T5 /led setups ..please post your pics

[dewboy1127]

Here is a link to my LED/T5 Ghetto rigged setup.

http://reef2reef.com/threads/125g-bar-build.228162/page-2#post-2666958

As long as they are efficient then thats what matters ...and whats in the tank....im bout ready start another thread or search some on how to diy t5 as it looks simple just dont know what all is needed

 

[Latino277]

It's an SPS dominate mixed reef and it seems to be working just fine. But, its only been about a month and I'm still playing with the LED intensity. I really love the look with the LEDs now. Less shadows.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Diy... i like wish i knew how

This was my first diy I just went Home Depot with my dims and had the guys cut it super easy cost like $10 in material for the canopy

 

[Alucard]

I went a little different route and have two par38 led bulbs supplementing my t5

 

[dewboy1127]

This was my first diy I just went Home Depot with my dims and had the guys cut it super easy cost like $10 in material for the canopy

Im pretty sure could figure all out my biggest thing is the wiring and whats needed to run them ...which i could also prob figure out if needed be nice have someone in my area that knows how though

 

[ksanfranfan]

For about the first 3 years on my current system I was running an all diy led setup. Last year I decided to try all T5's for the first time and wasn't happy with the way things were going. So I decided to build an Led/ T5 setup. I just recently decided to go with just Royal blue, cool blue, and a couple of other colors on the led heat sink, but mainly royal blue and cool blue make up about 95% of the led's, no whites.
I am running 3 T5;s to make up for the whites. 1 Geissman, 1 ATI, and an Actinic. I built the entire unit from scratch like I did previously with my Led setup. There are a total of 60 led's. I sanded and polished the entire aluminum frame and heat sink to an almost mirror finish before assembling the unit.
I like to build things, not the best at it but I think it looks ok over my tank. The display is a 70g eurobraced shallow tank, only 17" high. The lights are ~10-11 inches above the water surface. I"m planning on trying different white bulbs here in the next month or so, planning on ATI Coral + and keeping the actinic bulbs.
Not sure if you were just looking for manufactured units or diy but thought I would give another example of possibilities.

 

[hejjo]

Following. Currently using leds which are great but Need more diffused light.

 

[dbl]

@E_Aquatics is local to me and has completed a nice retrofit. Take a look at his thread here: https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/erics-300gal-build.181400/page-7. A nice example I think.

 

[Spiderguardnano]

Im pretty sure could figure all out my biggest thing is the wiring and whats needed to run them ...which i could also prob figure out if needed be nice have someone in my area that knows how though

Aqua cave and brs sell the kits to this its so easy as just attaching a few wires together
Trust me i did it and I'm not good at all lol but I found it super easy

 

[Scythanith]

Don't be afraid to retrofit LED's or T5's into a system. The T5's are literally push the wires into the endcaps and put a bulb in between the, lol! Most ballasts have colour coded wires and a wiring diagram on them for the most common bulb setups. Wire strippers to size the wires, screwdriver to affix the T5 stand offs... that's about it. Sometimes you have to wire the ballast with a plug but you can buy the plug from home depot. Google is your friend if you're unsure of anything.

 

[dewboy1127]

Guys wheres best place to order t5 end and ballast and what not

 

[ksanfranfan]

For reflectors, I bought the Coralvue individual single reflectors. I believe the are about 2.5 " wide and they sell them in 24"&36" long lengths. They cost $10 each and shipping was free for me. IMO, they are good reflectors as far as quality.They also come with clips for mounting if you want to use them.

http://www.coralvue.com/super-lumen-output-t5-reflectors

For ballasts I have used 2 different ones. I ordered the HEP programmed start ballasts that ATI uses from Premium Aquatics. They were $25 each.
http://premiumaquatics.com/products/ati-dimmable-2439w-2-bulb-t5-ballast.html
These can be used for 24 & 39 watt bulbs.
I needed a ballast that could run a single bulb as well for my current light fixture and went with a Sola ballast from 1000 bulbs. They are local to me so I am able to pickup locally. They are also programmed start ballast but run just a little more than the HEP ballasts. The Sola ballasts can run 1 or 2 bulbs but they have a lower ballast factor. For me it's not a big deal. I don't want to run bulbs on my tank at 1.00 bf but also don't want to under drive them too much.
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/111232/BS-E725U239R1S.html

This is what I used for the T5's. There are kits from BRS and Hello lights and several others that include wiring and end caps. Many of the kits I've seen come with instant start ballasts and there have been debates and controversy over instant start vs. programmed start ballast for the bulbs we use. I chose programmed over instant for my own use.

 

[dewboy1127]

For reflectors, I bought the Coralvue individual single reflectors. I believe the are about 2.5 " wide and they sell them in 24"&36" long lengths. They cost $10 each and shipping was free for me. IMO, they are good reflectors as far as quality.They also come with clips for mounting if you want to use them.

http://www.coralvue.com/super-lumen-output-t5-reflectors

For ballasts I have used 2 different ones. I ordered the HEP programmed start ballasts that ATI uses from Premium Aquatics. They were $25 each.
http://premiumaquatics.com/products/ati-dimmable-2439w-2-bulb-t5-ballast.html
These can be used for 24 & 39 watt bulbs.
I needed a ballast that could run a single bulb as well for my current light fixture and went with a Sola ballast from 1000 bulbs. They are local to me so I am able to pickup locally. They are also programmed start ballast but run just a little more than the HEP ballasts. The Sola ballasts can run 1 or 2 bulbs but they have a lower ballast factor. For me it's not a big deal. I don't want to run bulbs on my tank at 1.00 bf but also don't want to under drive them too much.
https://www.1000bulbs.com/product/111232/BS-E725U239R1S.html

This is what I used for the T5's. There are kits from BRS and Hello lights and several others that include wiring and end caps. Many of the kits I've seen come with instant start ballasts and there have been debates and controversy over instant start vs. programmed start ballast for the bulbs we use. I chose programmed over instant for my own use.

Programmed vs instant??...explain?

 

[ksanfranfan]

Programmed ballasts have a delay before the bulbs come on. The delay is so small that you don't notice it. The purpose is to allow the bulb to warm before instantly firing. Instant start ballasts do not warm the bulbs at at all. They fire the bulbs as soon as the are switched on. By not allowing the filaments or gases inside the bulbs to warm first has been discussed in forums as the cause of shortened bulb life. Certain light manufacturers recommend using their lights on programmed start ballasts vs. Instant start.
As I mentioned , the programmed start is something of a fraction of a second and the difference is not really noticeable by most people.
ATI uses HEP ballasts which are programmed start, so I stick with what the manufacturers use in order to have somewhat similar lighting as their own units.

 

[Terry4505]

3 Kessil A360W-es, 4 80 Watt T5 (ATI bulbs) and moonlights in a gutted MT/t5 setup:

 

[dr.dator]

My setup: Orphek Atlantik 2 + 4 54w T5s

 

[dewboy1127]

My setup: Orphek Atlantik 2 + 4 54w T5s

How wide is your tank?....this is similar to what im thinking but dont think ib have the tank width to accomplish

 

[dr.dator]

How wide is your tank?....this is similar to what im thinking but dont think ib have the tank width to accomplish

140 cm or 4.6 feet. 80w tubes are just a bit too long so I had to go with 54w. Didn't plan on using T5s when I got the tank, otherwise I probably would have picked a wider one.

 

[dewboy1127]

140 cm or 4.6 feet. 80w tubes are just a bit too long so I had to go with 54w. Didn't plan on using T5s when I got the tank, otherwise I probably would have picked a wider one.

Yeah imagine being stuck with 18" wide tank think ill be lucky to get two over it plus my radions ...beautiful tank by the way....you said didnt plan on using t5 what changed your mind and are you happy with your decision? Any noticeable differences?

 

[dr.dator]

Yeah imagine being stuck with 18" wide tank think ill be lucky to get two over it plus my radions ...beautiful tank by the way....you said didnt plan on using t5 what changed your mind and are you happy with your decision? Any noticeable differences?

Well, at first it was fine when I didn't have that many corals. But I started to focus more on SPS about a year ago and I couldn't get both the intensity and coverage that I needed with just my Orphek fixture. I pondered getting another Atlantik or maybe two Kessils but I finally decided to convert my existing LED fixture to a LED/T5 hybrid as it was cheaper and also more fun

I'm very happy with it. The difference in coverage is huge. Now I can put even the most light demanding SPS pretty much anywhere in the tank. Also, coloration and growth is better and I don't get as much shadowing as I got with only LED.