ISO suggestions on supplementing leds with t5 lighting

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Hey guys. I'm looking on suggestions for supplementing led lighting with t5s. I've got a 180 and a 120. I'm happy with the growth I'm getting, but I think I could get better color if I supplemented some with t5s. Ideas?

 

[Pete polyp]

Do you have a canopy or open top?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

Canopy on both.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm thinking of going with a diy setup, but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[Pete polyp]

I think diy would be the way to go for you. Parabolic reflectors aren't very expensive. You can also get ballasts for pretty cheap too. Or you could even go a step farther and use polished aluminum and bend reflectors yourself.

 

[Pete polyp]

Just like me to think of stuff after I hit the submit button. You could buy a 6 bulb unit from Ebay and gut it.

http://m.ebay.com/itm/351057968987?nav=SEARCH

 

[Gwitness]

I have a 180 also and I have been struggling and debating the exact same thing with my radions, but now I am really leaning towards just selling them and going with an ATI unit....Still up in the air though!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I wonder if it would be less expensive to gut a fixture or buy the ballasts, endcaps, bulbs, and reflectors myself to build it.

 

[eklapp]

I bought my ballasts end caps and reflectors used 50 bucks. I have 2 reef breeder value fixtures which are good by themselves but better with 2 blue+ purple+ and uv!

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I bought my ballasts end caps and reflectors used 50 bucks. I have 2 reef breeder value fixtures which are good by themselves but better with 2 blue+ purple+ and uv!

Very nice!

 

[Pete polyp]

Very nice!

+1 ...that looks great

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

How important are brands and what not when it comes to buying pieces for diy? I'm planning to go with ati bulbs, but not sure if ballasts, endcaps, reflectors, etc should be carefully selected or if I can just grab stuff at Lowe's.

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

I'm thinking 4 bulbs to supplement with on each tank. Does that sound reasonable?

 

[hybridazn]

How important are brands and what not when it comes to buying pieces for diy? I'm planning to go with ati bulbs, but not sure if ballasts, endcaps, reflectors, etc should be carefully selected or if I can just grab stuff at Lowe's.

See if you can find old ice cap 660 or 430 ballast. As far as the other stuff I would find used as well. Check the forums

 

[alan.reef]

which ATI bulb you plan to use mdbanister?

 

[Daniel@R2R Verified Admin]

which ATI bulb you plan to use mdbanister?

At this point, I'm planning to use 2 ati blue+ and still deciding on the other two...either coral+ or purple+...but I'm open to suggestions.

 

[alan.reef]

blue + has white on it. i use to use blue+ and actinic.
i change it to 2 actinic with my reef breeder photon.

 

[Pete polyp]

blue + has white on it. i use to use blue+ and actinic.
i change it to 2 actinic with my reef breeder photon.

+1 for the pure actinic

 

[hybridazn]

I think he's using them for more par right daniel? If so I would set the leds to 20k and then run a couple aquablue specials to maximize par. If you don't like it switch them out to blue+. I have a spare blue+ and aquablue special laying around if you want to try them out. Also a purple+

 

[Pete polyp]

I think he's using them for more par right daniel? If so I would set the leds to 20k and then run a couple aquablue specials to maximize par. If you don't like it switch them out to blue+. I have a spare blue+ and aquablue special laying around if you want to try them out. Also a purple+

He posted in another thread it was because of color shift in rainbow acans