chiller ???? or leds

I no that leds cost less to run but at $2000 i can keep my mh light that i have now and get a chiller for $500 so im trying to find out what everyone else thinks save my money for leds or buy a chiller and keep my current light also is this a good chiller and is it really as quiet as they say thanks all i have 90 gal mixed reef with two 250watt mh and four t5 ho



JBJ
MINI Arctica Chiller 1/5 HP

 

buy the leds you will save alot of money in the long run. and leds wont cost $2000 2 or 3 AI led lights would be plenty over a 90gal 3x$400=$1200 and a controller is another $100 so $1300 max or you can build your own led fixture for half the cost

 

+1   There is a return on investment in the long run for the LEDs.  Not on the chiller; that will only continue to cost you more and more money. 
That being said, Sone recently mentioned that while LEDs give great color to your corals for viewing, some corals grew better under halides (while others grew better under LEDs).  He's going with a mix.  That may be an option for you.  You can reduce the number of halides that you run and supplement with LEDs.  This would reduce the up-front cost and also reduce the amount of heat introduced into the tank by the halides.  Just another option to consider.
--AJ

 

I love my LEDs.. since switching from MHs my chiller never kicks on and the evaporation has dramatically dropped off so I don't have to run a dehumidfier constantly either. I'm not sure you could do a DIY fixture for half of an AI anymore. When I built mine last summer I think I built it for a bit less than half the cost of equivalent AIs but since then AIs have had their price cut in half. At this point I would probably recommend going with AI over DIY since you would get a nice finished product with cool storm effects ready to go.

 

I to suggest AIs. LEDs have multiple benefits to both your wallet and aquarium...a chiller doesnt.

 

def LED and over a 90 2 would be suffeciant. you will also have your money back in 1-2 yrs in savings on bulbs alone.

 

all right sounds like i will be doing AI lights i will start with 2 and see how well it works if i need to i can allways get more i was going by there web site it said 4 lights and thats a hole lot of $$$

 

2 AI's is all you need for a 90 gallon. I have them and highly recommend them!

 

MXC207
 how did you mount them did you buy the mounting rails or put them in a canopy