Lighting Question

[Seggsy]

Just bought a couple of DIY royal blue light strips (from CrazyBizzle).  I originally bought them just for a moon light, but they are friggin bright.  Just wondering, can I use these to replace some of my blue T5's?  Each strip has 8 bulbs (I guess 3W)

Currently I have 6 48" T5's over my 75G mixed reef DT.  Standard ATI bulbs (3 blue plus, 2 special blue, 1 purple plus).

Just wondering if I can ditch 2 of the T5 bulbs (would help for space too) and include the LEDs during the day.  Or should I just use the LEDs to supplement like I had originally planned?  Any thoughts?

 

[Reef Hero]

Idk.....I don't think I would do it....not sure if 8 LEDs would replace a t5 bulb....especially something like a blue plus or coral plus.
I would stink to using as a dusk and dawn light or supplemental.


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[Duke]

Maybe just swap one blue bulb for a coral + and use the 2 led strips, 16 leds is a bunch of blue.

 

[Salty Cracker]

16 blue bulbs won't replace 2 T5's no. 

16 -might- replace 1 T5, but I would swap out at least 2 (or add 2) UV bulbs for greater spectrum.  That was the part I was missing from my setup.  Plus I don't know what bulbs those are, and it's sort of documented that I don't think much of anything but CREE bulbs, so I'm biased.

 

[Seggsy]

I kinda of figured that one strip might replace one bulb. 
8X3W = 24W LED - I thought that would be at least equivalent to 54W T5.

 

[curiousphil]

I've got two Blue+ bulbs in my tank, and I swear they rival my entire LED fixture for brightness.  I can turn off the LEDs and hardly notice a difference in brightness, mostly just a spectrum change.  I have 38 royal blues in my tank (plus more but just wanted to give you a number).

 

[Seggsy]

Dang - thought I could cheap out on buying a couple of bulbs.....
Oh well, might have to take out some reflectors to make room, but it can be done.  That's what Christmas break is for, right?

 

[Poseidon]

Dang - thought I could cheap out on buying a couple of bulbs.....
Oh well, might have to take out some reflectors to make room, but it can be done.  That's what Christmas break is for, right?

I was hoping to buy those strips as well lol
But I was aiming more for the 'pop' addition than par, I might just do a DIY ..

Any chance you can just add more LEDs to the strips ?

 

[Salty Cracker]

Remember even if they are 3W leds, they are never run at full strength, so you are at best 2-2.5W each.  If they are 1W bulbs they are almost useless for anything but moon lights.

16 3W RB bulbs will replace a T5 in terms of light output, but not spectrum.  That's why I would swap in a couple of UVs.  If it's done just for visual POP then they can be left as-is (nothing POPS like LED Royal Blues).

 

[Seggsy]

I think that one or two LED's per stick actually are UV.  They will still make awesome moonlights if I can jam them into my hood.