DaveFason Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Diffusers will NOT fix shadowing. It will ONLY lessen the shimmer but create a more uniform light ( no separated colors ). Do not worry about shadowing when you are using a Hybrid. The T5s will fill in those gaps. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted September 28, 2016 Author Share Posted September 28, 2016 Diffusers will NOT fix shadowing. It will ONLY lessen the shimmer but create a more uniform light ( no separated colors ). Do not worry about shadowing when you are using a Hybrid. The T5s will fill in those gaps. Thanks Dave, do you think that reflector I linked is worth trying to? One of the thing I dislike about my current LEDs which don't have reflectors is the light spill. I'm planning to mount this thing pretty close to the surface though so I'm not sure how that will impact things. Link to comment
DaveFason Posted September 28, 2016 Share Posted September 28, 2016 Any of those will work great. Just go wide. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted October 1, 2016 Author Share Posted October 1, 2016 So I starting worrying about my original planned layout resulting in 6" of tank space front and back being lost. I wasn't sure how much spread the T5's would provide but I presume that they're not going to make up the difference. So I wondered if the below would give me more coverage of the 30" tank width. Also, what is the shadowing going to be like, better, worse or the same? Link to comment
theatrus Posted October 4, 2016 Share Posted October 4, 2016 My main caution with using reflectors sans any color mixing element (diffuser) is they have a tendency to have colored bright spots especially if the reflector is a faceted design. One LED will align perfectly with one facet and make a mirror like color spot. I'd always shoot for some kind of color mixing element to reduce that effect. T5 down the center is a pretty good bet IMO - if you're worried about delivering light into the tank, you can also angle the LED arrays inwards a few degrees which reduces light waste down the walls of the tank. In terms of shadowing? Its about the same. Point lights will produce bigger shadows. The diffusers help somewhat as the area of the point light is enlarged to the size of the diffuser (depending on the material - this is why I went for the more lossy wide diffusion satin ice material), but its no match for the area radiator of a T5 lamp whatsoever. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 Ok brain trust, is this the correct ballast to run by T5? I know this will do 4 lamps, I wanted to get something bigger then I needed in case I wanted add bulbs later. Of course, I'm making a stupid assumption the ballast works like that. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MRRPK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2D7TDDNLE3YGS&coliid=I1ZQKZ0DZQLSLN Link to comment
gus6464 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Ok brain trust, is this the correct ballast to run by T5? I know this will do 4 lamps, I wanted to get something bigger then I needed in case I wanted add bulbs later. Of course, I'm making a stupid assumption the ballast works like that. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MRRPK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2D7TDDNLE3YGS&coliid=I1ZQKZ0DZQLSLN That same ballast is 35 bucks at home depot. It's also the right one to buy. You are also going to need unshunted endcaps. Also do yourself a favor and buy 18ga 600v solid core wire. Mcmaster has 25ft spools of all the colors for cheap. I spent less than 30 bucks on 25 ft spools of 5 different colors. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted October 10, 2016 Author Share Posted October 10, 2016 That same ballast is 35 bucks at home depot. It's also the right one to buy. You are also going to need unshunted endcaps. Also do yourself a favor and buy 18ga 600v solid core wire. Mcmaster has 25ft spools of all the colors for cheap. I spent less than 30 bucks on 25 ft spools of 5 different colors. Thanks Gus! Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 Hey all, Some input on changing up my original build slightly. If I went with this: https://www.amazon.com/Agrobrite-FLT46-Fixture-Included-Fluorescent/dp/B005H1C74O/ref=cm_wl_huc_item Swapped out the ballasts for these: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003MRRPK6/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_nS_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=2D7TDDNLE3YGS&coliid=I1ZQKZ0DZQLSLN Remove 2 bulbs and replaced with 8 blueacro half mega arrays, is that excessive? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 is that excessive? hell no. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 9, 2016 Author Share Posted December 9, 2016 hell no. Do you think 6 t5 would be enough for this tank? Link to comment
jedimasterben Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 You're going to be lacking in the width department, but probably not the biggest deal since almost no one keeps coral in the extreme front or back. Link to comment
HarryPotter Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 almost no one keeps coral in the extreme front or back. I can't get my arm across the front anymore Link to comment
jbb Posted December 9, 2016 Share Posted December 9, 2016 I can't get my arm across the front anymore Noob Link to comment
spectra Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Do you think 6 t5 would be enough for this tank? I have the same footprint on mine and running a 8 bulb with 2 pulled for the arrays.......so 6 bulbs......I can grow anything I am sure its lie the sun above the tank when all the lights are on Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 I think it make sense if I buy the 8 bulb unit and decide I want LEDS I can swap out. I'm just really enamored with the blueacro arrays though Link to comment
spectra Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Ok so now no LEDs ? I thought you were asking about 6 bulbs with the arrays....... I would go 8 bulb if no LEDs. Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 Ok so now no LEDs ? I thought you were asking about 6 bulbs with the arrays....... I would go 8 bulb if no LEDs. I'm being indecisive..I just can't decide between t5 and LED/t5 hybrid Link to comment
spectra Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 I'm being indecisive..I just can't decide between t5 and LED/t5 hybrid hybrid you know you want to but your wallet is saying T5s Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 hybrid you know you want to but your wallet is saying T5s Hybrid is the least expensive option. The t5 will cost 30%-50% more over 5 years. The hybrid cost equals the t5 after one bulb change. I'm just worried about coverage and growth. Part of my brain says that the t5 will juice growth enough to cover the difference from frag sales. Link to comment
spectra Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Hybrid is the least expensive option. The t5 will cost 30%-50% more over 5 years. The hybrid cost equals the t5 after one bulb change. I'm just worried about coverage and growth. Part of my brain says that the t5 will juice growth enough to cover the difference from frag sales. Factor in the juice to run them I know the bulbs are not cheap. I think in the end you will not like just T5s as there is no shimmer and also the heat factor involved. I remember the days of T5s only and did not like the look much. Link to comment
jbb Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 MH / T5 Cheapest option ever !!! Link to comment
HM3105 Posted December 10, 2016 Author Share Posted December 10, 2016 MH / T5 Cheapest option ever !!! Surprisingly MH was the most expensive option period. Link to comment
jbb Posted December 10, 2016 Share Posted December 10, 2016 Surprisingly MH was the most expensive option period. Did you really just say "Surprisingly" ? Link to comment
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.