LED vs T5 ?

[snowmansnow]

ok I've seen much to do about the MM LED fixtures here...

I've also seen several of these up for sale with less than 3 or 4 months use on them.

I AM a noob at reefing... compared to some, so heres the statement and question I raise.

"LEDS have more benefits, why go with T5"?

Being a t5 guy I could use some schooling

I'm still under the impression that LED lighting hasn't "arrived" yet to be used as a valid form of long term lighting? If I'm wrong then I'll jump on too

Help a guy out here...

are LED superior ?

 

[frantz]

I have been growing soft and hard coral under a "reef ready" marineland led fixture. The soft coral does really well and the hard coral grows. I'd imagine a better setup would work even better. They have surely arrived IMO

 

[jead85]

everything in my frag tank is doing well, I have it under a Rapid LED DIY kit with 36 leds. Everything seems very happy.

 

[frantz]

My LEDs have been used with coral over a year and like I said, softies are thriving and stony is growing. And I have a less than perfect setup. Now you can't get the cheap ones that are only for lighting, they have to be powerful enough for coral.

 

[KrisDeitz]

Ive used t5s and LEDS> I see better color with my LEDS.

But I dont see the growth.

Im tempted to even sell my MM and go MH for growth

 

[cjsparky]

I wonder...has anyone done a same tank half LED half something else to see the difference?

Edit: long term growth difference I mean...

 

[dine]

Cjsparky;764955 wrote: I wonder...has anyone done a same tank half LED half something else to see the difference?

Edit: long term growth difference I mean...

optimum has a 90 gallon set up this way. i liked the idea but their execution was lacking imo. might be worth checking out though if your interested

 

[gthockey18]

Cjsparky;764955 wrote: I wonder...has anyone done a same tank half LED half something else to see the difference?

Edit: long term growth difference I mean...

Ask and you shall receive...

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53880">http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=53880</a>

Phi did it in his tank and I can tell you he didn't have good results on the 1/3 with LED. It was a DIY light but he used cree LEDs, same as what's in most pre-built fixtures out there. Most of his coral under LED lost color and some STN'd.

In my 8-10 month experience with LEDs (AI Sol Blue is what I have now), I think MH and T5 get better growth and T5 gets WAY better color. The actinic LEDs can't be beat though. Go with a combo of T5 and LED. You get great daylight color, great actinics, great growth, plus a little shimmer.

 

[crewdawg1981]

I've had eshine units over my tank for a little over a month now and while some are still recovering from some bleaching (the LEDs were putting off crazy high PAR numbers), I'm starting to see some amazing growth.

 

[ripped tide]

Lighting is only one variable when it comes to getting good growth. Corals take a longer time to adapt to LEDs than MH/t5 do when you are adding new corals to your tank.

I've been running LEDs for over a year, and I have good color and growth. This took/takes time and balance. I have a ca reactor, run biopellets dose 5 different additives every morning and do a weekly water change usin a high end salt.

 

[porpoiseaquatics]

I was a MH/T5 guy for years. I always thought that the only way to get growth was through the MH intensity. I've changed my mind after going to LED. I eased in to it by doing one LED with T5 and after 6 months removed the T5 and put in another LED. Since going full out LED I have experienced a growth explosion of both softies and stony corals. My colors hav never been better and I ran every brand of MH bulb known to man. I've been in LED for about 8 months but haven't lost anything that can be attributed to lighting.