Adding Cree RB supplements to T5's

subielover · Apr 7, 2011

I bought the RapidLed 24" 12 cree xp-e royal blue actinic kit. I plan to add it to my 6x39 watt T5 (ATI bulbs) that I have over my 40 breeder. I am thinking that this is a heck of a lot of light I think, and wanted to get some feedback. Do you all think I am ok to run these with all of my t5's on? Should I stop running 2 of the bulbs? FWIW, the Cree's are being run at 2 watts. Thanks for any feedback.

Troylee · Apr 7, 2011

i think the t5s are gonna kill them honestly you won't notice a difference with the leds on with all those t5s..... it will look cool when the t5s are off and just the leds but together i don't think your gonna see a difference honestly....

subielover · Apr 7, 2011

I figured as much. I am more looking to use them as my actinics so they would be on an hour before and after full lighting. Do you think I will get any extra pop if I turned off two bulbs and just ran 4x39?

Troylee · Apr 7, 2011

hard to say really.... i run 2 vhos with my new led fixture and no matter how high of intensity i drive the leds the vhos kill them....:( i would try it with them all on and see then maybe 1 or 2 off etc....

subielover · Apr 7, 2011

Ok, I will play around with them and report back. They can't get here soon enough for me :)

nikesb · Apr 7, 2011

i've been under the impression that you should still be able to see the pop from the leds especially since you're using cree royal blues. please let me know, because ive been thinking of adding a strip as well

subielover · Apr 7, 2011

nikesb said:
i've been under the impression that you should still be able to see the pop from the leds especially since you're using cree royal blues. please let me know, because ive been thinking of adding a strip as well

You got it!

snoopie · Apr 7, 2011

I built a whole led fixture if u check out my thread... I added two t5 and just two drowned out the led very bad.... I took them off because I didn't like it....

That's 72 leds vs two 36" t5 drowned them out.

Sent from my EVO.

Troylee · Apr 7, 2011

You get a slight pop but once you exp blue only LEDs you won't like anything else...:( I'm in that boat right now I can't get my corals to pop running whites at 20percent like they do with the blue only...

subielover · Apr 7, 2011

Well my other tank is led only, I'm just not ready to make the jump on this tank yet. Plus I do still really like my t5s.

subielover · Apr 11, 2011

I wanted to update this thread so, let me start this by saying it is very hard to get the right colors with just the LED's on. If I was better with post-processing I could probably manually fix it, but Im not so this is what ya get, lol

A little comparison of what the tank looks like with the various stages of lights on.

First picture is full lighting (6x39 t5 and 12 Cree RB LEDs.)

Second picture is 2 t5s (ATI Blue+x2 and LEDs.)

Last picture is only LED's.

Long story short, I love the LEDs. They do get drowned out by the t5's though for the most part. However when they are on by themselves it is amazing! I recommend the kit that I got to anyone who wants to try some blue leds for supplementation.
12 LED Actinic Supplement Kit