Need my LED experts!

[Begow]

Hey fellas,

 

I'm looking to eventually adding some LED supplements to my lighting now.

 

Here is my system:

 

60 gallon frag tank (48 X 24 X 12)

48 inch 6 bulb T5. Current USA.

 

 

Both of the fans on my light need replaced, and as do all of the bulbs. The issue being is I would love to add some LED's for supplementation. I want that color pop I miss from my radion.

 

 

What are the best options here? I was thinking take out the two center bulbs, and find out how to make the channels only be the four outside bulbs, one switch for each set. Where I took the 2 out, add the LED's.

 

 

I need some pros here, because I am not handy AT ALL, but I really want to do something on my own this time and build it myself.

[Begow]

Was just looking at some stuff on LEDgroupbuy.. wow! Heat sinks are ridiculously expensive.

 

Will I need a heat sink if I'm just adding some royal blues for color? I need to replace my fans on the fixture to begin with, this won't help cool the LED's? I'm drawing up a plan now, will post soon.

[jedimasterben]

Will I need a heat sink

Always.

[Begow]

Always.

 

 

I'm thinking of doing two rows of Royal blue LED's. One LED every 6 inches. Total of 16. Will that be enough to give me the pop look I'm going for?

 

What would be the best bulb config for the blue LED's? Blue + X 3 and a coral +?

[Paleoreef103]

Don't buy a heat sink from LEDgroupbuy for this purpose. Their heatsinks are basically full fixtures. For fitting into a T5 fixture use something like this: http://www.heatsinkusa.com/3-500/ Replace the fans and yes, you need a heatsink for LEDs.

 

Was just looking at some stuff on LEDgroupbuy.. wow! Heat sinks are ridiculously expensive.

 

Will I need a heat sink if I'm just adding some royal blues for color? I need to replace my fans on the fixture to begin with, this won't help cool the LED's? I'm drawing up a plan now, will post soon.

That will give a decent pop, but you're honestly on the low end. Reefbrite strips (which you're kind of looking at replicating) have 24 LEDs for their low power 48" strip. As for bulb config to go with Blue LEDs, 3 blue plus a coral plus and a bunch of royal blues will be more blue than the bluest halides.

[Begow]

Don't buy a heat sink from LEDgroupbuy for this purpose. Their heatsinks are basically full fixtures. For fitting into a T5 fixture use something like this: http://www.heatsinkusa.com/3-500/ Replace the fans and yes, you need a heatsink for LEDs.

 

 

That will give a decent pop, but you're honestly on the low end. Reefbrite strips (which you're kind of looking at replicating) have 24 LEDs for their low power 48" strip. As for bulb config to go with Blue LEDs, 3 blue plus a coral plus and a bunch of royal blues will be more blue than the bluest halides.

 

Is there a way to retro the reefbrite strip into the fixture? 6 bulbs are too much for this tank, so I need to remove 2 and would prefer to add LEDS.

[mechishark7]

Is there a way to retro the reefbrite strip into the fixture? 6 bulbs are too much for this tank, so I need to remove 2 and would prefer to add LEDS.

 

just gotta say, thats one creepy signature

[Benny314]

Can you still get stunner strips?

Again they're a prefab daisy chainable led bar in a selection of colours including some exotics for pop etc.

I have seen threads where people have either mounted them on the outer edge of a T5 unit or left a tube out and fitted the stunners in place of that tube.

Might be a simple and reasonably priced solution to your needs.

Answered my own question lol,

http://www.ecoxotic.com/stunner-led-strips.html

Yes you can, and they seem real cheap.