why is Current discontinuing MH lights?

so i'm totally new to all this and i'm researching some lighting options.

I have a 2x18 hagen T5 HO light that came with the tank and i'm kicking around either a FOWLR tank or droppin the $ and upgrading my lights and goin reef.

I saw a tank at my LFS that has the Current MH/T5 combo light and I really liked how it made the tank look. the MH water shimmer is amazing. So I came home and started looking them up and as I figured they are pricey. but what I don't understand is why all the MH t5 combos are DISCONTINUED...

they are only producing the multI bulb t5 fixtures. I kinda get the general feeling that most reef tanks are kinda moving to the multI t5 fixtures. but my question is, why is Current discontinuing those combo fixtures?

being that i've never tangled with Saltwater i'm thinking I should lean toward FOWLR, but I dunno. I feel like most of the FOWLR fish I would get wouldnt be reef safe.

 

I've just bought my first reef tank but I've read a lot. From what I can tell, most set-ups can get by just fine with T5's and they're just about the same price as MH but you don't have nearly as many heat issues and your electric bill is cheaper. Plus, LED's seem to be really taking off and with them being so much better than T5's in the heat and electricity consumption departments, I would imagine in a few years they'll be pretty much the standard.

As to why Current specifically is discontinuing, I would imagine they're seeing the sales trends going the way of T5 and LED.

Dave

 

As to why Current specifically is discontinuing, I would imagine they're seeing the sales trends going the way of T5 and LED.

Dave

I agree with Dave. Combination of T5HO and High Output LED seems to be the way to go.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

 

well,

T5s and LEDs are good too, but I prefer metal halides.

Heat is not and issue as there should be multiple fans that makes air circulates. Most SPS and clams shows best results under metal halides lighting and anemones require metal halides. Halides also penetrates the water better than T5's, VHO, PCs, etc. So it really depends on what you want to keep.

IMO, I don't think they're discontinued and heading over to LEDs soon.


I would never by a fixture as they cost ridiculously expensive. I always make a canopy and install a DIY with pendants.

ATP,

 

IMO, I don't think they're discontinued and heading over to LEDs soon.


I would never by a fixture as they cost ridiculously expensive. I always make a canopy and install a DIY with pendants.

ATP,

The link you provide is not the Current USA Homepage. Sure we still have time to purchase these units, but beware that production of them stopped.

Check the information on Current USA Homepage:


If scroll down this page, you will see that the SunDial HQI Pendant models have indeed been discontinued.


If you scroll down this other page, you will see that the Outer Orbit HQI models have also been discontinued.

I agree that light intensity of MH is worth the cost and I would love to have HQI lamps. Unfortunately, not a single company in Santo Domingo imports lamps with a color temperature useful for Reef keeping. I would also go DIY, which I do for T8 and T5 already.

Pepetj
Santo Domingo

 

LEDs are just as intense as MH and give the same shimmer effect I don't see any reason not to give up MH at this point. Not to mention the life of MH bulbs compared to other types. And LEDs can be DIYed. Any good Saltwater light setup is going to be expensive up front.

MH fans are kidding themselves if they think MHs are still the gods of the hobby and that no other lights can keep what they do. It's a new day and age MH fans, T5s and LEDs can keep the same stuff you can AND have it thrive.

I'll be using strictly T5s on my new tank with maybe some LED suppliments.

 

1-Research shows thatLuxeon III used in the Solaris provide about 20-45 lumens per watt and usually,MH bulbs provide around 65-115 lumens per watt. With the equal ammount of electricity, LED's produce less lights than MH.

2-I can't find an high intensity LED fixture that has been discontinued, but a PFO 72 inch Solaris LED used to cost 2799.99 and a 72" aqualight pro cost around 1199.99. (although LED's last 11 years, they loose 30 percent of their light intensity before that year)

I do agree that they are advancing a little bit though.

I did not say that other lights can't keep what MH could. I'm saying that they show better results under metal halides.

ATP,

 

I'm not going to say you are wrong ATP because I don't know for a fact as I haven't put a PAR meter under LED's for myself... but what you are saying basically disagrees with the articles I've been reading and opinions put out by numerous people using the LED fixtures. If MH were more energy efficient, then why aren't all lights MH? It would seem that the only reason people would use anything but MH is for increased efficiency. Since MH produce a good deal of heat that LED's dont, it would stand to reason that the heat produced is wasted energy i.e. inefficient.

I am going to have to try and find some definitive information to confirm your view or mine because I've been looking at DIY LED kits to build for my new reef tank. If in fact you are correct, there would be no need to build this and I'll save the money and buy a MH.

Dave

 

I'm not going to say you are wrong ATP because I don't know for a fact as I haven't put a PAR meter under LED's for myself... but what you are saying basically disagrees with the articles I've been reading and opinions put out by numerous people using the LED fixtures. If MH were more energy efficient, then why aren't all lights MH? It would seem that the only reason people would use anything but MH is for increased efficiency. Since MH produce a good deal of heat that LED's dont, it would stand to reason that the heat produced is wasted energy i.e. inefficient.

I am going to have to try and find some definitive information to confirm your view or mine because I've been looking at DIY LED kits to build for my new reef tank. If in fact you are correct, there would be no need to build this and I'll save the money and buy a MH.

Dave

IMO, not all lights are halides because you don't need them to light softies tank or most LPS and in shallow SPS tanks. It's not the most energy efficient compared to T5's or VHOs' etc. because the ballast uses a lot of energy. To start the lamp, an electric arc will need to be created through all the gasses in the bulb which would require a lot of energy and pressure. That's why it's not the most efficient, but it will be needed in my opinion for taller tanks (above 20") to penetrate water.

If you can make a DIY LED, go for it. It does give you the shimmer effect and SPS can live under those with supplements of T5's in a shallow tank (under 20"). I agree that it'll save you money from replacing bulbs, but the fixtures are just ridculously expensive.

I belive the main benefit to LED's compared to halides is that it's safer. if a crack is present or something's wrong with the arc. The arc will explode and crack the glass of the bulb and hot shatered pieces will fly into you or your tank, etc. So check carefully and handle with care before assembly

also, I think we're getting a little distracted lol. IIIHawkIII, I reccomend you get another brand of MH if you are still interested. A good website for lights is aquacave. They're a lot cheaper than other websites. You could just hang a pendant instead of a fixture, but you'll miss on the actinics though.
ATP,

 

well, I think i'm just gonna go all T5. I have a dual bulb 24 on there now. and i'm thinkin I might get the 4x bulb Current sundial. cause it has the moonlights too. so i'd have a total of 6 bulbs.

 

Do you have a budget? Not saying don't go with current, but there are better things out there like ATI IMO. Will cost more though.