Ati dimmible with led supplement

J

jasonmxrcr

New member
Well after months of reading threads and pulling my hair out, I have finally reached a decision. I can no longer wait for the ai vega for my 75 gallon. I have decided to go with an ATI 6 bulb dimmible fixture. I think the color and growth of t5 lighting is proven. Metal halide is out of the question due to heat and limited headroom. I also do not have a $1600 budget for radions. The only downfall of the t5's is the lack of shimmer. I really love the metal halide shimmer effect. Here is where the led's come in. I was planning on using Rapid LED's 24 Cree xt-e royal blue supplement kit. Here is where I need help. I was thinking about mounting the led's in front of the t5's. I don't want the shimmer of the led's to be washed out by the t5's. Also I am clueless as to which bulbs to run in the t5 fixture. Any thought or suggestions would be great. I would like to due this right the first time. Thanks.
 
I think you will have a hard time not washing out the shimmer with that many T5 bulbs. I just added 2 T5 above my 120 gallon. I already had 2 Kessil a150's, which produced a ridiculous amount of shimmer, and it was reduced dramatically. I don't think I'd even notice it if I had 4 bulbs.
 
That's what I am afraid of. I was hoping that putting the led's in front would help. I have seen a few threads with similar setups but info on shimmer. I don't want a disco tank, just metal halide type shimmer. Thanks.
 
I would think so but I'm no expert on that. My SPS were doing fine with the Kessils up higher. I added the t5 more for visible light and because my tank is 24" deep. They are overdriven with an icecap 660 tho.
 
Thanks jerpa, a four bulb unit would definatly help with th budget. I would think the LEDs running all day would make up for the missing t5's and allow some shimmer. I don't want to make a mistake buy buying too small of a fixture. I was thinking with the dimmible 6 bulb unit I could run the levels lower and still achieve the shimmer from the led's. Arrrggg! Still questioning my choices.
 
how about 1- t5 front one back and a big diy led center. or even 3-t5..,,put a long thinner diy led either slightly front or slightly back of center (i'd go slightly back). But now you're going to ask what t-5 bulbs combined with what led emitters.....that's a whole big can of worms.....the possibilities are endless......but don't expect to get it absolutely perfect on the first try....i am in the process of doing the same thing....I have 4---t-5's with ice cape 660 ballast and trying to decide to take one out ?...two out ? or just squeeze in a thin strip of led's and keep all 4 ...t5's.... everything i have is retro fit into a canopy though ! Right now I'm testing led's in a separate smaller tank before i decide....
 
Thanks outsider, your response is exactly wha I was looking for. Don't icecap ballast overdrive t5's? I don't know how much this matters. It sounds from your response I would be o.k. with a four bulb unit and DIY led strips. Having an apex would help controlling LEDs. I still think the dimmible ati would help to not overpower the LEDs.
 
What is the dimensions on the 75gal? I have a 24x24x18 cube with a 6x24 ATI sunpower. I added 2 Blue Reef Brites and the shimmer is drowned out but slightly visible. It's def not like a halide. When the two atinics are on with the RB's it is stunning and the shimmer is stronger obviously. The other down side is that the LED's are so powerful I have to have my light really high off the tank. I think a 4 bulb is more then enough depending on the placement of high light corals. If you get a 6 bulb you could use some lower PAR bulbs like Actinics.
 
Are you dead set on the dim-able? It is super hard on the bulbs and you have to burn the bulbs at full power for 50hrs first before dimming.
 
Thanks kc350twin, I am still leaning toward dimmible 6 bulb fixture. Worst case scenario I would not run two bulbs. I have learned with return pumps it's better to have too much than no enough. Is your fixture dimmible?
 
I'm going to try a kessel a350w to get shimmer and add par tiny 6 bulb sunpower. I figure I can use the gooseneck to get it pointed right.
 
Jason I'm in the same boat , want the shimmer but not completely sold on spending 1k on lights on this small of a tank. Im going rimless so I can't do any type of retro fit. I Can't agree with you more on the pulling your hair our thing. Lights shouldn't be this stressful.
I'm only lighting a 24x14x16 area, I think I'm going with a AI Sol. For one it's half the price and second I like the fact you can go through different spectrums without having to hook up your laptop to it. I just wish I heard a few more positive things about the light.
Good Luck!
 
The Ai were definatly a contender for me. There built about 40 miles from my house. I just don't have the experience with sps to see or diagnose the possible problems associated with acclimating to LEDs. I do not want to gamble thousands of dollars worth of frags. It's hard to mess up t5's, their tried and true.
 
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