Quote Originally Posted by Troy Valentine View Post
For instance a 175 Iwasaki bulb run on Ice cap/Coralvue ballasts will run at 165 watts. This coupled with better reflectors allows a much better coverage than LEDs can currently provide. One Luminarc reflector can sufficiantly light a 2'x3' area, and supply enough light to easily grow a variety of different corals. I guess I just like tried and true technology... MH have stood the test of time. But I am willing to change my mind in the future. Once they can create a spectrum that isn't so 2 dimensional..... IMHO
"better coverage than LEDs can currently provide." I don't quite understand this comment. The optics on LEDs are quite variable. Even on a single AI module you find different lenses (40 degrees in the center and 70 degrees on the outside so spread is very similar to a reflector where still higher intensities are in the center and a more diffused light on the outside)
On other fixtures or DIY there's the possibility of completely forgoing optics/lenses and getting an even wider spread. It's very easy to manipulate and fine tune and mimic reflector style lighting with LEDs.
Two AI modules running at 75W each (total 150) easily cover a 3ft by 2ft area for me.

"Once they can create a spectrum that isn't so 2 dimensional"
What do you base this on?
I'll admit that because many customers seem to like that blue tone thing most ready made fixtures are sold with the typical cool-white/1 0r 2 types of blue combo of LEDs.
But goodness that so does not indicate the limit of what you can have if you want to go beyond a blue tank!
I had the hardest time picking LEDs for my DIY fixture. There are way too many options even just in white. And even within a color specification of white there are huge differences based on bin.
I am leaving you the CREE XP brochure for whites only for your viewing pleasure:
http://www.cree.com/products/pdf/XLampXP_B&L.pdf

It's totally okay to like MH better! And you don't even have to have a specific reason for it. Based on my experience though I think some of the reasons that have been presented why LEDs are inferior to MH however may be based on limited knowledge of the technical possibilities of current LEDs and somewhat anecdotal experiences with a limited amount of fixtures in use. That's just a guess though ;)