Quote Originally Posted by Europhyllia View Post
"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.
Yes, it will take 2 AI fixtures at over $1200 to do what 1 metal halide fixture with a 9 year old reflector design can do at $300. I know this doesn't include annual bulb replacement, but even with that it will take 10 years to recover your initial investment. Now are these fixtures going to last 10 years? Are individual parts going to be available for replacement? Or will they become obsolete? Know one can really answer that question..... But I can almost guarantee you that you can buy a replacement ballast in 10 years, and probably a more efficient one at that, and reflectors never go bad. This is somthing that will last a lifetime. So really to me there is know value, other than the "coolness factor" Which they are very cool;) I would just like to see people as hopeful with the advancement of MHs/reflectors as that are with other "experimental lighting" on an aquarium. But I guess there is nothing cool about old technology.
As to the "2 dimensional" look... I know that LED are constantly changing, and new colors are coming out day after day, it is truly amazing... I personally love the Panorama blue/magenta. I've been eyeballing them at Elegant Reef. But they are a new technology, especially for lighting corals, and since LED light is in a very narrow range, there is a need to pick and choose your different lighting scheme. To me they don't seem to blend as well as I would like. It looks like your are using different color bulbs to light your tank. Where as 1 MH covers the ENTIRE spectrum in a perfect undetectable blended. I like 453nm I just don't want to actually see 453nm on my sand bed or any other color for that matter
And the biggest reason for me is that; Do I really want a "new" color diode. That hasn't been tested yet over a mature reef? This hobby has enough variables built in, a lot of what we do is experimental. I'm a simple man, I like the foundation for my system to be simple. Something that has been proven time and time again to work. I will do a good enough job at complicating everything else. LEDs do have tons of potential but for me, I think I'll pass for now.