Metal Halide Replacement LEDs

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About Metal Halide Replacement LEDs

These LED flood lights replace the metal halide pendants that used to hang over reef tanks. Same par-punching output, without the ballast, the heat or the annual bulb replacement.

Why reefers left metal halide

Metal halide grew great coral. It also dumped heat into the water, forced you to run a chiller, burned through $60 bulbs every 9 to 12 months, and shifted color badly as the bulb aged. These floods hold their spectrum for years and run cool enough that your tank temperature stops fighting you.

Picking your spectrum

Color Best for
12000K Mixed reef. Crisp white with a blue lean — the classic reef look
20,000K SPS and deep blue tanks. Heavy blue, strong coral fluorescence
453nm actinic blue Supplement or dusk/dawn channel. Pops the pinks, greens and oranges
6500K Planted freshwater. Neutral daylight that grows plants without algae-friendly color

Sizing to your tank

  • 10W — nano tanks, refugiums, supplemental accent over a corner
  • 20W–30W — standard 20 to 55 gallon tanks, or one of several over a larger tank
  • 50W — the metal halide pendant replacement; covers roughly a 24 inch square of tank

A common build is a white flood (12000K or 20,000K) as the main light with an actinic flood beside it on a separate timer, so you get a blue sunrise and sunset.

Also worth a look

If you'd rather have a linear bar than a flood, see our ReefBar Pro bars, which spread light more evenly across a long tank. Combo kits are in ReefBar COMBO KITS.

Questions about coverage for your tank size? Call 817-440-4862.