spots, u got light all over the tank,best grow for SPS (in my opinion)
T5
Cons. replace light bulbs,not to cheap on bill, not cheap light fix,not to strong like MH.
Pros.Nicer color than MH, less heat.
LED
Cons. reflect light , like rain, to vertical, i check 90 degr. also 120 degr. same , not cover like T5 or MH, u need more than one fix., change the real color, to many brands,large confusion.
Pros. Some guys love the Disco color, great for LPS, no heat, very Dimmable.
- Location
- Greenpoint Brooklyn
Sponsor Reefs
We're a FREE website, and we exist because of hobbyists like YOU who help us run this community.
Click here to sponsor $10:
