LED vs. Hallide

justin s

justin s

New Member
First, let me start out by saying I am still a newbie. Ive had a saltwater tank for a few years then tore it down due to a move and now it is set back up 3 years later.
I have a 55 gallon corner tank i want to be a reef tank. Ive had tank set up for a 6 months, done cycled, clean up crew added, a goby, and going to LFS to add some more fish tomorrow. In the past i used metal hallide lighting. Before i get any corals I was exploring the possibility of LED lighting. My LFS had a nice on for about 350 that would work perfectly over my tank. I saw on this website the Marineland Reef Capable LED light and I was debating on going this route. It would probably reduce my electric bill as well. My question is would this light work well for corals? Id hate to buy something that does not work very well.
Does anyone have any advice to consider when deciding between hallide and LED. Any input would be great, but until then i will continue searching the archives here. Thanks in advance for any advice.
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
The Marineland are not very good LEDs at all. The higher end LEDs are proven to keep any coral. The Marineland have many problems I have read. LEDs are the future reef lighting system. If you want LEDs, I would save for some high quality ones like AI sols, or Ecotech radions. You could also make your own LED system.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
I did the switch from a 250w Icecap MH to two AI Sol SuperBlue LEDs over 60 cube and I am very happy. You can pre-order the AI Vega for $499. I think you will be able to find the AI Sols used for a good price when people upgrade to the AI Vega. Ecotech Radions sound like a good light also but I have no experience with them.
The PAR read from MH lighting and LEDs have translated differently and I have read lots of posts of people under estimating the intensity of the LEDs.
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
I did the switch from a 250w Icecap MH to two AI Sol SuperBlue LEDs over 60 cube and I am very happy. You can pre-order the AI Vega for $499. I think you will be able to find the AI Sols used for a good price when people upgrade to the AI Vega. Ecotech Radions sound like a good light also but I have no experience with them.
The PAR read from MH lighting and LEDs have translated differently and I have read lots of posts of people under estimating the intensity of the LEDs.People are still unsure if the AI vegas are the same AI vegas as seen in the video on YouTube that was leaked. Some say the video on YouTube was the Vega color,
 
rickross23

rickross23

Active Member
I agree, Sean. I want them to be released before Christmas so I can do a final judgement on which ones to get.
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
This is a link that AI has on there web site.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y7fBPuMT7NE
 
geoj

geoj

Active Member
Here is a little pressrelease
Continuing the industry-shaping trend started five years ago with the release of our original AquaIllumination LED Module, we are pleased to announce the AI Vega-controlled by our adaptive AI Power Puck, the pinnacle of our engineering efforts. The AI Power Puck provides nearly limitless color combinations, allowing custom configuration of each individual Power Pucks as desired. As you customize and change the location of your Power Puck, its adaptive capabilities intelligently tells our proprietary control system the location and type of each LED. This allows each color to have independent control regardless of quantity or position within a module.
The AI Vega will begin shipping this summer in our traditional silver/white as well as the popular black housing color combination. We will offer two standard Vega LED combinations: cool white, royal blue, and blue; as well as cool white, royal blue, blue, green, and deep red for those that would like a warmer color combination. Custom Power Pucks may be purchased through our Color Configuration tool. We appreciate all the feedback and comments regarding the Vega. It’s been a long time coming, but the wait will be worth it. Patents Pending – C2 Development, Inc. manufacturer of the AquaIllumiation product line of LED lights for saltwater reef aquarium tanks.
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Just for you Rickross.........


Vega Blue Specs:
- $499
- Available in White & Black Finish
- 4 x Cree XM-L Cool White
- 8 x Cree XP-E Royal Blue
- 4 x Cree XP-E Blue
- 4 x Osram Oslon Deep Blue
- 11.8"L x 5.38"W x 1.57"H
- 3.25lbs
- 95w Max Power
- Onboard Wireless Control
na, geneva, lucida, 'lucida grande', arial, helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: rgb(235, 235, 235); " />Vega Color Specs:
- $499
- Available in White & Black Finish
- 4 x Cree XM-L Cool White
- 6 x Cree XP-E Royal Blue
- 4 x Cree XP-E Blue
- 4 x Osram Oslon Deep Blue
- 1 x Cree XP-E Green
- 1 x Osran Oslon Deep Red
- 11.8"L x 5.38"W x 1.57"H
- 3.25lbs
- 95w Max Power
color: rgb(235, 235, 235); ">- Onboard Wireless Control
Another that might interest some as well.......
http://ghlna.com/mitras-lx-6100-pendant
 
kiefers

kiefers

Active Member
trying to be a smart a$$. Failed miserably. (all those blue crees) *big sigh*
Kief(needs to pick up some pointers from Darth)ers
 
S

siptang

Guest
Lmbo Keith.
My 2 cents in the whole deal.
Rick, Marineland makes fairly decent LEDs, I had them. They are more like an entry level but LEDs don't usually give out all the spectrum of light that corals need to completely color up the way they are supposed to. (Most recently that I have seen was on a strawberry short cake acro on this guy's tanks, one guy, two tanks plumbed together so same water different lights for frag tank and DT. One on DT was rapid LEDs and on DT was dual 250w radion bulb mh and coloration was so much better on the frag tank) Radions are expensive but they include green, red as well as couple of different shades of blues to cover everything. LEDs are coming along though and I like where it's going.
So far, I like MH slightly better due to the fact that it has been here for over 2-3 decades and it's proven.
LEDs in aquarium, not so long. Yes, it's been around for ages but only recently we started to stick these things in our tanks. (10years if that?)
Well, just my thoughts. They do grow on both lights mind you, they may color up differently is all I'm saying.
 
S

siptang

Guest
From personal experience from growing sps, lps and zoas.
Softies grew like crazy with 1w LED from marineland.
SPS not so much.
With MH,
SPS is showing growth as well as LPS and softies, my duncan which I started off with two heads now have more then 4. (2 more baby heads forming so 6 in total)
 
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