"LED are just not worth it for a 40 breeder or smaller tank. "
I would agree that a ecotech is not worth it for a 40 gallon or smaller
but an Onyx or another low cost led might be. This might be closer to
a 150 mh par. Would need to see the numbers on both.
Agreed.
I have a 40g breeder with one Maxspect R420R on it. Cost me $475 free shipping and no bulbs to buy, free
quality hanging kit too as well as tank mounts free (how many light companies do this, esp for this price?)
Perfect amount of lighting @ 75% with great spread, great coloration, great growth (including a few types of SPS, never tried more than what I have for SPS.)
I was originally going to go with a quality T5 unit.
Then I did the math.
I wanted a dimmable unit on preference only, also wanted 6 T5s so that I knew I had enough light entering the tank to keep anything I wanted.
ATI 24 inch dimmable 6-bulb T5 is what I saw.
$545 for the unit with shipping.
~$20 per bulb is another $120.
That's $685 start up cost, plus the yearly cost of bulb replacement, the bulb spectrum changing and growing algae, and the added heat into the tank (IDC what anyone says, i've had T5s for over a year and they DO warm the water considerably in small tanks. I think the people who say they don't have 75g+)
So then I found out about a light that was being released in a month after I got my tank. R420R.
$475 total with shipping, no bulbs to buy, no add-ons to buy, great spectrum, research put into it, able to achieve the proper spectrum corals need for proper health (proven by research again),
ability to dim, ability to fine tune coloration at the turn of a dial (easily mind you as well, 0-100%), and no unnecessary add-ons (no storm, rain, whatever modes, no "modes" at all actually)
And did I mention it's only as thick as a sharpie marker at it's thickest?
This made me decide to pre-order a brand new LED light technology that wasn't coming out for another month. Was I even slightly worried about it? NO!
I have a 5g pico with the cheapest LEDs you'll ever find. They're comparable to those LED strips ricers stick on the interiors of their cars.
And it has kept every coral i've ever tried in the pico except SPS and you know how difficult a pico is to keep as it is in the first place.
7 months later and i'm still not regretting LEDs.
Would I have been as happy if not happier with the original planned ATI unit if I had the extra cash? Very possibly.
There is no "right" or "wrong" just a "this is what I ended up doing and it worked for me".
EDIT: On an amusing side-note... 10 pages to this thread, and not even ONE post mentioned Power Compacts! :highly_amused: Even VHO was mentioned. Had to laugh at how even though most of us disagree with each other about LED/MH/T5/VHO, we can ATLEAST agree that none of us want PCs. =] See, we all CAN agree on something!
And to the few on here who still run PCs (I personally know a few), sorry, not meaning to put down your tank lighting.