t5's or leds for frag/stock tank?

shrimphead · 09/27/2010, 06:31 PM

all the the tanks together are around 400cm by 80cm and are all 40cm deep,
3 seperate tanks stocking lps, sps and softies.
was thinking of doing a diy led build so i don't have to keep on replacing the tubes and was thinking less heat and less electricity. i was also thinking maybe i could buy directly from the led supplier (cree) by getting a bulk purchase?
would probably be alot easier doing a t5 array i surpose but what do you guys/gals think? i know there's a bit of a debate on how good leds are at growing corals.

CLINTOS · 09/27/2010, 08:10 PM

t5 imo

logan 12 · 09/27/2010, 08:21 PM

I am a T5 guy have them on all three of my tanks, but do not have any experience with LED’s so my opinion does not matter as far as I am concerned. If I were you I would do a lot of research on LED’s and see what success fellow reefers are having with them. I can tell you T5’s will grow your coral or else I would not have them on my tanks. Cost is a concern to many as both you and I are concerned about cost, especially for a frag tank. From what I have heard LED’s are supposed to be cheaper which is a major benefit of running them, once again I would do some research to see the success of LED users.

mike_cmu04 · 09/27/2010, 09:14 PM

I would go with led's you will save money from the energy savings and no bulb replacements quickly

logan 12 · 09/27/2010, 10:08 PM

mike cmu04 how is your growth between LED's and T5's? The same, one better than the other? I just see your frag tank uses T5's rather than LED's.

shrimphead · 09/28/2010, 04:55 AM

i think i'll do my fish stocking tanks in leds as their not so important for lighting

jeff@zina.com · 09/28/2010, 08:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shrimphead

all the the tanks together are around 400cm by 80cm and are all 40cm deep...

These lend themselves to LED's but not real well. You'll need a fair number for both coverage and depth, compared to T5 lighting. Balancing the cost of replacement bulbs and electrical use over the initial cost of the LED's may still not make this a smart move.

On the other side of the argument, more customers for frags will be using LED's so it's smart to have them available to see what the corals look like. Plus, if you're making the major investment in LED's, the sooner you do it the sooner you reap the rewards.

I just can't help thinking LED pricing will be half as much next year.

Jeff

logan 12 · 09/28/2010, 11:11 AM

+1 on thoughts of pricing.

I would just like to see growth rates of LED's. Like I said I have T5's and growth rate is great under them. I do sell frags so it is important to have great coloration along with a fairly steady rate of growth to keep the frags coming. Just trying to help you out shrimphead.

shrimphead · 09/28/2010, 01:33 PM

yea i'm thinking of doing t5's now, has anyone heard of t2's?

logan 12 · 09/28/2010, 04:27 PM

I'v heard of t12, t8, and t5 but not t2's will have to look that one up.

CLINTOS · 09/28/2010, 10:12 PM

t2 if they exist would be super thin.

NYDiesel · 09/29/2010, 07:27 PM

bulb choice(kelvin rating) would also be a growth factor for t5's correct?

logan 12 · 09/29/2010, 10:24 PM

lower K better the growth, higher K the better the color. As is for every kind of light. There are T5's that are better then others. I go for german made bulbs, ATI are my favorite.

09/27/2010, 06:31 PM	#1
shrimphead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 552	t5's or leds for frag/stock tank? all the the tanks together are around 400cm by 80cm and are all 40cm deep, 3 seperate tanks stocking lps, sps and softies. was thinking of doing a diy led build so i don't have to keep on replacing the tubes and was thinking less heat and less electricity. i was also thinking maybe i could buy directly from the led supplier (cree) by getting a bulk purchase? would probably be alot easier doing a t5 array i surpose but what do you guys/gals think? i know there's a bit of a debate on how good leds are at growing corals.

09/27/2010, 08:21 PM	#3
logan 12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mahomet IL Posts: 1,352	I am a T5 guy have them on all three of my tanks, but do not have any experience with LED’s so my opinion does not matter as far as I am concerned. If I were you I would do a lot of research on LED’s and see what success fellow reefers are having with them. I can tell you T5’s will grow your coral or else I would not have them on my tanks. Cost is a concern to many as both you and I are concerned about cost, especially for a frag tank. From what I have heard LED’s are supposed to be cheaper which is a major benefit of running them, once again I would do some research to see the success of LED users. __________________ "I'm to drunk to taste this chicken" - Ricky Bobby All T5 HO's Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

09/27/2010, 09:14 PM	#4
mike_cmu04 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Shepherd, Mi Posts: 2,348	I would go with led's you will save money from the energy savings and no bulb replacements quickly __________________ 92 Gallon corner tank, 2-radion gen 2 led lights, 2 mp40's Current Tank Info: 92 Gallon Corner Tank

09/27/2010, 10:08 PM	#5
logan 12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mahomet IL Posts: 1,352	mike cmu04 how is your growth between LED's and T5's? The same, one better than the other? I just see your frag tank uses T5's rather than LED's. __________________ "I'm to drunk to taste this chicken" - Ricky Bobby All T5 HO's Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

09/28/2010, 11:11 AM	#8
logan 12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mahomet IL Posts: 1,352	+1 on thoughts of pricing. I would just like to see growth rates of LED's. Like I said I have T5's and growth rate is great under them. I do sell frags so it is important to have great coloration along with a fairly steady rate of growth to keep the frags coming. Just trying to help you out shrimphead. __________________ "I'm to drunk to taste this chicken" - Ricky Bobby All T5 HO's Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

09/27/2010, 08:10 PM	#2
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	t5 imo

09/28/2010, 04:55 AM	#6
shrimphead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 552	i think i'll do my fish stocking tanks in leds as their not so important for lighting

09/28/2010, 01:33 PM	#9
shrimphead Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 552	yea i'm thinking of doing t5's now, has anyone heard of t2's?

09/28/2010, 04:27 PM	#10
logan 12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mahomet IL Posts: 1,352	I'v heard of t12, t8, and t5 but not t2's will have to look that one up. __________________ "I'm to drunk to taste this chicken" - Ricky Bobby All T5 HO's Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

09/28/2010, 10:12 PM	#11
CLINTOS Moved On Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: windsor,ontario Canada Posts: 859	t2 if they exist would be super thin.

09/29/2010, 07:27 PM	#12
NYDiesel Moved On Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Hopewell Jct, NY Posts: 145	bulb choice(kelvin rating) would also be a growth factor for t5's correct?

09/29/2010, 10:24 PM	#13
logan 12 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Mahomet IL Posts: 1,352	lower K better the growth, higher K the better the color. As is for every kind of light. There are T5's that are better then others. I go for german made bulbs, ATI are my favorite. __________________ "I'm to drunk to taste this chicken" - Ricky Bobby All T5 HO's Current Tank Info: 20 gallon

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