AH Supply has LED retro fit units that plug into a power compact socket

[dbosman]

No pictures yet.
http://ahsupply.com/mcart/index.cgi?code=3&cat=5

The lighting unit runs off line current so you remove the ballast and connect the power cord to the power compact socket.

[Joefish]

  LED is being forced on the aquarium hobby too fast.  Bold lamp life claims that lack long term use studies to verify.    The SW hobby is littered with failures of these fledgling products and DIY setups.  Unless your comfortable with repairing an LED fixture yourself warranty turn around time requires you own a spare lighting system.  While I do believe that LED is the future of all aquarium lighting its just not ready yet.  T5HO is a step that most hobbyist haven't even taken yet.  Whole fish rooms ran off 1-3 ballast instead of a bunch of 2 lamp T12 shop light fixtures.  Seen plenty of setups that haven't even upgraded to T8 for the power savings.

Personally, I will always run Metal Halide on my reef because to me that looks best.  T5 and LED just looks enhanced and fake.  I will give LED a maybe because it can still generate the shadows and shading from surface ripples fluorescent doesn't.  Pretty sure I can run the whole fish room T5HO, 1 lamp per shelf, from 2 workhorse 7 and 4-6 inexpensive lamps.

[Marty]

For general lighting, I would think that it would be ideal due to the reduced power usage.  Initial cost might be a bit higher, but you don't have to replace the bulbs either.

I can't speak to saltwater or planted tanks, but I do remember a system that came out a few years back that a number of reefers swore by.  It was programmable and worked well.  The biggest problem the company had was that they didn't have it patented and they went out of business.

[danielratti]

LEDs are junk when it comes to saltwater in some ways yes. If you are using them for fresh who gives two hoots really unless you are doing plants. Sure if you run a fish room LEDs would be a cheaper way to go but fish don't need light. I run lights on only a planted tank 8 hours a day and the rest of my tanks from 9am-11am and 6pm-8pm only when I am home.

I think its cool that they came up with a way to make it so you don't have to drop a couple hundred on a new ballast will it fail chances are yes. We use PCs at the store and trust me even the best of them fry for no reason and Im sure it will be no different with the LED bulbs in it. We do have some people who use LEDs that they got from us so far they love them but they also spent upwards of 300 dollars just for a 18 inch light.  MH is the way to go if you can afford to run them on a reef tank plus chances are you will be running fans and or a chiller as well but that would be the same with t5ho or t12vho bulbs will both run really hot. Shucks I have a guy who runs MH on his african tank and cant figure out why he has a heck of a time keeping it below 86 when the lights are on.

LEDs are still new to the hobby but eventually they will be saying that they were not ready to be marketed quite yet. Yeah they have advantages but is it really worth the hassle? Not really the stories some people are coming in and telling me are that some of these systems the bulbs start to dim and or die with in a couple months. Im sure if I told enough people that I just use some mag lights over my tanks people would start doing it also. It just seems like LEDs are a tread and it will blow over.