T5/LED Hybrid

[Xclusive Reef]

I am not even sure how to ask this but here it goes.. I was thinking about getting a T5 8 bulb fixture and taking the middle lights out and inserting leds and making it a hybrid.

For a 90 gallon tank, how many watts per bulb would i need (helping a fiend build it out) ? I see 39, 54 watts etc. tank is standard 48 inches long.

might get new ballast from brs and reflectors while we at it.
how can I avoid having 3-4 power cables going out the light fixture? any links to wiring this would be great.

t5/led hybrid new 1400-1800 bucks... when we done hope to spend half that or less if possible.

 

[iemsparticus]

I am not even sure how to ask this but here it goes.. I was thinking about getting a T5 8 bulb fixture and taking the middle lights out and inserting leds and making it a hybrid.

For a 90 gallon tank, how many watts per bulb would i need (helping a fiend build it out) ? I see 39, 54 watts etc. tank is standard 48 inches long.

might get new ballast from brs and reflectors while we at it.
how can I avoid having 3-4 power cables going out the light fixture? any links to wiring this would be great.

t5/led hybrid new 1400-1800 bucks... when we done hope to spend half that or less if possible.

39 watt bulbs are for 36" long fixtures, 54 watt bulbs are for 48" fixtures, etc... you would want a 48" fixture I assume, so 54 watts would be your man.

You can certainly DIY yourself some LEDs in the middle of the fixture, but you will want to ask yourself some questions. What color spectrum do the LEDs work at? Are they adjustable? How will you make sure to keep them well ventilated? Will you be able to dim the LEDs to avoid PAR levels that are too high? What is the spread of these LEDs?

All questions except the ventilation question only matter if your friend plans to keep corals.

As far as wiring, you can buy cords with plugs on one end and bare wiring on the other, and then you can cut the cords to your lights down, strip them, and use wire nuts to put all white wires (Nuetrals) together, all black wires (Hots) together, and all grounds together (green or bare copper). This will of course mean that the lights can't be turned on separately... just as a unit. You could always get two from Home Depot and splice all T5s together on one, and all LEDs together on the other. Then you would be able to turn each type of light on separately.

 

[Xclusive Reef]

39 watt bulbs are for 36" long fixtures, 54 watt bulbs are for 48" fixtures, etc... you would want a 48" fixture I assume, so 54 watts would be your man.

You can certainly DIY yourself some LEDs in the middle of the fixture, but you will want to ask yourself some questions. What color spectrum do the LEDs work at? Are they adjustable? How will you make sure to keep them well ventilated? Will you be able to dim the LEDs to avoid PAR levels that are too high? What is the spread of these LEDs?

All questions except the ventilation question only matter if your friend plans to keep corals.

As far as wiring, you can buy cords with plugs on one end and bare wiring on the other, and then you can cut the cords to your lights down, strip them, and use wire nuts to put all white wires (Nuetrals) together, all black wires (Hots) together, and all grounds together (green or bare copper). This will of course mean that the lights can't be turned on separately... just as a unit. You could always get two from Home Depot and splice all T5s together on one, and all LEDs together on the other. Then you would be able to turn each type of light on separately.

good points. I will keep that in mind. I think he plans on doing hydra 26 (2) and 2 t5 front and back. ventilation? lol yea good question. i dont know yet. might have to do a custom job on this one. issue is his wife wants something "pretty" i told her then pay the 1800 bucks

 

[ifarmer]

for a standard 90g four foot long tank.
i think option
Option#1 2 ecotech radion or 2 hydra 52 would be enough give you enough coverage.
Option #2: if you go ATI hybrid, a 4 bulbs/Led hybrid is enough for the 90g tank , 8 bulbs is too too much because the 90g tank is not that wide

 

[Xclusive Reef]

for a standard 90g four foot long tank.
i think option
Option#1 2 ecotech radion or 2 hydra 52 would be enough give you enough coverage.
Option #2: if you go ATI hybrid, a 4 bulbs/Led hybrid is enough for the 90g tank , 8 bulbs is too too much because the 90g tank is not that wide

Hey appreciate the feedback but I would never use the full 8 bulb on there. the point is to do a hybrid not one or the other.

 

[iemsparticus]

Another thing to watch out for with the T5 fixture would be to make sure the sockets are water resistant enough to avoid frying with water spray. Or make sure the whole fixture is high enough that he wouldn't get any spray

 

[Xclusive Reef]

Another thing to watch out for with the T5 fixture would be to make sure the sockets are water resistant enough to avoid frying with water spray. Or make sure the whole fixture is high enough that he wouldn't get any spray

Yes I think he is planning 10-12 inches from the water.