T5HO vs LED (1 Viewer)

[breiter3]

I currently have the TEC 36" 6 Bulb T5HO fixture with geisseman bulbs (2 lagoon, 2 actinic+, 2 pure actinic) on my 65 RR tank. I've never been a huge fan of SPS sticks so I mostly stay with softies (shrooms, ricordia, Zoas), encrusting (monti, goniopora), Anemones (2 RBTA's), and LPS (hammer, frogspawn, bubble, candy cane).

I've been reasonably happy with my lighting setup but have had the fixture for about 5 years now and the next time I change my bulbs (at least 12 mo from now, change every 18 mo) I will need to replace the reflectors as they've got a bit of corrosion and discoloration due to salt creep.

My question is would the switch to LED be worth it for what I like to grow? I've been talking with Dennis at FJW about the Radions here and there trying to learn what I can. What is the expected life of the radion LEDs? I'm wondering if even if I don't necessarily need the LEDs light output if over the life of the fixture it would have a savings taking into account not having to replace bulbs (not to mention electricity).

Heat isn't a major concern of mine so that doesn't play into the equation much. The lightning and storm modes on LED's is cool, but I recognize the gimmick for what it is, so not a big influencer on my decision either.

Thanks for reading my novel!

 

[fishcraze_1]

T5 HO will grow anything. If you are trying to grow stuff I'd stick to your T5 setup. If you want colors and looks then I would go with LEDS, but I'd look at the ReefBreeders.

 

[porkchop]

I would do LED all day, any day. Just look at the guys setting up the big tanks, NONE of them are using t5 or Halides. LED is where its at, and where its going.

I would assume, that if you buy a Radion, you will get tired of it, or get out of the hobby before it NEEDS to be replaced. LEDs last a long time. Longer lasting, color adjustment, intensity adjustment, zero heat, less energy, no bulbs to replace.....why not LED.

FWIW, I have used LED, Halide, and T5, and I Hated the T5 from the moment I put them on. I currently have two Halides over my 40B and will be buying a Radion as soon as I recover from my recent home purchase.

 

[fishcraze_1]

While I agree a lot of people are using leds now, there are many more having success with T5's and or Halides. You will have ups and downs with LEDS. I am a halide guy but with several tanks I am starting to try LEDS on several tanks and maybe just for the summer. Ill see how they do. With that said I went with several of the ReefBreeders.

 

[calhounfamily]

Hello, I wanted to say I ran a 4 bulb t5ho on my dsa 90 show tank for two years never had any problems, I had better growth rate than my friend using halides for some reason. But I recently got a radion and now I am getting cyano and gha after 3 weeks of running them and corals haven't lost color with the exception of aog palys! But they don't open they they were, I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what but I've thought about pulling the good trusty t5 back put since no one wants to buy it and throw it back on

 

[breiter3]

Don't get me wrong, I really do love my T5HO setup. My main thought was that over the life of the T5HO with bulb replacements, and now the expectation of replacing the reflectors, if the LED's would cost justify themselves?

The only thing that even makes me seriously consider the LED's is the shimmer. I love it. I miss it. I wish I had it again lol. MH are out of the equation because I don't like the high energy usage and associated heat.

It would be pretty cool to have all the controllable lighting features of the LED's, but not cool enough to get me to buy a new fixture. That would just be a bonus.

 

[toefu]

i think it boils down to the shimmer. how much is the shimmer worth to you. I would personally stay with t5's considering all u are dealing with are lps and softies. t5's and halides have no resale value right now at all and led prices will continue to plummet. you'll be saving even more money when the price of led bottoms out. I still think led's can drop another 50-100 each fixture before bottoming out.

 

[calhounfamily]

I understand what you mean, I love the radion the colors and intensity and clouds to storms are very cool to have, it's just with my experience i think I should've stuck to the t5s I think my corals would be happier and I would be ok!! With the radion I'm happy as heck but the corals are not, and it's not about me it's about the health of the creatures in our home reefs and just a plus that we get to see it all grow and change. But I do have mark coming by to show me more on light ill let y'all know after he comes maybe I'm doing something wrong or got on wrong setting

 

[breiter3]

I think there's some confusion in thinking my post was questioning the merits of LED's vs T5HO... I don't need to be sold on the T5's cuz I love mine lol

I was really just curious about the real world life expectancy of LED's, specifically the radions, to see if they justify strictly on a cost basis when accounting for bulb and my reflector replacement. I won't even be considering buying anything until my bulbs are due for another replacement in 12 mo but I research things to death before committing to them lol.

 

[flexrac]

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