ISO suggestions on supplementing leds with t5 lighting

Daniel@R2R · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

Do you have a canopy or open top?

Daniel@R2R · Jun 5, 2014

Canopy on both.

Daniel@R2R · Jun 5, 2014

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

Pete polyp · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

eklapp said:
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 · Jun 5, 2014

mdbannister said:
Very nice!

+1 ...that looks great

Daniel@R2R · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

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

hybridazn · Jun 5, 2014

mdbannister said:
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 · Jun 5, 2014

which ATI bulb you plan to use mdbanister?

Daniel@R2R · Jun 5, 2014

alan.reef said:
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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

alan.reef said:
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 · Jun 5, 2014

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 · Jun 5, 2014

hybridazn said:
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