- Location
- Dingmans ferry PA
Sorry for get off topic. Just so everyone knows we all know each other and we are just having a little fun with one another. No one is fighting or arguing. Its all in good sportsmanship and fun :biggrin:
DUKE62,JAMES404 and JERL77 grow out challenge
- Thread starter duke62
- Start date
- Location
- Copiague, NY
hahahaha
Duke I run acan LEDs 104. My whites when at max is 80% blues 100% lights are 17" above water level. Ive Added a blue reef brite strip this takes away the white washed out look adds a beautiful color to the look of the tank when angled properly.
My take on this is
All these lights have benefits and draw backs.....
LEDs much cheaper over a 5 year span than metal halides or t5
But u do give up some color but better growth than t5 as jerri says.
Halides give u good look great growth but cost a small fortune to run over 5 years.
T5 give u great color slow growth but are more expensive over a five year period than LEDs.
Good fun thread!
Just don't get booted! Lol
My take on this is
All these lights have benefits and draw backs.....
LEDs much cheaper over a 5 year span than metal halides or t5
But u do give up some color but better growth than t5 as jerri says.
Halides give u good look great growth but cost a small fortune to run over 5 years.
T5 give u great color slow growth but are more expensive over a five year period than LEDs.
Good fun thread!
Just don't get booted! Lol
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
I don't buy the whole cost savings over the long run. Let's use radions as they are the closest thing to a fu spectrum led setup. $1600 w shipping. I run my halides eight hours a day. I could easily do 12 month bulb changes using high quality bulbs. 5x$110 is $550. My electric went up $10/month w the halides so that's another $600 over 5 years so I'm at $1150 for my halides. Let's even add in I replace 2 ballast's over that 5 years. $300 so I'm at $1450. I have better color, the same if not better growth. Where's the savings? And that's not factoring in one of the LED units not lasting that 5 years. Entirely possible. In my situation heat isn't even an issue. I do think LED will be a match for Halides at some point but not until the cost per unit comes down to reasonable levels.
I think you forgot to add the original cost of your mh fixtures in but I hear your point. In your mind it's not significant enough financially especially with the high cost of this hobby in general! Which I agree! I think mh t5 setup is the best all around look and growth! LEDs will eventually get there.
- Location
- Bridgewater, NJ
When did a Radion go from $750 to $1600? You're comparing 2 of them to a halide? What about the other things you need to run with halides? Chillers are expensive to run. Let's not forget that the better LED units also are supposed to be good for 7 to 10 years as well. Just seems like there are many things you aren't factoring in.
Having said that, if I had a choice I would be running halides with T5 supplements as well.
Having said that, if I had a choice I would be running halides with T5 supplements as well.
- Location
- port jefferson sta, NY
- Location
- Bridgewater, NJ
I understand that. I'm just wondering what halide he has that is lighting his tank that a Radion wouldn't.
- Location
- port jefferson sta, NY
he's got 2 halides
- Location
- Bridgewater, NJ
So then double what he said plus add in the fixtures themselves and you're well over $3000. More like $3500. $2000 sounds like pretty good savings to me.....
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
$3000?? Seriously lmao. I paid $125 for both my fixtures used in like new shape. There are LOTS of them out there. To cover MY 120 I would need 2 Radions so yeah $1600 w shipping included. Haven't seen them sell used for less than $700 have you really? My math is dead on in my situation I don't know HOW you came up with your figure but it's WAAAYYY off lol. So let's do it again...
Fixtures -$125
Bulbs for 5 years $550
2 replacement ballasts in case mine go $350
Electrical costs at roughly $10 more per month $600 over 5 years. I say that as I would need 240w of LED vs my 500 MH.
So adding in the original fixture price you saved $125 over 60 months or.... Just about $2 a month. Now we also haven't factored in if the Radion will last 5 years without needing repair. Highly unlikely probably. Yes the firmware is upgradable adding more bells and whistles but those don't grow coral. Should better LED's come out ( which WILL happen ) you can hope you can upgrade. If u can't your stuck w that fixture...... Just sayin' lol
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
- Location
- Bridgewater, NJ
You have 2 Halides. Wouldn't that double your figures? I was just assuming that $10 a month for a halide would have to be a single 150w at best.
Also, just to clear things up, I really don't like Radions in the least. I'm quite happy with my AIs.
Also, just to clear things up, I really don't like Radions in the least. I'm quite happy with my AIs.
- Location
- Flushing NY 11355
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
Thank you! At least someone is paying attention lol.
- Location
- Kings Park, NY
Wingo just gotta place an ad and ask around.....
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