Opinions wanted....
- Thread starter sharij1
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Actually depends on your wallet. You can find people on here selling off their T5's but LED are holding strong these days. Also what are you planning on putting in there also helps us know which is better for you. Great thing with LED's is you dont have to change out the bulbs every year.
LED's are the way to go. Especially on a small tank like yours, you would not need a ton of units nor need the most powerful units on the market. Also consider the fact that you will spend less on your power bill every month as well as not having to change bulbs out twice a year on the T5's. Furthermore you can get great colors and growth out of the newer LED fixtures, such as the AI sol blues, radion pro's, etc.
I'm not sure what I will be putting in the tank. It's still a very young tank. I would just like the option of putting in corals.
Edit: I don't want to spend an arm and a leg..but would like something decent that gives me a wide range of possibility.
Edit: I don't want to spend an arm and a leg..but would like something decent that gives me a wide range of possibility.
I would probably suggest a reefbreeder value fixture $179 lots of people here seem to like them.You can get a similar fixture on ebay for about$30 less but they are not full spectrum like the reefbreeders and dont have a US warranty like the reefbreeders.
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I'm going to be the little devil that whispers in your ear, "T-5"
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you asked for my opinion
in my opinion go with T5 over LED.
Or if you want an LED component in the mix go with t5, but do some LED strips for some aesthetics.
B
in my opinion go with T5 over LED.
Or if you want an LED component in the mix go with t5, but do some LED strips for some aesthetics.
B
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If it were me- ati 4 bulb fixture
D-D bulbs
1- white
1- purple/pink
1- 420nm actinic
1- 460nm actinic
D-D bulbs
1- white
1- purple/pink
1- 420nm actinic
1- 460nm actinic
You will end up spending so much more over the life span of a T5 fixture versus a LED unit. Both in bulbs and in energy bills. Do some research, there are a bunch of LED vs T5's, LED vs MH, etc. Of course the initial purchase of the LED will be more then a T5 or MH unit but it is 'old' technology and slowly being phased out. Although there are plenty of more affordable units available now and since you have a smaller tank you could easily go with a less expensive unit and have great color and growth with any coral. In the end do your own research and figure out what 'YOU' want to do.
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Disagree here, as MH & T5's are not being phased out. They have certainly decreased in sales, however, SPS keepers are finding out that MH, then T5's still rule with a couple of exceptions.
However, since we are in the minority........
On a tank that size, either T5 or LED would be perfectly fine. You'll have to make the choice of heavy price upfront, or in the future.....
I'm going to have to disagree with you as well. What advances in the MH or T5 realm has happened recently? All of the focus on lighting right now is in the LED field. Hence phasing out as manufactures are starting to try and invest more in the newer technology instead of progressing MH's and T5's as LEDs have been proven to get the same results with less heat, less energy costs and less up keep costs.
That small of a tank I'd do a DIY LED. You can probably build it for less than $150. For that price you could do a full spectrum build with some manual dimmers to adjust the color to your liking and it would still grow SPS for you.
But if your after a T5, I have a 24" 4 bulb. Needs a new ballast and no legs.
But if your after a T5, I have a 24" 4 bulb. Needs a new ballast and no legs.
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The reason LEDs are still advancing in technology is because they are still trying to figure it out!
There is no need to advance t-5 and MH because they are what they are, and do what they are supposed to do. Until someone figures LEDs out, and can make things happen like they do with mh/t5, they will continue to advance and try new things.
There is no need to advance t-5 and MH because they are what they are, and do what they are supposed to do. Until someone figures LEDs out, and can make things happen like they do with mh/t5, they will continue to advance and try new things.
Ill mention the heat aspect as well. Led is not gonna increase your temps hardly any if at all. In a 29 you would definitely warm up the tank with MH or T5 I'd think. I had PC fixture back when I had a 29 and I didn't hardly ever run a heater...
There needs to be an advancement in T5 and MH both, longer life and cheaper quality product... As quickly as led has come out the options have become endless and reasonable price for the years you get out of the fixture. I LOVED my 6 bulb T5 fixture great color great PAR tons of heat and man did it hurt replacing bulbs every 9-10 months.. The last time I got my first led unit for the price of my bulb change. 3 years later still running the same led fixtures and my corals are still growing like crazy as they were with t5. But saved over $600 since then.
