why buy expensive t-5's when led's are better?

[regal]

...with DIY, I can pretty easily figure out what needs to be replaced and replace it fairly easily. .....

Right on. I have a maxspect and in less than 2 months when the unit overheated due to a failing cooling fan, I said that was it. I am making my own. I wasn't quite sure if the fan was the problem or was it the power supply, or the temp sensor, on and on. Although I only had to wait for 2 weeks for the replacement fan to arrive from China, what if something else was wrong and then I would have to troubleshoot again and wait for the fix.

... I typically never take my time into consideration when doing a hobby because this isn't a profession. If I was concerned about the value of my time, I wouldn't be in this hobby.

Agree 100%. That's why the commerical products cost so much because people don't work cheap like I do. :tongue1:

 

[Chiefmcfuz]

I think the best way to describe my feelings on this matter is like this:

LED's are great looking, draw much less electricity, are expensive as heck, last longer, are outdated rather quickly because the industry is still experimenting with newer and newer technology, with all that is still unknown about them their longevity is in question still, are a great product but need further research.

 

[Hefe-Weizen]

I hear ya- I was just expressing my views about the LED's at this point in time. I was within a hair of pullin the trigger and getting a LED fixture but reconsidered. Id rather wait till a lot more of the improvements that are going to happen do. Right now for me is just too soon. Like I said I was super close to getting it but decided not to at the end.

If you want LED's go LED's. I was more stating that when you do upgrade each time with LED's it take that much longer for the fixture to pay for itself is all.

Best of luck with the lights

I was just kind of agreeing with you. I look at LEDs as a great cost savings(over time) and they do have great colors and GLITTER LINES!

I equate this to the cone skimmer rage and the extra money you pay for them(sometimes hundreds more).

The products will always evolve and we will buy the next hot item, hopefully they are as useful as LEDs.

 

[InfernoST]

I just placed an order for three Aqua Illumination Sol Blues, yes the initial expense is high but after doing the math they will save me about $65 a month on my E bill and I won't have to spend $300+ a year on replacement bulbs and shouldn't have to run a chiller (additional E savings) with less evaporation caused by the high heat generated by both the T5HO's and MH's. The AI fixtures are upgradeable (Optics and LED pucks) and also allow the ability to change the intensity and color at the push of a button without having to go thru the expense of buying and changing bulbs until you get the color you are after. The bad thing about T5HO's and MH's is the same set of bulbs in one setup will not yield the same coloration in another due to the differences in different manufacturers ballasts (More so with MH's) which I feel make that more frustrating and costly trying to obtain the color you like and what will make the tank happy. As far as failures are concerned, anything can fail, I've had 2 expensive ballasts blow up in the almost 2 years my tank is online, to me pointing out what will fail is a mute point.
Yes there are Pro's and Con's to everything and IMO the Pro's here out weigh the cons. They should pay for themselves in just over a year. It really does rot that the initial outlay is rather high but so were T5HO's and MH's at one time and are still a little on the expensive side themselves.

Just my .02

Keith

 

[Mikei70]

I remember paying $250 for a PC retro when they first came out.

I'll wait a bit on the LEDs. Right now I have 2 x 175w MH and a 96w PC actinic over my 45g tank. It works for me.

 

[stunner620]

overall color produced by leds cant be beat....

 

[Barnacle_Blenny]

reeftechled.com the future is here The app is just amazing and they communicate wirelessly