Former mad scientist... I'm a mad Realtor these days!
Never looked into LEDs. Just personal opinion but too expensive to replace for my setup and by the time I recoup my money with energy savings, they'll come out with newer and better LEDs with more appropriate spectrums and my setup will be just junk by then. Plus, I scored all the cheap MH ballasts and reflectors people were selling once they jumped to LEDs. My whole 3x 400-watt MH setup with lumenarc reflectors cost me $180 in used equipment versus one Radion at $500+/unit plus I would need to get 3, maybe 4 for my setup. We're talking $2,000 just to light my tank? For roughly the same results, perhaps even worst results for SPS than I'm getting with my $180? Even if I bought some cheaper Chinese knockoffs, I'm looking at $600 for 4 lights. Or would I rather pay $180? Again, that was a simple decision for me but again, it's just for me. If MHs were more expensive to buy still, then I would look more seriously into LEDs. I do prefer the look of MH but its purely a money decision for me... what lighting can I get that will give me the best for my money? That's why I also use the cheap plusrite bulbs @ $13/bulb. I could probably get better color from a $70 radium bulb, but I ask myself, is it $57 better? x3... is it $171/year better? The answer is always no, so I still use the cheap bulbs and I still run MHs.
Updated list of equipment just for Robb:
-3x 400-watt MH with lumenarc reflectors using plusrite 20k bulbs
-Reeflo Gold Hammerhead (5,550gph)
-Skimz Monster Series SM-201 (rated 550gals)
-2x TLF 150 reactors for GFO and other modified for biopellets
-LED refugium light (this one, the cost factor won out so I went LED )
-blue Stunner strip (dawn/dusk lighting)
-Korallin C-1502 CaRX with 5lb tank and secondary reactor
-Apex full version with 2 EB8's
-2x WP-40