gentlemen, you are missing the point
the main obstacle preventing reefers from going LED is the high upfront cost. Well these units are tried and true, made in the USA, and on sale, so why not get one brand new? Made in the USA means high quality (not chinese made, patent-infringement, no way to return, or some canadien or italian company that looks down on Americans), excellent customer service, an American in Iowa who feels responsible for your happiness (or lack of in Wickedfish's case LOL) with their product. Im by no means associated with the company, just a very satisfied SPS reefer that hopes other will consider LEDs, especially AIs since they really do work, and are made by your fellow Americans.
especially if you have a small tank, or a frag tank, LEDs are ideal. first, they are very bight. Each AI unit has 72watts of light. Most of that power is light, not heat. T5 and MH are very inefficent in transforming electricity into light. Thats why AIs are equivalent to 400w MH, and no one I know runs them 100% all the time. How can these lights only be good for low light coral, when people complain about them burning SPS/high light coral? Since they are modular, why dont people just add another unit? Can't blame aquailluminatons for not having black and white recommendations for tank height mounting. Do Ice Cap, Radium, Geissman, etc have mounting recs for T5 or MH lights?
Then the heat... is a small tank is the biggest enemy. You will need a chiller if you go T5/MH. with LEDs you may need a heater!
Then there are logistics like portability. AI's/other LEDs are the size of a text book. They are self-ballasted and all you need is the mount it.
Then the long term costs. Why are LEDs considered "green/environmenatally friendly" lighting? Because this LED will work in 5 years nearly the same as it works today. No bulb replacement in 9-18months, or 9-12 months, or worrying about dropping these expensive bulbs. Even bulbs around the home are going LED. I would change out every bulb in my house if it werent for the current high cost. Could you imagine changing all you bulbs at home when you first child is born, and not having to change them again until he/she went off to college?
So the question is if these can keep SPS/LPS in the long run? Well a lot of people on Reef Central are showing off great tanks with LEDs. You will never know unless you try. If $399 is still to much, try the cheaper knock offs on Ebay first.
