What would you do

Currently have 2-250 metal halides on my 120g and am looking to switch over to the aqua illuminations sol led lighting. Just unsure as it will be around $1500 to do and not sure if it is time yet to switch to LED...I have the cash to do it just not sure if it is the right time or should I wait another year.

Also, my Trachyphyllia brain coral is dying this week. Couple days ago it looked extremely "inflated" where I have never seen it that large over the last year and a half to two years. Then 2 days ago it was deteriorating breaking down and now 3/4 of it is gone and am assuming the last 1/4 will disappear over the next day or two. Was a beautiful piece to lose, but i guess that mean new coral time maybe. parameters are within tolerance...was running some low alk that i brought back up about 3 weeks ago. dunno thanks for reading​

 

I don't know what LED lights cost but $1500 seems like a lot of money for lights. If it were me and the current lights are working I would wait.

 

AI SOL LEDs are a great light that allows you to do many things that most LED fixtures do not allow you to do. In general, quality LED fixtures are expensive.

How did you get 1500 for total cost? You will need 4 of the AI sol pendants. Putting the cost around 2600.

 

He doesn't need 4 units. 3 would be awesome, but not a must have. $2600 will get you 5 units (that's what I paid for mine, I absolutely didn't need the 5th one, 4 would have been perfect/overkill for my 72x24x29)... They are roughly $550 each, and the controller is $150. (not needed if you have an apex or profilux with the proper addons)

You can use 2 assuming this is a 4x2x2 standard 120 add you can mount the units high for proper spread. 14-16" with swapping to all 40degree optics you will get outstanding par to the sandbed and plenty of coverage. As well as enough light to burn your corals after your current MH set up. If you can't mount them high them mount them about 4" and swap to all 70 degree optics, (not sure if the spread will compensate, you may end up with shadowing and need the 3rd unit)


Advantages:
Significant power savings in both lighting and heat
No chiller!!
Amazing color control
Amazing ramping programs and weather profiles (adds to the fun factor)
No more bulb replacement for potentially 10 years
Modularity, as new tech comes out these units are upgrade-able so you don't get left behind as technology progresses.
YOu can also buy two and if you need more, get the 3rd later (you may like 2 fine and could save $500 or so)

Disadvantage
Upfront cost
Potential lack of certain spectrums of color that have been accused of favoring some coral/coral colors over other... though this is extrememly rare and hardly ever noticed.

 

+K for that, well said.

 

The beauty of a system like AI Sol, is if the technology has some break through in the next year+, they are modular and you can upgrade them as it progresses (granted still costs money, but not as much as whole new systems)