DiY T5 hybrid questions

[Trooper182]

I'm currently running two nicrew 150w lights on my 75g setup. My tank is an LPS/softie setup and while the nicrews are growing the corals, I'm not getting the light look I want for the tank. My lights ramp up to max 10% white and 60% blue during the day. I also feel like I may get added benefit of better growth from T5 lights. I'm looking at doing my own T5 Hybrid setup using the two nicrew 150 in the middle and adding two T5 bulbs on ether side. Would this be a good setup? What bulbs would you recommend? Yes I know I could spring for better light setup but don't want to go that route. Thanks.

 

[Big E]

Yes it will work fine........do more searches, you can usually find that for much less.
You need the 48" kit.

Look at places like this as they don't charge sales tax----

48" 2x54W Miro-4 T5 Retrofit Kit

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If you have never ordered from Chewy they have a good discount.

LET LIGHTING 2x54W Miro-4 T5 High-Output Dimmable Retrofit Kit, 48-in - Chewy.com

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[underwaterjr]

I did that very thing over my 75 gallon and really like the look and coverage. I use 2 coral plus bulbs but I like a whiter look to my tank.

 

[twentyleagues]

If you want growth you'll want ati blue+ bulbs. Those were the best bulbs for color/growth during the t5 days.

 

[paintman]

Why bother with t5's? The bulbs are going to be discontinued.

 

[Trooper182]

Why bother with t5's? The bulbs are going to be discontinued.

Have any links saying that they will be discontinued? T5s are a cost effective proven solution and from what i have gathered in a hybrid setup will give me what I want to achieve. The market for T style bulbs will be here for the foreseeable future. They may limit the use in the market for things like commercial lighting, but there will always be things like the aquarium market, tanning beds, agriculture that use T style bulbs. Even the EU that have a ban in place, you can still get them for aquarium use. T5 bulbs aren't going anywhere, at least not anytime soon.

 

[piranhaman00]

Why bother with t5's? The bulbs are going to be discontinued.

just like they were 15 years ago?

 

[Trooper182]

I did that very thing over my 75 gallon and really like the look and coverage. I use 2 coral plus bulbs but I like a whiter look to my tank.

Thanks. Do you have any photos of what the tank looks like with the T5s on? Also what legs are you using to hold up the lights? I'm assuming you use the T5s with the whites turned off on the LEDs and ramp up the blue LED lights?

 

[Lbrdsoxfan]

I did something similar like the let kit, just sourced my own parts.

 

[underwaterjr]

Thanks. Do you have any photos of what the tank looks like with the T5s on? Also what legs are you using to hold up the lights? I'm assuming you use the T5s with the whites turned off on the LEDs and ramp up the blue LED lights?

I am using conduit that I bent to 90deg. I actually still use the white leds, there is still a blue color with the whites on. Even with t5 on there is a blue hue just not as much with led alone. Coral+ bulb is more towards white with a blue hue. At least to my eyes. I don’t have a recent pic with all lights on and can get one on Sunday but I don’t have any aquarium picture software so the pictures come out way more blue that real life. Here’s some older pics when I was setting up the lights.

 

[bobnicaragua]

I did something similar like the let kit, just sourced my own parts.

What an awesome fixture!