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Lighting...

A

Arce

Currently i have a reefbreeders over my standard 29g, lately i have not been happy with it at all. I've been wanting to try T5s and was thinking of a hybrid LED/T5. To save myself several hundreds i was thinking about DIY. I came up with a couple options but not sure which to choose...

1) Get a 2x24w DIY kit from BRS, throw two coral+ bulbs in and keep the reefbreeders for the blues and only use the white/color channel for a couple hours or reduce it to a low %. (could also change bulb combo, 2 coral+ was just my first thought)

2) Get the same 2x24w T5 and go DIY leds with full spectrum (WW, NW, RB, B, UV, Lime). Only problem with this plan is i have no experience with DIY leds and get very lost when it comes to deciding drivers and such. I have 2 dimmable drivers from rapid that i got a long time ago, they run up to 10 leds each @700ma, but not sure if these are good or if 2x24w bulbs and 20 leds would even be enough light.

3) Get a 4x24w DIY Kit or fixture and scrap the LEDs. If i got the diy one i could also add a few leds in the future.

My budgets 200-300 but obviously prefer to keep it lower.

Thoughts??
 
jgraz

jgraz

Are the reefbreeder full spectrum? Not too much out there in the way of t5/led combo and the ones that are are crazy money. I have the ocean revive led, it's full spectrum and manually dimmable but they have and auto also. The manual can be had for about $175. Cheaper if you go through eBay. The auto's are about $200.

Or just go all T5. A 4x24" should cover it well but you may get some shady spots on the sides since the tank is wider then the light. Downfall is they don't make a 30" bulb so even the few 30" fixtures that are out there won't help.
 
A

Arce

Yes it is full spectrum.

I would try to get a 4x24w fixture but with the 30" dimension it would have to be hung or have legs that extend. Also the only thing keeping me from getting a 4x24 fixture is because 4 bulbs reduces the amount of bulb choices i could have and make it harder to get the right color temp. Thats why im thinking diy either 2 bulb or 4 bulb and LEDs and put it in a floating canopy. Cant decide what to do though.
 
A

Arce

Right now I'm leaning towards getting the 2x24w DIY kit from BRS and use a coral+ and Blue+ bulbs and run the reefbreeders blues only. Eventually i think ill add to it, either 2 more bulbs w/ LEDs or just a set of full spectrum LEDs.

thoughts on that plan?
 
M

mnat

Officer Emeritus
Staff member
Moderator
Look at the ATI fixtures, I think they go up to an 8 bulb 24 inch fixture. They are also crazy bright fixtures.
 
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