Upgrading Lights to T5HO

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No, I just can't validate an opinion on a light fixture that doesn't have good reviews from true aquarium professionals.
Good luck.

4 consistent articles

Forward; I would like readers to know that while it is obvious that I have a bias toward a few particular LEDs and do not care for many others, this is based on use, research (which IS cited here), and much input from true aquarium professionals that maintain and set up aquarium systems for a living, as well as the largest importer of marine life in North America (based out of Los Angeles).
My biases are based on the above, not because I work for TMC (which I do not) or any other company!!
Complaining that I have a bias is a “Straw Man” argument; Should I or anyone else recommend something other that what I know works based on so much professional use, feedback, and current research?
 
I have stated no opinion. Everything I tell people is directly from my experience, unlike your "professionals".
This reminds me of a few years ago, when I was researching the pectinia coral. Every site back then stated it was an SPS coral. Even now, live aquaria, which you would probably refer to as a "professional" source, still says it's an SPS coral. Back then everyone copied and pasted without researching on their own. I would not be surprised if that was simply the case here.
One thing is for certain- all these articles that say you can't use these to sustain corals are wrong.
I'll take some progression shots today.
 
Here they are. I installed these lights on Feb 24th, on a 265 which was 31" deep, then upgraded to a 300 that is 25" deep. on the 7' tank, I only used 3 of them. I now use 4 over the 8'er.
First, a shot to show how high these are off of the water-
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These validas were added in January-
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And today-
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This is 23" away from the LED fixtures:
January-
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And now-
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Purple digi in January-
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Today-
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Orange digi in January:
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And now-
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Even softies are doing ok.
Toadstool then-
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and now-
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The bubble tips like it too-
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Where's the other guy gone? Pictures say a thousand words no?

Knowing how knowledgeable Mr X is, I read how he raved about these fixtures in his build thread and went ahead and purchased one myself last week. So far so good. Why should I buy a £400 sol or £500 radion when this fixture @ £120 will get the job done?
 
They have no "bells and whistles", they have no optics, they could never be considered "bling" like radions and vortechs, but they WILL grow corals in a pretty deep tank with ease.
 
I guess it's all about what you want. Some people want a mac, when others are happy with a plain old pc, does the same job but doesn't look as fancy. I wanted shimmer and crisp colour without the heat and electricity bills plus the added bonus of no bulb changes.

What do you make of the blues Doug? They make my coral fluoresce like nothing I've seen before. To me it was worth the money and I'd buy again in a heartbeat.
 
I think the blues are crazy looking. Reminds me of the woods in the movie Avatar. I do wish they would have split up the blues and added some regular blues, not all royal blue, but I would also buy them again.
 
mr_X said:
That would entirely depend on what optics you are using. The fixtures I am using have no optics at all, so the spread is very wide. I got away with 3 of them over a 7' tank and everything did very well. These have the same spread as a halide does, if not a little more.

As far as pricing goes, you can do without the bells and whistles and spend a lot less than you think. I am lighting an 8' x 30" footprint for just over $600.00.

You can get a dimmable driver for next to nothing and put it on any led you want. I'm with x and a halide and t5 combined fixture can cost more than a simple led. I have a vertex 48" fixture that was pricey but I like the extras even thou you may not need them
 
Those pictures of the growth have me convinced. I will be putting 2 dimmable taotronics on my 75 gallon build unless anyone can convince me otherwise.
 
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