MH OR LED

[screamyourheartout]

Hey guys, im intending to change my lighting system from t5s to mh or leds, please kindly advise

recently visited lfs, they told me mh was better as led's spetrum was little.

hope u guys can give good advices

[stevenkoh08]

ok bro firstly you must know what u intend to keep?

secondly know what will be the cost you can come out with

Thirdly is buy me a coffee ha ha joking

ok If u need any help further pls list down i'm sure here got a lot of bro's willingly to help.

PM me if u need help

[screamyourheartout]

well im intending to keep an all sps tank now

currently im only keeping sps on the very top of my tank.

next, cost isn't really a problem now so just name me some of the best products

tks

[ReDDeviLs]

the very first and well kwown advantage of MH is the start up cost is much cheaper then LED. you will need to let us know ur tank size as penetration and spread is 1 of the key points that will help you determine what to go for.

led is much cooler compare to MH

led saves u more $ on bills compare to MH

mh has a larger spread compare to LED.

i have use both MH and led before.

but the led i have tried that time isnt the top range kind so i cant comment much on that.

as for MH, apart from the heat issue im pretty happy with MH.

and ofcos MH will be good to supplyment with T5 for better viewing colouration.

hope these info help

[screamyourheartout]

oh my tank is 3ft by 2ft by 2.5ft.

well i visited the lfs that day, they said sth about led not having the spectrum so mh is better.

[Solo77]

That is if u want to keep Sps, if u are keeping folwer, LO T5 can also do the job. U got to answer those questions advised by bros here. If u believe lfs, then no point asking for advice as u already got the answer.

[screamyourheartout]

On my very first post i already claim that im intending to keep spses. well the problem is i dont trust the lfs thats is why im here to ask for advice from the experienced!

[Solo77]

Sorry to miss yr second post.,me not a Sps keeper but know a reefer who tried all for his Sps and his answer was T5. He used 12 tubes for his 2.5 width tank and placed it very near water(2ft height tank). Mh supplement with t5 can be considered. For led, so far feedback was abt to keep only some Sps colour(not sure abt other parameters) but definitely enough to keep them alive. If u are serious sps collector, then u might want to consider mh or t5 or combine Both.

[screamyourheartout]

ok tks that some great info

[JizzHut]

MH! =p i would go for Mh with blue t5s.

Haven't use LEDS before tho, only thing i like about led is the blue lights.

[Terryz_]

For Reputable LED brands, They are able to sustain the color of sps... The PAR is comparable or even better than MH... It all up to you to do the research.. LED is still very new to the market and many sps keeper are not keeping using LED but sticking to their trustworthy MH... So LED whether can sustain sps is still very debatable..

[thomas_lim]

Just go for MH for now. You never regret since you mentioned cost of maintenance is not an issue.

If you intend to keep SPS all the way to the bottom of the tank.. Try 400W.. if not, 250W will be good enough to sustain SPS placing up to mid water level.

When replacing the lightset, remember to place the MH higher for a start and slowly lowering the light to prevent light "shock" on your stocks.

[Solo77]

Bro, is this yr personal experience? So far I have checked with reefers using maxspect, aqualumen, etc(except Eco lamp), all feedback almost the same. Can keep them alive but some of the colour can't and abit off. . . . One reefer who Decommed and tried all led, t5 and mh told me the same and his spses were bought by profiteerers in the forum. Moreover, they are other factors contributing to successful keeping. . No hard feeling. Just hope not to create a wrong impression to newbie that led can definitely support, waltsmith spses are example, not many ppl can keep their colour. Anyway, I am not a Sps keeper, so can't share personal experience but just share info I gathered. Will be slowing going into Sps and will test out the effect and share the result if possible. Happy learning and sharing.

For Reputable LED brands, They are able to sustain the color of sps... The PAR is comparable or even better than MH... It all up to you to do the research.. LED is still very new to the market and many sps keeper are not keeping using LED but sticking to their trustworthy MH... So LED whether can sustain sps is still very debatable..

[screamyourheartout]

thks guys, think i know what i should get now but is there any special brands that is good and trustworthy to buy from?

[Solo77]

Errr, wat have u decided?

[screamyourheartout]

mhs

[Solo77]

For mh, u might want to supplement with t5. DE is good in customising and so far no major problem with support. Branded will be giesman. For some, brands like solite, dymax, etc are usually roc made. Depends on yr beliefs. Ppl claimed good ballast can fully bring out the bulbs potential, durability, reliable, etc. However, they are pple using roc made mh and are happy.

[ReDDeviLs]

Hi bro Solo,

there are alot of mh users are unable to keep up with walt smith sps as well so i dont think that is a valid point.

most sps keeper that can hold walt smith sps with mh tends not to change to LED since MH can serve them so well and there is too much risk to replace the lightset in the expense of their precious corals. so i dont think its very valid to use that point. just my opinion

as for alex, since u decided MH,

now u need to look at how reliable the brand u are going for.

the type of ballast.

the type of bulb.

MH comes in double ended and single ended so you need to check on the pros and cons before commiting yourself into it.

cheers

[sunny03]

oh my tank is 3ft by 2ft by 2.5ft.

well i visited the lfs that day, they said sth about led not having the spectrum so mh is better.

since u had decided to go for MH...

Heat and $$ not an issue

Get two SE 250W MH (kelvin of the MH u have to read up and decide) and 2*39W blue T5 should be enough and keep most SPS happy... SPS will be more happier if u lower the tank temp to 26 or 27 deg.

or

get a SE 400W MH with railing system which moves the MH from one end to other end and 2*39W Blue T5. Railing system MH get you a much natural growth as the light source will be moving around and not concentrate at one area... But again $$ is the issue

[Solo77]

Bro reddevils, I don't quite get yr point but anyway, the point that I try to bring across is led might not be superior than t5 or mh as per claimed. There are other factors affecting sps colour which i did mention. I am not a sps keepers, so cant share my experience. Just sharing the experience i gathered from those successful sps keepers. Anyway, just sharing pointers. Whether to agree or disagree is subjective and very personal.

[pandagold]

Hi all, lighting is only 1 factor in coral colouring and growth , as there are still many factors in marine hobby

Most of us have husbandary schedule like water change, suppliments etc .... to keep our SPS or other corals in prestine conditions.

Just my 2 cents view...