Equivalent of led vs. t5 and vice versa. Light gurus pls help

dnguyen1 · 10/19/2019, 11:49 AM

I don't have a par meter but am curious if maybe I can get some insight from you all regarding strengths of t5 versus led

I watched a few brs videos and it appears led at center of tank is stronger at let's say 8 inches above water. I know there's the whole spread and hot spots situations but on the whole can it be said that led cluster like an 360 kessil, Hydra or radion are about 100 more par than t5?

I get so confused some times but was hoping somebody with a par meter can chime in their expeience

Thanks

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mcgyvr · 10/19/2019, 01:06 PM

In general.........Most led fixtures when cranked up are typically equal to or often greater than a t5 fixture as far as par is concerned...

hkgar · 10/20/2019, 09:44 AM

IMHO, as someone who has tried LED and now uses T5 + MH (except in the summer when I go all T5) LED is rather focused and not spread. Reflectors help T5 and MH spread the light and par.

I to have to state that my experience was several years ago and I believe LED's have make significant advances since then.

ycnibrc · 10/20/2019, 09:56 AM

Best light to imitate T5 is orphek v4 even spread and no hot spots

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hkgar · 10/21/2019, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ycnibrc

Best light to imitate T5 is orphek v4 even spread and no hot spots

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Pretty expensive. if you ask me.

Oldreeferman · 10/21/2019, 06:11 AM

Yep,
I had looked into the LED fad 2 yrs. ago & all the ones even today that match or outdo T5HOs are very expensive, sure they are adjustable & low heat granted.
But my 2 dual bulb 25w T5HOs were only $48 a pc. & i got all my bulbs in quantity at 1/2 price so im set for 6 yrs. now on replacements & man do the corals love them. I run Violet & blue 14,0000k ea.
I have a friend who is running a Chinese black box $200 LED & his corals look like crap & aren't growing well. Too much blue & not enough white but seems everyone has this mindset that what looks good to them must be good for the reef, nope..........& no he won't listen to me about his settings ( his wife actually demands the blue all the time), i think he would have been better off with non adjustable lighting so he can't flub up the par as many do.
Im still waiting to see LEDs come down to a reasonable price & not cost as much as the entire aquarium setup, rediculess............Until then im very content to stick with T5s anyday a no non sense setup that requires no adjusting i just can'tt do dawn & dusk but my tank is ok with that.

10/19/2019, 11:49 AM	#1
dnguyen1 Will work for fish Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 910	Equivalent of led vs. t5 and vice versa. Light gurus pls help I don't have a par meter but am curious if maybe I can get some insight from you all regarding strengths of t5 versus led I watched a few brs videos and it appears led at center of tank is stronger at let's say 8 inches above water. I know there's the whole spread and hot spots situations but on the whole can it be said that led cluster like an 360 kessil, Hydra or radion are about 100 more par than t5? I get so confused some times but was hoping somebody with a par meter can chime in their expeience Thanks Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk __________________ Trying to keep the tank clean ONE DAY AT A TIME. Current Tank Info: 50g cube

10/19/2019, 01:06 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	In general.........Most led fixtures when cranked up are typically equal to or often greater than a t5 fixture as far as par is concerned... __________________ Who me?

10/20/2019, 09:44 AM	#3
hkgar Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Dewitt MI Posts: 5,051	IMHO, as someone who has tried LED and now uses T5 + MH (except in the summer when I go all T5) LED is rather focused and not spread. Reflectors help T5 and MH spread the light and par. I to have to state that my experience was several years ago and I believe LED's have make significant advances since then. __________________ Gary 180 gallon, 40 gallon sump, 3 250 W MH + 4 80W ATI T5's, MTC MVX 36 Skimmer, Apex controller Aquamaxx T-3 CaRx Current Tank Info: A 2 Barred Rabbitfish, Red Head Salon, Yellow/Purple, McMaster Fairy, Possum, 2 Leopard Wrasses, Kole, & Atlantic Blue Tangs, 2 Percula Clown, 3 PJ and 1 Banggai Cardinalfish , Swallowtail, Bellus and Coral Beauty Angels

10/20/2019, 09:56 AM	#4
ycnibrc STAG HORN DOMINATE REEF Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Irvine, California Posts: 3,348	Best light to imitate T5 is orphek v4 even spread and no hot spots Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ SDR STAGHORN DOMINATE REEF Feature Reef of November 2019 GHL TOTM FEB 2020 ABC corals Current Tank Info: 360g Peninsula sps

10/21/2019, 06:11 AM	#6
Oldreeferman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: NW Indiana Valparaiso Posts: 505	Yep, I had looked into the LED fad 2 yrs. ago & all the ones even today that match or outdo T5HOs are very expensive, sure they are adjustable & low heat granted. But my 2 dual bulb 25w T5HOs were only $48 a pc. & i got all my bulbs in quantity at 1/2 price so im set for 6 yrs. now on replacements & man do the corals love them. I run Violet & blue 14,0000k ea. I have a friend who is running a Chinese black box $200 LED & his corals look like crap & aren't growing well. Too much blue & not enough white but seems everyone has this mindset that what looks good to them must be good for the reef, nope..........& no he won't listen to me about his settings ( his wife actually demands the blue all the time), i think he would have been better off with non adjustable lighting so he can't flub up the par as many do. Im still waiting to see LEDs come down to a reasonable price & not cost as much as the entire aquarium setup, rediculess............Until then im very content to stick with T5s anyday a no non sense setup that requires no adjusting i just can'tt do dawn & dusk but my tank is ok with that. __________________ Montipora Digitas, Cyphastrea, Blastos, different Leptoseris, Green Stylo, GSP, gorgonions, Ricordea mushrooms, psammocoras, Birdsnest coral, Clownfish, Watchman goby, Royal gamma. Current Tank Info: Nano Reef tank