LED T5 Hybrid.....awesome

[topround]

I recently upgraded my lighting, which was LED only, by adding a T5 hybrid fixture with great results.
The Led setup is Aquatic Life LED's, a master and slave, which feature built in programming, which I like very much. Adding the Aquatic Life T5 hybrid light fixture allowed me to utilize my LED's and run 4 T5 bulbs.
Finding the right color spectrum to match your aesthetic desires requires you to play with T5 bulbs,, and mix and match different color spectrum bulbs.
We are using actinic, super blue, and coral plus.

The corals are growing like crazy and I have never seen some of them open as much as they do now.
Also even illumination from all sides really changes the way the tank looks and takes some getting used to if you are used to only LED's. Too much white and you could lose some of the fluorescence pop the LED's produce, that is where playing with bulbs comes into play.

Overall very happy with the results without having to shell out big bucks for a turn key hybrid fixture.
The Aquatic Life fixture is very basic, just on and off when plugged in, no switches to turn it on, no timers or programming, it requires a timer. But the payback is huge for a smaller investment than a full featured fixture such as the Geisemann.
I will try to post some photos.

mike

 

[DangerDave]

I have the same fixture, it’s very nice. I’m running two AP700 in mine.

 

[Mrx7899x]

I went led t5 combo and it's working very well

 

[erics210]

Can you guys post some pics .Was thinking about doing a T5 ledled co

 

[Sponge]

Me to. Would love any info at all. I know what led I want but confused as to what color T5 bulbs to use

 

[DangerDave]

I have two each of the giessmann actinic and super actinics.

 

[erics210]

So Dave if using 2-ap700, did you buy a rack to hold them between the 2 or 4 bulbs? Are the t5 controllable and dimmable. I read some t5 are dimmable.

 

[Mrx7899x]

I run 2 ati blue plus bulbs.

 

[David]

Yea. I find the concept of t5 hybrid very interesting as well. I been doing a lot of thinking about them lately.

 

[Trio91]

Heres my hybrid

 

[DangerDave]

So Dave if using 2-ap700, did you buy a rack to hold them between the 2 or 4 bulbs? Are the t5 controllable and dimmable. I read some t5 are dimmable.

I just used a couple shelving brackets hung upside down. It’s in wall, the tank is in the garage, so it didn’t have to pass wifeys judgement.

It’s the aquatic life hybrid fixture. It’s not dimmable, but they are working on a new fixture that is. No biggies, I ramp up the leds then the T5 turn.

 

[DangerDave]

This is a really long thread, but you can follow the development of all the options they make, and the talk towards the end of the dimmable unit they’re working on.

 

[Sponge]

Mr. Danger
How do you like the aquatic life light

 

[Sponge]

This is a really long thread, but you can follow the development of all the options they make, and the talk towards the end of the dimmable unit they’re working on.

Where is the thread???

 

[DangerDave]

Lol sorry

Aquatic Life Debuts LED/T5HO Hybrid Mounting System Fixture Reef Hobbyists Have Been Waiting For!

 

[DangerDave]

View attachment 22531 View attachment 22532 View attachment 22533

Heres my hybrid

Nice, which one is that?

 

[Trio91]

Nice, which one is that?

It's an old Tek light that I mod'd. Just cut out a hole in the top and cut out the 2 center reflectors, added new ballasts and that's it.

 

[Sponge]

Love the mod trio
Mr. Danger. I read the thread and some how missed the part about the t5 being dimable

 

[Mrx7899x]

You just need to use a dimmable ballast.

 

[Sponge]

You just need to use a dimmable ballast.

Ok. So would it be better to swap out the ballast or just ramp up the LED’s before the T5’s kick in???? Do ramping a ballast effect life of unit or bulbs???