mmouselovr April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 Anyone changed from halides to leds and wish they didnt? Not sure which route to go.
sen5241b April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 LEDS have less heat but more expensive. I recal some mentioning that the transition to LEDs changed the light and caused some corals to bleach but eventually the LEDs workd out well.
Jason Rhoads April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I like my leds, but the halides offer better coverage. I also think that some corals grew better under my halides than under my LEDs, but there are a number of factors that could be involved there.
hypertech April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I'm about to make the switch to Hydra 52s. I needed a new fixture and it seems all the nice looking ones are LED now. Oneo f the reasons I picked the Hydra is because hte LEDs are spread out into 4 "pucks" so I'm hoping it wil have better coverage and less spotlighting. I've had LED actinics for a while now and like them so I'm hoping it will go well.
mr.x-ray April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 (edited) Nope. Love the LED's. My DT is LED for over a year now and the frag tank is about to go there from 2x250w 14k Phoenix's and 4x T5's. The cost differences is made up some times in the first bulb replacement. Add up approx. what I need to spend on bulbs for a full replacement this time and add that to a new MH hood/set up. T5's every 6 months and MH's every year or less. I had one neon green birds nest bleach but it recovered in about two weeks. If you are transitioning do it slowly. Edited April 18, 2014 by mr.x-ray
Origami April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I like my LEDs, but I know other experience aquarists here (with great tanks) that have tried them but switched back. I get great coverage, but, then again, I have three 8-1/2" x 18" DIY fixtures with 66 3W LEDs in each fixture over a six foot tank.
mmouselovr April 18, 2014 Author April 18, 2014 so everyone seems to be happy with growth. I have a 6 ft tank also. it is a 220 gal. right now i have 3 250 w halides
YHSublime April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I will say that growth with LED's, although IMO comparable, is not as colorful. I have noticed that I have SPS pieces that have grown quickly, but the coloration on growth is washed out. It comes into itself once it grows that much again, but that is the only real "downside" I have ever noticed with LEDs. Like Tom mentioned, I have seen great tanks under both.
Orion April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I have seen great tanks that have been LED / Halide / or T5, but I have seen very few great tanks that were LED since the beginning. I have yet to see a TOTM on Reefcentral that has been LED only since the beginning of the tank. All of them are MH or T5 (or a combo of the two). Why are you considering switching? Bulb replacement/Cost/Heat? If things are working now, don't change it.
mmouselovr April 18, 2014 Author April 18, 2014 Its killing me in heat and water evap. Im afraid to see light bill too. I don't have anything in it really. I have a 180 and waiting on a 220 so we were told it would be better to wait on doing alot of stuff. needless to say it has taken far longer than anticipated. now im being told end of may.
Coral Hind April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I had an Oceanic 220 like yours with 3x250s over it that I switched to LED's. After a year of trying LED's I switched back to my MH. Luckily I kept the old MH fixtures. The color and growth of the corals were always lacking. LED's didn't have the coverage or penetration. Sides and bottoms of SPS really suffered. For me it was a very expensive experiment. I also had to triple my heaters in the sump and they ran all year with the LED's instead of just winter time with the MH's. So it wasn't a perfect energy saving option when you factor in the heaters.
mmouselovr April 18, 2014 Author April 18, 2014 I had an Oceanic 220 like yours with 3x250s over it that I switched to LED's. After a year of trying LED's I switched back to my MH. Luckily I kept the old MH fixtures. The color and growth of the corals were always lacking. LED's didn't have the coverage or penetration. Sides and bottoms of SPS really suffered. For me it was a very expensive experiment. I also had to triple my heaters in the sump and they ran all year with the LED's instead of just winter time with the MH's. So it wasn't a perfect energy saving option when you factor in the heaters.[/quot What leds were u using
darkcirca April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I'm about to make the switch to Hydra 52s. I needed a new fixture and it seems all the nice looking ones are LED now. Oneo f the reasons I picked the Hydra is because hte LEDs are spread out into 4 "pucks" so I'm hoping it wil have better coverage and less spotlighting. I've had LED actinics for a while now and like them so I'm hoping it will go well. We just made the switch to the Hydra (not the 52) from T5's and love it. I'm still dialing in a color I love, but it is getting there. Our T5 ballast kicked the bucket, so we decided we try out LED.
miggs76 April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I have seen great tanks that have been LED / Halide / or T5, but I have seen very few great tanks that were LED since the beginning. I have yet to see a TOTM on Reefcentral that has been LED only since the beginning of the tank. All of them are MH or T5 (or a combo of the two). Why are you considering switching? Bulb replacement/Cost/Heat? If things are working now, don't change it. Chucelli--a wamas member-- won reef central tank of the month last year. He not only uses LEDs, but he built them himself. His tank is amazing. Check it out: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/137-tank-of-the-month
OldReefer April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I am going back to halides with LED supplements on the next build. I prefer corals to silly thunderstorms.
cbashaw April 18, 2014 April 18, 2014 I just went from a 250 w halide with led actinic to all LEDs from rapid led. I love the look of LEDs they really bring the colors out and So far my corals seem to be responding well but I'm holding in to my halide until I see how it affects growth. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Orion April 19, 2014 April 19, 2014 Chucelli--a wamas member-- won reef central tank of the month last year. He not only uses LEDs, but he built them himself. His tank is amazing. Check it out: http://reefkeeping.com/joomla/index.php/current-issue/article/137-tank-of-the-month I stand corrected! Beautiful tank!
gmerek2 April 19, 2014 April 19, 2014 SPS can lack some growth during the first 6months to even a year of switching to LEDs. (A buddy told me this) but if you don't give up on them getting used to it you will see some decent growth. I have seen excellent LPS and softie growth in my own tank and the anemones love LED. If you are running a SPS only tank the halides are worth it. Mixed reef go LED.
lowsingle April 19, 2014 April 19, 2014 Vivid aquariums ran half MH and half LED in their large display tank and I could not tell the difference between the two sides..... Darren
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