should I go back to halides?

I liked my metal halides, but for me the economics of it make it a clear choice. LED all the way.

That is especially true now that the LED's have evolved to the point where they have such a full spectrum.

I've been a LED DIY guy up until now, but the prospects of the new "Director" from AI combined with either Hydras or Vegas is making me thinking of splurging a bit on lighting for my new tank.

-JB

 

I have had the Vegas for about 8 months I had T-5's before.

I am not sold on the growth and coloration using the Vegas. It is fine but some of the corals on the fringe of the light don't look that great. Everyting is alive and growing so I am not complaining.

I did like the growth and full light coverage of T-5's. But using the Vegas I have lost my aquarium hood, fans to cool the lights, a fan to cool my sump. and no temperature fluctuations in the water. Plus they are cheaper to run of course, and pay for themselves in 4.3 years.

So overall I think Halides and T-5's are better for growth and color but there is no way I am going back to either one.

I run Sols over my frag tank and no I really don't like the look of them that much.

 

In my experience, "growth" is over-rated. Especially in SPS tanks. But I can't say that I ever saw dramatically less growth with LED.

Color has been a mixed bag for me with LED. I've seen some stuff do better (birdsnest) and some stuff do worse (millipora), but most seem about the same.

 

I have the sol blue right now. I emailed X and he said JB you bought the Hydra. Do you think I could go from 4 Sol to 3 Hydras on a 60 inch tank? How do you like them so far?

 

I don't have any any AI lights right now. I'm thinking about getting Hydra's for my new tank, but I may go with Vega's instead.

I would think that 3 AI's of any type would be enough for a 60" tank, but it probably depends on your personal preferences/expectations.

The Sol's can be upgraded to Hydras.

 

What's the difference between Hydras and Vegas?

 

As I understand it, the Vegas have 2 main advantages.


1) They are more controllable. Every single LED can be individually controlled, whereas with the hydras the control is limited to per-color.


2) They can be customized by replacing the LED "pucks" with ones that have different color combinations (or perhaps upgraded LED's)


The Vega's cost about $100 more.


#1 is not really important to me, but #2 is making me lean towards spending the extra $$$


Or... I could just do a single Makers LED fixture for less than half the cost. It wouldn't be nearly as controllable, but it would be easily reconfigured and/or upgraded.. Trying to decide how important the controlability is to me.

 

I run mine at 100% every LED so I don't control anything really.

 

How long do you leave them running PotRoast?