metal halides vs led lights

angel

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Hi guys some of you seen my tank is all sps and some lps and I like to switch to led lights I'm been running 3 250 metal halides for 3 years now what is the chance to loose anything or how my corals going to react to the change please let me know my tank is 125 gallon 6 feet long.
Thank you
 
Not that you can't run an sps tank with LEDs... Transitioning a 3 year old tank though might not be easy. You'll probably experience some loss along the way just due to the acclimation process.
 
I am new at this, but Mike Paletta who has been doing this for 30'years advices against leds. He made an experiment and he still likes better MH. Here is a link to the experiment and the results after 8 months.
<div class="gc_ifarem_title">Mike Paletta Starting a Reef Tank - LED Experiment I - Saltwater Tank ReefKeeping Video - YouTube</div>



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If you have patience, I think the following is your best bet.
1. I would suggest going to dual light cycles. 6 on 6 off for three months.
2. Then find a way to add your Leds with your halides. Run one of the 6 hour light cycles with only MH and one with only Leds. Do that for 6 months.
3.Then each month decrease you MH by one hour replacing it with an hour of Led until you're totally Led.
4. Keep your dual light cycles until you feel a total adjustment has been made and go back to one cycle if you like.
 
Seth The Wine Guy;971605 wrote: If you have patience, I think the following is your best bet.
1. I would suggest going to dual light cycles. 6 on 6 off for three months.
2. Then find a way to add your Leds with your halides. Run one of the 6 hour light cycles with only MH and one with only Leds. Do that for 6 months.
3.Then each month decrease you MH by one hour replacing it with an hour of Led until you're totally Led.
4. Keep your dual light cycles until you feel a total adjustment has been made and go back to one cycle if you like.

I did this and it works. Only thing is, some corals will change color completely. Some for the better, some for the worse. Also, fish look better under halides IMO.
 
I see a lot of people using led lights and good results bat for some reason I like the grow and color in my tank I yes wish they wore not that big but I think I'm going to stick with what I have.
 
angel;971702 wrote: I see a lot of people using led lights and good results bat for some reason I like the grow and color in my tank I yes wish they wore not that big but I think I'm going to stick with what I have.

:up: Knowing you like your acros, you'll be glad.
 
I just switched mine and everything seems fine. Went from 400w radium to kessil a350.
No SPS though.
 
Seth, didn't you switch from halides to ecotech radions for a while and you weren't pleased with the results? I remember reading a thread about that.

Angel, my tank isn't as nice as yours but I do have some SPS. My coralife dual PC/150 MH fixture is starting to act up so I might be in the market for a new fixture too. I love the look of MH but the heat and the power cost is starting to get to me in our new house. LEDs would have benefits but I want to grow SPS...... It seems there are some trade offs...... And it's a difficult decision to make!
 
Maelstrom79;972073 wrote: Seth, didn't you switch from halides to ecotech radions for a while and you weren't pleased with the results? I remember reading a thread about that.
!

I actually did the opposite of what everyone has do too. I started my tank with Leds and went to halides. There's simply no comparing the results on an acro dominant tank like mine.

I've used AI SOLs, Radions, and Kessils.
 
hcakebax1;972375 wrote: If I want to change from T-5 to led how much led light I need for my 90 gallon.


Depends on the brand. Most of which will require two units for a 4' tank. However reef breeders makes a 4' unit I think.

I'm with Seth on this one. And yet the debate still continues. But IMO most ACROS look better under halides. Especially blues and purples. Birdsnest and some montis look great under either. Can leds grow Acropora... Sure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let's face it... Most of us are not getting a return profit off our tanks. That being said every dollar put in is solely for your OWN satisfaction. So if you have had great results with halides then why switch. Cost? Heat? Sure this are excusable at times but again do what you feel is satisfying. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

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angel;971527 wrote: Hi guys some of you seen my tank is all sps and some lps and I like to switch to led lights I'm been running 3 250 metal halides for 3 years now what is the chance to loose anything or how my corals going to react to the change please let me know my tank is 125 gallon 6 feet long.
Thank you

IMO stick with halides for SPS. ESPECIALLY if they have been growing like that for 3 years.

B
 
BrandonMason;972417 wrote: Depends on the brand. Most of which will require two units for a 4' tank. However reef breeders makes a 4' unit I think.

I'm with Seth on this one. And yet the debate still continues. But IMO most ACROS look better under halides. Especially blues and purples. Birdsnest and some montis look great under either. Can leds grow Acropora... Sure. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Let's face it... Most of us are not getting a return profit off our tanks. That being said every dollar put in is solely for your OWN satisfaction. So if you have had great results with halides then why switch. Cost? Heat? Sure this are excusable at times but again do what you feel is satisfying. If it isn't broke don't fix it.

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seriously if you're looking to change lighting I have a T5 fixture that is 4' that will grow SPS like weeds. I'll send you a PM
 
ive been led for over 3 years on an acro dominant tank.most of you guys have seen my tank or bought my frags.theres no lack of color thats for certain.
IF you are going to switch,dont even consider cheap leds[i know a lot of you guys are gonna not like that comment]but IME,high quality leds WILL grow and color acros great but the cheap ones seem to be hit or miss.i have no experience with cheap leds but from reading others,some do it,some dont.i know high quality will absolutely do it without question.the problem is most wont pay the high end price and then blame the leds for sub par performance when they bought a cheap fixture to begin with.look up Reefledlights.com and diy from them or get their P47 fixtures,you wont be sorry with that choice.those are your precious acros and dont skimp out on a fixture that may or may not give them what they need.ive never seen anyone with enough experience growing acros that switched to the above mentioned and was not happy.on the other hand,ive seen countless reefers switch to inferior leds and regret the decision.
 
Seth The Wine Guy;972377 wrote: I actually did the opposite of what everyone has do too. I started my tank with Leds and went to halides. There's simply no comparing the results on an acro dominant tank like mine.

I've used AI SOLs, Radions, and Kessils.

I'm with ya Seth! Just added 2, 175W Phoenix/Lumeteck Ballast :)
 
I have had both MH and LED's. I now have one of these and they are the best lights I have had for color and growth.

a>
 
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