LED lights and T5 light comparisons

[fshfrk]

Well my friends on the HFB gave me a pair of Marineland 3ft LED lights. So I thought Ya'll should see the comparison to 2 T5 3 ft double fixtures with 10000k and 6700k bulbs. These fixtures are DIY with a white plastic gutter housing the 2 fixtures. IMO LED blows the T5's away.

http://s297.photobucket.com/albums/mm210/johncrowder/?action=view&current=DSCN1498.flv

[geoff_tropheus]

Man I need to try some of these, if even for the 48W (48-1W) vs 156W (4-39w)

That's about 1/3 of the power and you are right...looks A LOT better...

The only downfall is the 17,000 hours end of life on the fixture. If you have a 10hour photoperiod, that's 4-5 year repalcement. Heck in that time, you'd replace the T5 bulbs atleast 1-2 times.

[cichlid1409]

i like the look of the LED better but not enough light IMO. it looks like the t-5's are putting off more light and the t-5 dont even have a reflector.

[Gene D]

The T5 does produce more light but to my eyes the LED is a softer more natural light. I will be using LED's on my 180.

[Darbex]

If you get the higher output ones then they will be way brighter. But the Marineland ones are lower as they werent designed for planted or corals. For Johns application they are awesome

[fshfrk]

these? http://www.concept420.com/led-grow-lights.htm

[FrontosaurusRex]

LED'S all the way for me. I have one 36" fixture on my 180g Frontosa tank and it's awesome. No more smoke and mirrors with the fancy bulbs of the T-5s. True natural light is the way to go in my opinion.

[Gene D]

I am a total convert. The fact that the light is softer allows the fishes true color to show. I look at my Red Rainbows and they seem somewhat washed out under the harsh lighting

[geoff_tropheus]

Rex, I am thinking of putting 2 of the 36" fixtures on my 180 too.

Can you post some pics of your tank?

[ssrprelude]

Nice John! Makes the Moops look awesome.

[FrontosaurusRex]

Ill put some pics up later and the comparison with black sand and natural sand.

[stevew14]

So for a 6 ft tank, would you use two of the 24-36" or two of the 36 to 48"?

[jsnoravo]

So for a 6 ft tank, would you use two of the 24-36" or two of the 36 to 48"?

36-48inch. B/c the fixture itself is 36 inches. I just got one recently and I love it. I still wouldn't prefer one type of light over the other just b/c I like to have different looks for different tanks. Here's a video of the fixture on my 140g Tall. The tank is a 4 footer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTiWYngfjKE

[fshfrk]

So for a 6 ft tank, would you use two of the 24-36" or two of the 36 to 48"?

1-48" for subtle light or 2-36" for a brighter light.

[Iceeeyyyy]

What member is selling them?! I would like 2 36"