Anyone retrofitted AI Hydra 26 with T5's?

[PedroYoung]

I'm thinking about adding some T5 supplemental lighting to my 2 x Hydra 26 on my 75G. I'm using the AI rails. Just curious if anyone has any experience doing something similar and could share what they used and how it was mounted. I don't use a canopy, just hanging the rails from joists in the ceiling. Thanks

 

[Breadman03]

Aquatic Life makes a hybrid T-5 fixture where you bring your LED to mount. Look into that and see if they fit.

 

[PedroYoung]

Aquatic Life makes a hybrid T-5 fixture where you bring your LED to mount. Look into that and see if they fit.

I had looked at that but the reviews on BRS are not encouraging. I am fine to DIY something but thought maybe someone else had built this mousetrap before me.

 

[IgnatiusRath]

I'm actually starting a project to do the same thing this weekend. I have 3 Hydra 26 non HD over my 90 g. Missing t5 spread and the color, so I'm adding 2 x 36" t5 bulbs to a fixture I'm making. I can't go with 48" or more than 2 due to the rim on my tank sadly, but 2 x 36" should achieve what I'm wanting since I don't really need more par. Going to use aluminum stock for a frame, hold the Hydras in a central channel, and run a t5 on either side of the channel. I'm picking up the aluminum, a ballast, and reflectors from a friend who had extra from changing his light rack and had some older stuff hanging around he wasn't using. I got 6 waterproof LET sockets and standoffs from a LFS in town for $5.00 that they got from a teardown. But pricing all the parts out online or locally I figure I could have done the whole thing with new parts for about $$80 if I had to. I'll try to snag some pictures to share as I put it all together.

 

[PedroYoung]

I'm actually starting a project to do the same thing this weekend. I have 3 Hydra 26 non HD over my 90 g. Missing t5 spread and the color, so I'm adding 2 x 36" t5 bulbs to a fixture I'm making. I can't go with 48" or more than 2 due to the rim on my tank sadly, but 2 x 36" should achieve what I'm wanting since I don't really need more par. Going to use aluminum stock for a frame, hold the Hydras in a central channel, and run a t5 on either side of the channel. I'm picking up the aluminum, a ballast, and reflectors from a friend who had extra from changing his light rack and had some older stuff hanging around he wasn't using. I got 6 waterproof LET sockets and standoffs from a LFS in town for $5.00 that they got from a teardown. But pricing all the parts out online or locally I figure I could have done the whole thing with new parts for about $$80 if I had to. I'll try to snag some pictures to share as I put it all together.

That sounds a lot like what I'm thinking (even the 36" bulbs). I'd think you'll have plenty of spread. I'd love to see some pics, please share.
thanks.