Ai sol blue + T5s?

[Thatgrimguy]

I have been looking for a way to add a fuller spectrum; specifically in the red spectrum. One solution I have come up with (the cheapest) is to employ a 2 bulb t5ho 60" using ati purple plus bulbs and run all my AI sol blues (5 total) long ways and then mount the bulbs on each side of my leds.

My leds are mounted about 15-16 inches above the water line. Will those bulbs give me any usable par in the tank at that height?

I'm worried it will be too red. I've heard of dimmable t5s (i have an apex to control it.) I may add on purple plus and one actinic plus.

Any suggestion on what retro kits to look at?

I'm not definitely doing this, just a thought.



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[[WDT]TardFarmer]

Bump as I am wondering the exact same thing.

 

[Reefoholicc]

I am doing the exact same thing with my 20 gal long. I have pictures and info on another forum. You can read it here: http://www.wamas.org/forums/topic/42902-reefoholics-new-20-gallon/page__st__175

I supplement my AI Sol Blue with two 24" ATI Purple + T5s and I don't think the look is too red.

Hope this helps!

 

[codeblue48]

Hoping I can get some pics of how people set up T5 retrofits with their hanging SOL Blues... I've been toying with this same idea but I am not sure how I could do it. I don't have a canopy or anything like that.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

My experiment on this.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

Just got this setup and will have pictures once everything is set up over the tank!! That's an AI sol Blue with 2 t5ho ATI purple plus (overdriven on an icecap ballast) and 3 420nm Trueviolet leds

 

[cassklar]

here are my two mounted lenthwise over a 72 gallon bowfront i had catalina aquarium build me a fixture with 4 t5s 2 in back and 2 in front with my AI's in the middle i have had my sol blues for 6 months and i have growth in all my corals including sps i added the t5s for some color pop in the reds and pink and they work really well

 

[gldnegle76]

cassklar...What t5 bulbs are you using?

 

[RtReef]

This may be easier and cheaper. I posted a photo and in the middle of my light you can see an led strip I added. They are about $40 and come is all types of colors. They make pink which would be the best for your red color that you are wanting.

 

[gldnegle76]

This may be easier and cheaper. I posted a photo and in the middle of my light you can see an led strip I added. They are about $40 and come is all types of colors. They make pink which would be the best for your red color that you are wanting.

Can you give a link to these fixtures, or pm me?

 

[RtReef]

http://itzapetthing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=51855

I found this link. The name is True Lumen I believe the link is to the pink one which is supposed to bring out red's and brown. They can be linked together with a splitter they sell and they are surprisingly bright!

 

[RtReef]

Better link to their home page
http://www.current-usa.com/lighting/truelumen-led-strips

 

[drw94]

I am in the same boat as well. I read on another threat that some are using ecoxotic RGB Pro strips. They come with a controller so you can dial in the color you want. I would like to see some chime in that are using those RGB Pro strips.

 

[gldnegle76]

Better link to their home page
http://www.current-usa.com/lighting/truelumen-led-strips

Thanks for the link. One last question:
My current ai sol blue intensities are 20/35/35, but will be increasing as I introduce sps corals. Will the truelumens be overpowered by the ai's?
I've heard others say ecoxotic's stunners are washed out by the ai's.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

Thanks for the link. One last question:
My current ai sol blue intensities are 20/35/35, but will be increasing as I introduce sps corals. Will the truelumens be overpowered by the ai's?
I've heard others say ecoxotic's stunners are washed out by the ai's.

That's my worry. I'm running my lights at 90/95/75 (w/rb/b) and they are mounted 15.5" above the water line Any led strip light will get washed out...


I have settled on adding 2 VHO true actinics and 3 ATI Purple+ bulbs with LET reflectors and using Icecap 660 ballasts. I am going to mount the AIs *** to *** darn near touching each Should be about the same length with 5 of them as the 60" T5/VHO bulbs!

VHO Pure Actinic
Ati purple +
AI SOL Blues
Ati Purple +
VHO Pure Actinic
Ati Purple +

 

[RtReef]

When I turn it on with the AI it adds a light tint of blue to the tank. With the AI on it's not very strong but with AI off it gives a nice pop!

 

[gldnegle76]

I may just have to break down and add a purple t5ho. Was really trying to accomplish this with led's.

 

[Thatgrimguy]

You could get someone like Jonathan at Reefwerks.com to custom build you a supplementation light. But that's a far more expensive option.

Using red, green, white and royal blue leds he could build a supplementation light that would work and mix well. I started off looking at this option and finally decided that the price and overall effect of t5/vho would be better for me.

 

[codeblue48]

thanks all for sharing your photos.

 

[natedogg]

Anybody have links to guys using a Pro RGB with Ai Sol??