Need advice on a new LED/T5 light build

[Jonviviano]

Hello all,

I am in the process of replacing my old DIY LED build over my 72 bowfront.
I am now running a variety of 3 watt Cree emitters with a reef typhon contoller.. I am having good success but the the chips have been running 7-8 years and I would like to do a cleaner build. I have decided to go with a LED/T5 combo. I am going to run 2 T5 lamps on the outside of the LEDs. My initial idea is to use 4 Lumia 5.2 multichips, but most of the LED/T5 build I have been researching seem to still utilize the standard 3/5 watt emitters. What would you guys use? multichips or 3 watt emitters?

-On a side note, My current fixture was built in 2008 using some of the earlier Cree chips and i have not had a single failure!

 

[Jonviviano]

Pretty disappointing, 73 views with not one comment. I guess this forum really is going down hill!

 

[Ramracer32]

howdy, i personally use a radion led light with a t5 on each side and has been awesome. I have plans on getting a 120 gallon tank and have done tons of research on how i wanted to build my next t5/led combo. I havent gone the whole completely diy setup because you can get cheaper and in my opinion a better looking alternative with already built lighting systems mounted together. I forgot where i saw a build where this guy used a very strong blue led strip down the center like 123 watts and purchased 4 single t5 ho units used for growing plants very inexpensive and mounted 2 on each side of the led with ati bulbs and it was amazing. he did mount some pc fans at each end for heat and used aluminum mounts to hold everything together it was still diy but looked awesome. a lot of the single t5 units have an option to link other lights together so there is only 1 power cord. saves tons of money and the colors of coral with growth was awesome.