daves-reef
Non-member
Dave AKA The Serial Coral Killer.
Is making another change to his reef system. New Lighting.
After 6 + years with same Current Dual 250W MH T5 light fixture. Having thought about it for a long long time.
I am finally going to try LEDs or should I say LED T5 retrofit Hybrid.
I wanted a new fixture and after looking at MH options. Giesemann being the only available MH fixture I liked.
Semi DIY of my own LED T5 hybrid would be significantly cheaper than both a new MH fixture or the available hybrid fixtures.
And since I have had such spotty success with SPS and LPS with my existing MH fixture.
Why invest in more Power and Heat. It has always been a question that I had too much light with the Current USA fixture sitting on top of tank anyway.
Been building this LED T5 Hybrid fixture / floating canopy over the last month.
It has 2 LET T5 retrofit fixtures for total of 4 bulbs.
Its painted with Rust-Oleum Hammered Black paint.
Its slightly grayer than satin black and it gives it the look, a little like plastic.
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/universal/universal-hammered-spray-paint/
I hung the fixture above the tank with just the t5 bulbs Wednesday.
The retrofit reflectors appear brighter than my original fixtures T5s. I am using the same bulbs.
The tank might have enough light as is with just the T5 and they are hung higher than before too.
Took a couple of pictures while building the case. The tank shot is yesterday with just the T5s installed.
The LED are expected to be delivered today. Hopefully they will fit were I planned.
Don’t plan on using them at full power for a very long time if at all maybe 30% to start.
If it all works out I will post a picture with LEDs added.
Is making another change to his reef system. New Lighting.
After 6 + years with same Current Dual 250W MH T5 light fixture. Having thought about it for a long long time.
I am finally going to try LEDs or should I say LED T5 retrofit Hybrid.
I wanted a new fixture and after looking at MH options. Giesemann being the only available MH fixture I liked.
Semi DIY of my own LED T5 hybrid would be significantly cheaper than both a new MH fixture or the available hybrid fixtures.
And since I have had such spotty success with SPS and LPS with my existing MH fixture.
Why invest in more Power and Heat. It has always been a question that I had too much light with the Current USA fixture sitting on top of tank anyway.
Been building this LED T5 Hybrid fixture / floating canopy over the last month.
It has 2 LET T5 retrofit fixtures for total of 4 bulbs.
Its painted with Rust-Oleum Hammered Black paint.
Its slightly grayer than satin black and it gives it the look, a little like plastic.
http://www.rustoleum.com/product-catalog/consumer-brands/universal/universal-hammered-spray-paint/
I hung the fixture above the tank with just the t5 bulbs Wednesday.
The retrofit reflectors appear brighter than my original fixtures T5s. I am using the same bulbs.
The tank might have enough light as is with just the T5 and they are hung higher than before too.
Took a couple of pictures while building the case. The tank shot is yesterday with just the T5s installed.
The LED are expected to be delivered today. Hopefully they will fit were I planned.
Don’t plan on using them at full power for a very long time if at all maybe 30% to start.
If it all works out I will post a picture with LEDs added.
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