Adding LED to T5

[Railcar79]

I am looking at adding some Current TrueLumen strip lihgts to suppliment my T5s. anyone know if they are controllable with VDM ports on an apex or not?

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[ReefLEDLights]

The APEX for now is 1-10VDC Analog.

A quick Google did not specify if the Drivers are Analog 1-10VDC, 1-5VDC or PWM.

I would ditch the T5s as they are expensive in the long run and go 100% quality LED.

Bill

 

[Railcar79]

I wouldn't mind doing led, but they are expensive, they change every other day, and they have a proven history of color morphing Acans. For the $600+ I would need to replace my t5s I could buy bulbs for 7 1/2 years. I would like to suppliment, see if they work before committing the funds

 

[Reefing Madness]

$600?? What are you buying??
I run these and they are just as good as the big boys.
Dimmable 120W LED Aquarium Coral Reefs Grow Light Lamp 3W Chips Full Spectrum | eBay

There are also these to consider:
120W LED Aquarium Light Dimmable Full Spectrum Reef Marine Coral LPS SPS Lamp | eBay
OR-U120 LED Aquarium Light_Aquarium LED_OCEANREVIVE LED
Arctic-S026 LED Aquarium Light_Aquarium LED_OCEANREVIVE LED
Value LED Fixture | Reef Breeders LEDs

 

[Railcar79]

Top cords. I would have to get rid of my custom canopy..I have 11 inches from the water to the canopy. Top cords won't fit, and I don't want to hack up a $250 canopy

 

[ReefLEDLights]

I wouldn't mind doing led, but they are expensive, they change every other day, and they have a proven history of color morphing Acans. For the $600+ I would need to replace my t5s I could buy bulbs for 7 1/2 years. I would like to suppliment, see if they work before committing the funds

Dont forget the extra electricity you will spend over those 7 years.

If you DIY you can choose the same LEDs or better offered by the $600-900 LEDs for about 1/2 the price.

Lesser expensive Chinese Imports work its just they just lack the quality, efficiency and longevity of more expensive fixtures.

As far as colour morphing Acans this can happen with MH lights as well. The right combination of LEDs will offer almost the same spectrum of of your current T5s.

Bill

 

[Reefing Madness]

Top cords. I would have to get rid of my custom canopy..I have 11 inches from the water to the canopy. Top cords won't fit, and I don't want to hack up a $250 canopy

Thats all mine is. Not that I much care for the top cords, I got em to fit. I just used a bracket to drop the fixture down enough to get the plugs in, and that still had the lights enough above the water. Heres a pic of what it looks like, this is a different LED unit, but I can take a pic of the one with the plugs on top if you'd like.