mpyers
New member
So I've just completed my DIY light project. 162W of LEDS. 56x 3W. 10x each of three colors of blue, 10x purple and 14 white.
This post is about adding T5 to it and to show off my project.
I ordered the lights from China on amazon. About $5 for 10. Used a makersLED heat sink. 36" extruded aluminum heat sink with t-slot grooves for fastening the led stars with a nut and bolt. $150. 5 channels of up to 14 leds each. Im currently running 4 channels of 10 and one channel of 15. The driver array was $90. And the power supply was $50. The controller was $50. And it does a sunrise and sunset at a changeable rate and start time for each channel. Controllable day intensity and night intensity. Cloud cover. Noon peak. Thunderstorms. Lunar cycle. The heat sink comes with cooling fans. But I don't think they're needed. Im running 75% max capacity at 100% intensity and it doesn't get warm without them. I only have one on because I hooked it up and why not?
Currently my corals are browned out. As I've been running on low light for a while and just completed my set up 2 days ago. If the new rig doesnt bring their colors out I'm looking to get a t5 retrofit kit to add to it.
I was thinking 2 or 4 split between in font of the LEDS and behind. Probably 2 in front 2 behind. Anyone have any suggestions on what kit I should get our how I should try to mount it? I have a hanging kit for the LEDS that I haven't installed yet. It will hang from the ceiling. Im hoping to mount it to the heat sink so I don't need 3 sets of wires hanging from the ceiling. Please share your wisdom. Also feel free to pitch in your do's and donts with T5 as I've never had one except this garbage 28W 48" that I had from a freshwater tank.
Thanks!!
This post is about adding T5 to it and to show off my project.
I ordered the lights from China on amazon. About $5 for 10. Used a makersLED heat sink. 36" extruded aluminum heat sink with t-slot grooves for fastening the led stars with a nut and bolt. $150. 5 channels of up to 14 leds each. Im currently running 4 channels of 10 and one channel of 15. The driver array was $90. And the power supply was $50. The controller was $50. And it does a sunrise and sunset at a changeable rate and start time for each channel. Controllable day intensity and night intensity. Cloud cover. Noon peak. Thunderstorms. Lunar cycle. The heat sink comes with cooling fans. But I don't think they're needed. Im running 75% max capacity at 100% intensity and it doesn't get warm without them. I only have one on because I hooked it up and why not?
Currently my corals are browned out. As I've been running on low light for a while and just completed my set up 2 days ago. If the new rig doesnt bring their colors out I'm looking to get a t5 retrofit kit to add to it.
I was thinking 2 or 4 split between in font of the LEDS and behind. Probably 2 in front 2 behind. Anyone have any suggestions on what kit I should get our how I should try to mount it? I have a hanging kit for the LEDS that I haven't installed yet. It will hang from the ceiling. Im hoping to mount it to the heat sink so I don't need 3 sets of wires hanging from the ceiling. Please share your wisdom. Also feel free to pitch in your do's and donts with T5 as I've never had one except this garbage 28W 48" that I had from a freshwater tank.
Thanks!!
