FastAquatics
Side-by-side equipment comparison

LED vs T5 Aquarium Lights

LED vs T5 Aquarium Lights side-by-side comparison. Pros, cons, when to pick each, and recommended setups for each tank type.

LED Lights

Pros

  • Longer life (30,000+ hours)
  • Lower electricity cost
  • Programmable spectrum + ramping
  • Cool to touch
  • Adjustable intensity
  • Better for reef SPS

Cons

  • Higher upfront cost
  • Shimmer effect (some find ugly)
  • Channel imbalance can fade colors
  • Premium fixtures $400+

T5 Fluorescent

Pros

  • Even coverage (no shimmer)
  • Cheaper upfront ($150-250 fixture)
  • Plant growth proven for decades
  • Simpler - just bulbs + ballast
  • Easier color blending

Cons

  • Bulbs need replacing every 12 months ($30-50/bulb)
  • Hot - heats tank water
  • Higher long-term electricity cost
  • No programmability

Which to pick (by use case)

Use caseRecommended
Reef SPS coralLED
Reef LPS + softLED
Heavily planted tankBoth work; T5 if you prefer no shimmer
Budget reef tankLED (long-term cheaper)
Show-quality plantedLED with high-CRI tuning

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