DIY LED light bar

Rawby15 · Aug 16, 2022

So I currently have an 36” aquatic lift hybrid fixture with 2 pop bloom 90w LED lights from Amazon and 4 T5s. (3 blue plus and 1 coral plus). I run my LEDs all blue (royal and sky blue channels) ramping up and down from 10am-10pm with them ending and starting on moonlights. Then from 12-4 I run the T5s. My problem is that I don’t believe the LEDs have a blue spectrum that promotes much growth. I have had my tank for about a year now and will admit I am still new to the hobby. I have finally started to dabble into acros and have been having good color and PE. The only downside is I feel like my growth could be better. I was wanting to add some 410nm and 425nm 3w LEDs to my fixture that I could slowly dim brighter over the next 4-6 months to help promote some growth while the T5s are off. The other benefit would be that I really feel like while the T5s are on the color could be better so hopefully adding a little violet color might improve that as well. Excuse my ignorance on this, just wanted to get some opinions.

Duncan62 · Aug 17, 2022

Rawby15 said:
So I currently have an 36” aquatic lift hybrid fixture with 2 pop bloom 90w LED lights from Amazon and 4 T5s. (3 blue plus and 1 coral plus). I run my LEDs all blue (royal and sky blue channels) ramping up and down from 10am-10pm with them ending and starting on moonlights. Then from 12-4 I run the T5s. My problem is that I don’t believe the LEDs have a blue spectrum that promotes much growth. I have had my tank for about a year now and will admit I am still new to the hobby. I have finally started to dabble into acros and have been having good color and PE. The only downside is I feel like my growth could be better. I was wanting to add some 410nm and 425nm 3w LEDs to my fixture that I could slowly dim brighter over the next 4-6 months to help promote some growth while the T5s are off. The other benefit would be that I really feel like while the T5s are on the color could be better so hopefully adding a little violet color might improve that as well. Excuse my ignorance on this, just wanted to get some opinions.

LEDUSA has what you need. Check them out. You'll be surprised. Good luck

Rawby15 · Aug 17, 2022

I will check them out! Thanks

Steven Garland · Aug 19, 2022

So StevesLed's has heatsinks like all the big led bar companies use,but better. He also has Viosys Hyper Violet's for $4 which are BRIGHT. Ledsupply has 400-410 and 410-420nm violets. Rapid led has 385nm and 390-400nm. Steves also has Luxeon Sunplus and Rebel ES Royal Blues for $1.50 (Sunplus) and $2.50 (Rebel ES) the Rebel's are BRIGHT like 1400mw @ 700mah.

Rawby15 · Sep 1, 2022

So I have went forward on this project and had my shop at work weld together a frame for me. I ordered some violet and blue LEDs and going to hopefully get it going this weekend.