MH is still the real king of lights IMO

[strgazr27]

To claim LEDs cannot produce the same light is incorrect however, and to say that pics are photoshopped on led tanks is just pouring gas on a fire.

Pouring gas on the fire? The only thing more rampant on MR and other sites than FW covered frags is the ABUNDANT use of PS for images posted. REGARDLESS of the lighting used. To claim this to be untrue is either denying it happens or not being able to recognize it.

 

[bhazard451]

I just see you getting as worked up defending Chinese or "Custom" configured LED setups also...

Like I said, with a DSLR I could easily take shots that rival MH. You didn't want to see post processing or any white level balance..etc etc, so that's what leds look like on a smartphone cam. They look much different in person.

Its hard not to chime in on generalized statements from one person's experience. Your sig even says "leds suck". For you maybe, and for a lot of fixtures even, but not for all.

Multiple lighting options, choices, and progress are a good thing. MH has a multiple decade head start on leds. LEDs can keep color and grow SPS. It even colors up browned out SPS nicely. This is fact, as seen from mine and other SPS shots above. Many of those colonies started off as browned out pieces from the LFS. I didn't even know that large green colony was green when I bought it, as it was completely brown. The blue one to the right was also brown, as well as a Garf Bonsai on the other side.

Its just another way to keep a reef. You might not accept it, but it doesn't change the fact that it can be done.

 

[FastUno]

I am with ya. My first fixture was a Tek T5 6 bulb fixture. Most of my corals were not happy. I tried only running 4 out of the 6 bulbs and still not what I was seeing from everyone else with MH's.

I was jealous but worried about the heat with MH. I finally broke down & got a used one. My corals responded so well that I went all out on a fixture.

My coral growth & color just took off like WILD FIRE. All that was wrong became right & it was just like magic.

I was hunting & searching for a LED solution & thought I would bring in some LED supplements & in just 2 days 3x of my corals started slightly bleaching.

This is not even a full fledged LED sys & is one used for a 36" tank on a 48" tank. I never had to worry about lighting intensity or bleaching on my MH, it just worked.

 

[Adamc1303]

I love MH just upgraded mine to 400W radiums on M135 ballasts from a standard 250 HQI / t5 setup. However for actinic supplements LED strips are great. Reef brights and other fixtures that are sold pair very well with MH setups.

LFS store all run LED's because they aren't growing coral they are selling coral. The livestock comes in and out. Plus you can make ay coral look good under led actinic lighting. Most use cheap fixtures so cost of setup is cheaper. They have to go with LED's it's a business decision to keep energy costs down. However what do they most use on their show tanks? I have seen most go with Metal Halides especially the stores that are knows for their show tank.

 

[strgazr27]

They have to go with LED's it's a business decision to keep energy costs down. However what do they most use on their show tanks? I have seen most go with Metal Halides especially the stores that are knows for their show tank.

Bingo

 

[strgazr27]

It's not a question of "Not accepting it" its a question of seeing the proof over all the tanks I've seen in 20+ years in the FW/SW hobby as well as personal experience. With 275 posts over 4 years you have likely missed out on some of the "fun" certain members poke at each other. My sig is in reference to that. Here are a few more phone shots under MH.

 

[strgazr27]

You never answered Jaftica as to the size of your tank but here is 2 250w in lumenbrite reflectors over a 60" tank. That's only 200w more than your LEDs and half the 1000w's you say one would need.
Another thing to consider is the fact that a sometimes large portion of the "savings" from
Running LEDs is eaten up by the fact that your heaters are running more than they do on a MH lit tank. My heaters haven't run in over 3 months according to the apex.

 

[jerl77]

I think LEDs suck
Good for flashlights that's it
Mh/t5 here will never switch
JMO

 

[Adamc1303]

Pcower compacts are the way to go! lol

 

[prattreef]

Things I hate about Reef boards:

1) "Best" lighting threads
2) "Best" skimmer threads
3) "Best" vendor threads
4) "Best" anything threads

Rarely, if ever, do hyperbolic, polarizing, "best" threads lead to anything good. So many arguments could be avoided if people would just choose their words a bit more carefully and simply state their preferences and why without trashing another POV and baiting folks with differing opinions. There is no "best" in any of these things, merely preferences among many, many viable possibilities, with many variables. And most folks know this---I really don't get the need for nastiness over this stuff....

 

[Adamp_holydiver]

Here we go again with the fight for MH vs. T5 vs. LED

It's quickly getting to that just wait ....

 

[Zuska]

I like Mh/t5 combo been using it for years and never disappointed me in anyway I just upgraded to a 400wMh with 4x t5 on the side. we will see how that will do.

 

[Arati]

this thread is like spitting on a fish.

 

[beerfish]

Chocolate is better than vanilla!

The tastebud spectrum proves it, even though I don't have a clue what I'm talking about and have never tested anything on my own.

I read somewhere that chocolate is better, so it must be. It's on the interwebs.

 

[cody0709]

Vanilla is better!

 

[Moneymaks24]

My grandparents think HDTV is worse than black and white TV. Probably because HD is still a new technology and black an white has been around for a while. I love you grandma but idk bout that.

 

[beerfish]

Vanilla is better!

You're wrong. My coral grows better when I eat chocolate ice cream.

 

[strgazr27]

And into the toilet it goes....

 

[ecchybridLE]

You're wrong. My coral grows better when I eat chocolate ice cream.

lmfao!

 

[SteveZ15]

I have a mh t5 fixture on my 40b I was thinking about led because on a 90degree day my small room with the tank is like a sauna.I was looking at tanks and fixtures.I think I was wanting the blue on the led.The hot days passed and I am not bothered now..I was not gonna switch because I had a feeling I would go back to the mh.I cant knock led fixtures because I never owned one,I seen some nice tanks with great coral colors and liked the look of some set ups,but you just cant get that natural brightness mh gives.I did add a blue stunner strip and I am happy now.If I would change my light I would get the pendant type like the tank above,also the ballast is not in the fixture which is good.I would supplement the blue with led.I am not as experienced as some of the reefers here are but I think a lot has to do with the water quality vs the light especially with acros,people who really know what they are doing can grow coral with a crap light or cheaper fixture.I think we need to focus on the water rather than the fixtures just my opinion.I wish led was not so expensive I would like to try one mabe If i can get another tank ill try them.