So your thinking about LEDs...

I inherited a 36" PC with the tank(55g), was new to the hobby (still am but much more educated) the PC was missing the adapter for the led's, after 2 weeks it went south, both ballasts gone. So it was time for a field trip to the LFS. Decided a the time to get a 48" deep blue T5 you know, the whole kit and caboodle with the timer and night led's. Get her home, 3 hours later it blows a bulb, call the LFS they tell me bring it in for a new one. Ok, new one installed, it's nice, sleek, loud and hot plus I can't put the cover on ( I could but it was such a pain I just left it off). But I'm ok with it so far. Fast forward 2 weeks and I notice one of the night time led's is out. So I'm done, I'm not getting a new one only for 3 weeks from now for the timer to fry or something else. I tell the guy to order me some LED's, enough with this 1940's tech! ( I already saw them at the store, knew what I wanted just couldn't at the time afford them) So he takes the light back and credits me toward the new ones. So I ordered 2 4 ft. sticks, Reefbrite HO Tech LED's, one actinic, one white. I was blown away!
List of advantages (may grow with time)
1. Room lost 2 degrees
2. Cover back on
3. Easy to move for feeding or testing (if need to be moved at all)
4. saving on electricity with more output (fl power is really expensive)
5. colors I had never seen in corals were now present
6. corals much happier!(the real plus, all I want is them to be happy)
7. used to top off nearly a gallon of RO everyday! =salinity swings daily
now I can go for 3 days on a quart of top off.
8. I really can't express how much the corals are showcased over a T5 or PC
9. not completely convinced yet but, I think the night time led's hurt more than help, or they are simply for our enjoyment at the cost of a good night's rest for the inhabitants of the tank.
10. Quieter, much much quieter
11. more stability

Caveat: granted I have never owned a MH I can't rightly compare the two, but for the price of a mh setup I got the same amount of PAR without the heat, cooler, ATO and extreme bills, not to mention bulb changes.

bottom line

If it's time to upgrade go with LEDs!

 

i currently have a 36" deep blue. i like it, yea one of the less are out, but there are still 5, and the timer is really nice. not loud at all, glass cover, low heat. for only $230 i got mine for, its still worth it. and I REALLY want reefbrite Leds. i fell in love with them at the lfs.

 

+1 To everything lol

And welcome to 3reef

 

To make everyone sure I am not a light nerd or a scientist but these are the bees knees. I lost confidence in a light that malfunctioned twice in under a month and the LFS was willing to take it back. Another LFS told me of how she had 4 of the same units which the timer never worked right. If you have the money it is worth it. My zoos got bigger in a few hours and another which only 75% came out all of a sudden came to life. I can now keep lps and sps. In a few months I'll get another stick of ho 50/50. 100% impressed.

 

your not secretly a staff member or partial owner of the leds are you

Just yanking ya

 

I wish, just a struggling college student.

 

Heck of a review, maybe they're hiring! But glad it worked, this hobby can be very frustrating at times! pics?

 

I love my LEDs

 

pics to come, kinda embarrassed about the base rock and lack of wildlife. The tank is only 2 months old. Lots of life but far from mature. I'll post pics weekly to show the growth.

 

tried to post picks but it says I'm missing a security token