Supplemental led to halide fixture?

[metone914]

I currently have 3x 250w metal halide fixture with 4 x80 w fluorescent tubes over my 6’ 180 sps/lps tank. Unfortunately the ballasts on the fluorescents is going bad. I was thinking of upgrading to led for the blues/actinics. I want to keep the halides. I like them and they work for me. Just looking into supplements for the blues. Does anyone have experience in this or can point me in the right direction? TIA

 

[TX_REEF]

Check out orphek bars, you can get them in blue spectrum and they’ll fit the same bar type area as the fluorescents. They also have plenty of PAR. You could also go with kessil 360s if to match the shimmer and PAR, or A80s if you just want the color pop.

Links for consideration:

Orphek bar: https://amzn.to/41VM5jB

Kessil 360: https://amzn.to/4kPoOsd

Kessil a80: Amazon product ASIN B01LW8U9QP

 

[bobnicaragua]

I run orpheks OR4 bars and Reefi UNOs with my halides along with T5.

Blue LEDs will add more pop than T5, which are pretty much drowned out by halides. You will have more shadowing without the T5.

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use 2 OR3 bars to supplement my MH light, I'm happy with it

 

[Reefing102]

I used popbloom blue LED bars off AliExpress.

 

[SpSDrew]

Reef breeders Edge bars would be perfect. A 63” single edge bar is 150 watts, so you would only need 1 on either side of the halides. I run something similar but with the full sized meridians to cover. 3’ width.

 

[metone914]

Thanks for the informative response’s! I am very appreciative. I’m sure any of these lights would fit my needs. Does anyone have an opinion on the AI Blade Glow? Looks like a nice compact package that would fit my situation the best given the small size and mounting bolt locations. The light looks pretty slick but the price point is pretty high. Worth the cost?

 

[gregrock68]

Thanks for the informative response’s! I am very appreciative. I’m sure any of these lights would fit my needs. Does anyone have an opinion on the AI Blade Glow? Looks like a nice compact package that would fit my situation the best given the small size and mounting bolt locations. The light looks pretty slick but the price point is pretty high. Worth the cost?

I use the Ai blade glow as supplemental lighting. Works great but from my understanding they are designed to be directly on top of the tank, although mounting them up 6 to 8" probably won't hurt. I love the color of them to supplement my whiter spectrum on my Radeons. For what it's worth you could easily use the other brands mentioned since you are adding the blue color ranges