Black box/T5 hybrid - help wanted

[Reef noob_]

So after watching a number of BRS lighting videos I had pretty much settled on the Idea of getting the Aquatic life quad t5/LED kit and adding two AI primes on.

Then I realized I already had LEDS in the form of two 165W black boxes and that I had an old quad T5 light in the garage.


This is what I came up with from a couple hours of planning. The rack will be made of 1" aluminum "L" tubing and some 1/8" aluminum panels. It will hold my 2 LEDS and then 4x 54W T5s. That are powered by the gutted internals of the old fixture.

Before I actually start a project like this though, I wanted to ask if anyone else had experience using a T5/black box combo with success before?

Also, what bulb combos would you run? I wanted to do 2 types (1 of each per side)

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[RobZilla04]

The frame and rack system looks sleek in design. I have two Viparspectra and simply added a LET style retro fit T5HO mounted on each side.

Coral Plus and Super Blue bulbs currently. Haven't had them long enough to give a review either way.

 

[geldof]

Did adding the two T5HO fixtures to your Viparspectra set up, result in any visual or color improvement. I've been thinking about doing the same thing.