DIY 125g canopy with LED/T5 Hybrid build

[reelfreak]

I have been throwing around the idea of going to a DIY hybrid of LED and T5 for a long time. I've been running T5 for the last 10 +years and really love them. When I was setting up my 125g around 4 years ago LED was up and coming but just couldn't bite the bullet and switch.....loved my T5 success. LED really looked nice with the shimmer and Royal Blue making corals pop, I figured I would eventually have to do something with both.

My canopy on the tank was getting pretty beat up so decided to take the time to build a new one and run a hybrid lighting DIY style. I researched LED DIY options and decided to go with rapidled. I needed 60" long but they didn't have that length of heatsink, so opted to attach two together. I used their sinks that have acrylic splash guard with screw down pucks.

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I opted for 30- 3w cree run on 2 channels dimmed by my apex unit. I'm running RB,BLUE,UV,-----CYAN,WW,NW channels with 80*optics.

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I'm running this line of LEDS in the middle of the canopy surrounded by T5s. I've also got some small low watt blue moonlights mounted to this rail.

 

[reelfreak]

Building just the LED portion was a ton of fun, but once wired into the apex and all set up is pretty nice.

Next I built my canopy. I used almost the same dimensions as my old one but made it an inch taller so I can get my arm in tank easier. I cut out two 4" holes to install fans for cooling the tank. The fans are AC INFINITY and keep my temps from 79.5-82* with no chiller. They are run by apex as well based on temp probe.

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I painted it to match my stand and then began installing fans and T5 lights.

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I use LET T5 DIY 6x80 I bought from reef geek a few years ago.

 

[reelfreak]

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Photo shows LED Strip in center flanked by T5s. Bulbs are KZ super blues, ATI actinic, and KZ new gen.

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Cramming all six T5s in with the LED strip meant one T 5 had to be mounted on the door, so it swings up to access the tank.

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[reelfreak]

I significantly changed my lighting schedule for this and ramp the Blue channel up first, followed by some white after around an hour. I keep the whites low while the T5 actinic and super blue bulbs kick on. Next 2 T5s are 2- super blues, finally for a mid day sun duration I run the new gen and last superblue bulb.....I ramp down and cut off in reverse order.

I really love the mix of LED T5, and even with all 6 T5s on there is plenty of shimmer. Colors look great in all phases, even the very white look of mid day which I used to not care for.

I do have a little of the disco effect though, which came from too many colors in my LED strip....probably take the cyan out eventually to get rid of it....ITS only noticeable for a short period of just the 2 LED channels so doesn't bother me.


Just wanted to share my experience with mixing the 2lights....AWESOME is how they turned out:bounce1:

 

[reelfreak]

Rapidled DIY Kit, I bought their heat sinks due to the built in splash guards . I couldn't find anything ready to run that fit so went DIY.

Thanks, I'm really loving the setup

 

[rovster]

Great work! Will be banking this for future ideas. Thanks for sharing. I'm sending this link to one of my buddies, LOL!

 

[reelfreak]

Thanks! When i was researching the project I found limited information and wanted to share my project.

Absolutely love the outcome!