Adding LEDs into T5 Retro setup?

[reelfreak]

I'm planning on adding a single 1.6" Rapidled DIY kit with 30 LEDs driven by 2 dimmable drivers, controlled by Apex. It will be 60" long and fit dead center of the canopy between my 6x80w T5 DIY LET setup, 3 bulbs on each side of LED rail. Current bulbs are KZ Super blue x4, KZ new gen and ATI actinic.

My intention is to use it for sunrise/sunset and to gain some "pop" and shimmer during these times.

I've done tons of reading and believe I've picked out led colors but wanted some input about the choice. Tank is a 125g 72" long and has 2 top braces, and I've figured I'll arrange the colors into 3 "sections" repeating the scheme.

Thoughts are 15 Cree RB, 6 Blue, 3 hyper violet, 3 warm white and 3 neutral white.

I would run 2 dimmable channels, "blue" channel with 9 RB, 3 blue,and 3 UV...."white" channel will be 6 RB, 3 WW,3 NW,3 blue.

Each section of the three that repeats would be....RB/Blue/WW/RB/RB/UV/Blue/NW/RB/RB....ALL with 80* optics to try and blend them together the best.

Anyone have advise or running something similar?

 

[SkullV]

I'm running something very similar using all rapid parts in my T5 Fixture retrofit. My only piece of advice is to skip anything but Royal Blue, Blue, and Cool White. Any red/violet/etc. spectrum your corals need are going to come from your T5 bulbs. You just want the LEDs for "pop" and you don't need/want red/violet/etc for that. I would also make sure 100% of your white LEDs are on the same channel and your other channel is 100% Royal Blue/Blue (RB in my case). This allows for that really crazy royal blue pop when you want to run just the Blue LEDs.

My set up:

"Apex Ready"

Chip/channel selection

 

[reelfreak]

Thanks skull,pics are great! You may be right that i can skip everything else and go only RB,B,CW....

I Definitely want that one channel of crazy royal blue /blue.

I imagine your T5s wash out the led shimmer when they are all on?

Thanks again pictures are helpful

 

[reelfreak]

Btw, TEK was my 1st T5 setup years ago...still have it in the attic, loved that light!

Too bad it was only 48" and this is a 125g

 

[gus6464]

Using white LEDs is an absolute waste when a Coral+ bulb will be better in every way.

Since you going with rapid led do xt-e royal blue, ultramarine royal blue, 410-420nm violet, and cool blue.

Use the LEDs for your blue spectrum and T5 for white, purple, etc. Also optics are useless.

 

[SkullV]

Thanks skull,pics are great! You may be right that i can skip everything else and go only RB,B,CW....

I Definitely want that one channel of crazy royal blue /blue.

I imagine your T5s wash out the led shimmer when they are all on?

Thanks again pictures are helpful

Nope, with 30 LEDs (even with just the 18 I had before I added the second strip) running and 4 T5 bulbs I still get a great shimmer. In my opinion the shimmer I get is a very natural looking shimmer akin to a metal halide.

Using white LEDs is an absolute waste when a Coral+ bulb will be better in every way.

Since you going with rapid led do xt-e royal blue, ultramarine royal blue, 410-420nm violet, and cool blue.

Use the LEDs for your blue spectrum and T5 for white, purple, etc. Also optics are useless.

White LED is not an absolute waste when you want to run the LEDs during periods when the T5 is off and don't want a pure blue tank. Many of us in the SPS forum are finding that an aquablue special in the mix rather than an additional coral + has yielded great color improvement when running in an LED hybrid fixture. My total lighting setup is:

Front
-----
Giesemann/DD Actinic+ (The old stuff before Giesemann and DD severed ties, basically a Blue+ with a slightly deeper color)
ATI Aquablue Special
LED
ATI Coral+
ATI Blue+
-----
Back

In addition, running the Ultramarine on any channel you want to run at any decent current won't work long term. They are very similar to a UV in the "max current" catagory.

 

[alazo1]

I'm running something very similar using all rapid parts in my T5 Fixture retrofit. My only piece of advice is to skip anything but Royal Blue, Blue, and Cool White. Any red/violet/etc. spectrum your corals need are going to come from your T5 bulbs. You just want the LEDs for "pop" and you don't need/want red/violet/etc for that. I would also make sure 100% of your white LEDs are on the same channel and your other channel is 100% Royal Blue/Blue (RB in my case). This allows for that really crazy royal blue pop when you want to run just the Blue LEDs.

My set up:





"Apex Ready"


Chip/channel selection

I have the same Tek light as you and really like what you have done. I'm thinking of doing the same thing as you (minus the apex capability).
As for the fans, I noticed you have three, is this right?. Do all 3 come on at the same time?. What fans did you use? Do you have a build thread for your light?.
thanks,
Albert

 

[SkullV]

I have the same Tek light as you and really like what you have done. I'm thinking of doing the same thing as you (minus the apex capability).
As for the fans, I noticed you have three, is this right?. Do all 3 come on at the same time?. What fans did you use? Do you have a build thread for your light?.
thanks,
Albert

There are 2 fans and they run at all times when the LEDs are on (so basically any time the fixture is producing light). I used cabinet fans from AC infinity for the look and the aluminum frame but the actual fans they come with are pretty loud (but move a sufficient amount of air at 6v). I'll be replacing them with some better 80mm fans shortly. I don't have a build unfortunately but I can try to take some photos when I pull it apart (hopefully one last time) to replace the fans in a week or 2.

http://www.amazon.com/AC-Infinity-A...1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

 

[reelfreak]

I too am using the AC Infinty fans. Ive got the Axial 1225 models, pretty happy with noise/volume ratio.

I think it's key to get low speed fans, high speed isn't worth the extra noise for me.

Im using a canopy in my system and fans are a necessity.

Thanks for the advice skull, ive just ordered my rapidled items and hopefully will have the new hood/lighting built in around 3 weeks

 

[alazo1]

Thanks for the information. Regarding the number of fans, now that I look at your picture again, I was thinking that the top of the leg on the far side of the picture was a fan:rollface:

If you do get around to taking some pictures, that would be great.

Oh Yeah, the colors of your corals are amazing.

Albert