Adding T5 to supplement LEDs

[ahmed.boomer]

I've recently had this urge to go back to T5 lighting. I find the spectrum much more soothing and growth great better than LEDs. I currently run 2 150w MH with 2 D120s. I was wondering of anyone has mixed T5's and LEDs and how they set it up.

I want to do 2 t5ho's coupled with my D120s.

 

[-Logzor]

I think the best is to buy a T5 fixture and mount Reefbrite XHO LED's onto the fixture. If you have a hood you could you do a retro fit T5 then just add the Reefbrites.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

I bought a cheap 6 bulb fixture off ebay then put my radion pros inside it... I only use the 2 outside bulbs running ati actinic bulbs... color and growth went threw the roof since adding in the t5 light

 

[ahmed.boomer]

I bought a cheap 6 bulb fixture off ebay then put my radion pros inside it... I only use the 2 outside bulbs running ati actinic bulbs... color and growth went threw the roof since adding in the t5 light

That's the same thing I'm planning to do. I can't find cheap 6-bulb but Home Depot has a $40 2 bulb HO one I was thinking about using.

 

[saltwaterpicaso]

I got my 6 bulb ho with built in timer off ebay for like $150 sold all the bulbs out of it for $10 a piece.. it also has built in moon lights and its 48 inches

 

[ahmed.boomer]

I got my 6 bulb ho with built in timer off ebay for like $150 sold all the bulbs out of it for $10 a piece.. it also has built in moon lights and its 48 inches

Any chance you could show me how you did it? I don't want to sacrifice to integrity of the fixture when I put my LEDs in.

 

[tat2z_21]

What size tank is it. I had LEDs and ran VHO's and loved the look. Growth was amazing as well. I am thinking of placing the VHO's back on. I had to 48" 110w VHO's and ran the ati super actinic.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Its a 90 gallons so 48". I loves the halides but the color and heat are just too much. I'd rather have T5HO's as actinics and for color.

 

[royal sps]

Can we see the fixture you DIY

 

[phillrodrigo]

I just bought a used 8 bulb current t5ho for $40. I have a old reg t5 light in my closet. I'm gonna change out the ballast taken one from the 8 bulb. I was gonna cut the inside out and mount my reef breeders inside but I want 4 bulb t5 so I don't have the room. It's pretty small for a 8 bulb only 12 inches wide. My led is almost 9

 

[ahmed.boomer]

That's my biggest problem. My LEDs are 9" so I can't fit it in a fixture. I'd have to have the t5's either infront or behind unless I modify it

 

[Joemg25]

I felt the same way with my frag tank and the use of Led's. I went to home depot and looked at there shop lights just to see if I could build one myself. Home Depot actually sells HO T's units now. I bout one of those units for about 38 dollars and I build a housing around it so it wouldn't light up my house and added a switch. It's awesome and my corals are growing like crazy now.

 

[Joemg25]

I meant T5.

 

[ryanhark]

I wanted to do the same. I took 2 reflectors and a ballast and mounted them on my AI hanging rig.

 

[ryanhark]

 

[ahmed.boomer]

The AI is 5.35" wide while my fixture is 9". That's the only problem I came across.

 

[akitareefer]

This is a horrible picture but you get the idea. I put G2 radions in my t5 fixture with blue + and my 2nd fixture has a diy led strip. The t5 bulbs really add fill light and help add what the leds cannot

 

[nickman]

Here is the rig I had over my 180, my tank is in my wall so appearance was a distant second to function.
I have since switched back to MH and have seen immediate improvement, for what's it's worth.

 

[ahmed.boomer]

Here is the rig I had over my 180, my tank is in my wall so appearance was a distant second to function.
I have since switched back to MH and have seen immediate improvement, for what's it's worth.

Did you take the reflectors out of a fixture? I found a t5HO ballast, but don't know where to get reflectors for a good price.

 

[nickman]

Sorry I uploaded before finishing the description.....
It's a 2 x 80 watt retrofit. If your tank is 48" you should be able to find 2 or 4 bulb retrofits pretty easily. I built the rack out of aluminum "U" channel.
For an exposed application I skinned my last lighting rig in 1/4" plywood stained to match my stand and hung it which looked great.