Need help deciding what lighting to run MH w/T5's, MH w/LED, or LED w/T5's ?

[general0]

Will definitely go with enough led's to provide a good level of dusk to dawn transitioning I love the sunrise sunsets of my current LEDs so want to keep that. As far as MH bulbs go the fixture I will be using is a DE type bulb so I'm not sure the twinarc come in that version. I like the Phoenix 14k and have used them in the past with great success so they will most likely be my first choice.

Now time to look at some options for swapping the 4 T5's out for two strips of LEDs and what combo I should go with for the LEDs!! I'll post up the progress when I get the parts!

Thanks everyone for the info and help!

 

[4bruceinc]

From my experience, I used two 36" XHO reefbrites with two de pheonix bulbs - 250 watts driven by Galaxy ballasts. The reefbrites made a noticeable difference. But I like the XHOs better with my T5s.

 

[Timber77]

I would go back to the radiums, you already have the ballasts. Led hasn't caught up to a radium in a good reflector yet, someday it hopefully will.

 

[moondoggy4]

I think he will be using the Maristar II that unit has two DE MH's and 4 T5's, I have seen people remove the MH and led compartment and stick two AI Sols in there and keep the the 4 T-5's. I also have the Maristar II.

 

[general0]

Yup, it's a Maristar II. I bought it with the idea of pulling the MH stuff and gutting my two Evergrow IT2040's LED's and combine both LED panels onto one controller. After measuring the panels they are a couple of inches too wide to fit and keep the T5's.

I then began thinking to just keep the MH and DIY two led strips on each side replacing the T5's. That way I can get the colors and growth I used to have from MH with the POP of the LED's and keep my sunrise/sunset and moonlight features!

Right now I'm researching what LED's I want to use. I'll be using 2x2 Aluminum U stock for the heatsinks and I've also decided to get the Coralux StormX LED controller with Meanwell LDD drivers. I'll use Phoenix 14K bulbs for sure but depending on how blue it makes the tank with the LED's may look into a white bulb to offset the blue (I like a more 18K look).

If I could have found someone to trade me some AI Sol's for my IT2040's I would have loved to have gone that route instead as I've seen the DIY someone did do this with and it was pretty cool!

 

[moondoggy4]

I was wondering if two or three BLM's would fit where the MH are also, that would be a very expensive experiment though. Do you think the Vegas are the same width as a AI Sol?

 

[general0]

Sorry, not familiar with BLM's? Now you have me curious as to what these are! I know the space between the T5's in my Maristar II fixture is a little over 6". Any of the AI LED product line would fit this requirement.

 

[moondoggy4]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2351395 Could be pricey maybe two will work, they are made in Texas can be custom built or stock models same price I believe.