Will today's performance of the Reef Brite XHOs make you reconsider T5s altogether?

[randyBRS]

There will always be a place in my heart for T5 Bulbs and T5 fixtures, but after seeing all of the performance tests for LED strips... I might consider them over T5s going forward.

How about you?

 

[ryshark]

Interesting. You've caught my interest as I need to replace 8-T5 bulbs soon. What is the length of this product to create this fixture using 5-Reefbrites? https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/black-5-hole-led-mounting-bracket-reef-brite.html
Is it wide enough for a 24" from front to back, sps tank?

Also, is using 5x - 48" XHO's a total of 720-watts? Just figuring electricity usage vs T5.
3w per LED x 48 LEDS per XHO x5 = 720, is that right?

 

[Marc2952]

@randyBRS Being that i have enough PAR for acros will the lumilites be sufficient? Since i just need it for some shadowing on my acros.

 

[dragon99]

Interesting. You've caught my interest as I need to replace 8-T5 bulbs soon. What is the length of this product to create this fixture using 5-Reefbrites? https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/black-5-hole-led-mounting-bracket-reef-brite.html
Is it wide enough for a 24" from front to back, sps tank?

Also, is using 5x - 48" XHO's a total of 720-watts? Just figuring electricity usage vs T5.
3w per LED x 48 LEDS per XHO x5 = 720, is that right?

I believe Reefbrite runs at ~50% max per LED (1.5W not 3W). So total is probably around 360w. Would love to see BRS report actual wall plug measurements though.

 

[Opus]

I replaced my T5s with led bars many years ago. The best bars were the buildmyled bars but the pot growing business was too lucrative so they dropped their aquarium line. I find they cover a lot better than the other high end led fixtures. It can be expensive depending on how many you use. I had 4 48" units on my 75gal tank.

 

[shwareefer]

Interesting. You've caught my interest as I need to replace 8-T5 bulbs soon. What is the length of this product to create this fixture using 5-Reefbrites? https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/black-5-hole-led-mounting-bracket-reef-brite.html
Is it wide enough for a 24" from front to back, sps tank?

Also, is using 5x - 48" XHO's a total of 720-watts? Just figuring electricity usage vs T5.
3w per LED x 48 LEDS per XHO x5 = 720, is that right?

48" XHO's are 54w, equivalent to T5's. 36 Leds x 1.5w. I'm not sure why BRS lists 12 leds per foot - that is incorrect.

 

[TexasTodd]

Possible to compare to the Orphek OR3's?

 

[Rich Klein]

I’ll stick with my Kessil / T5 hybrid. That was the flavor recommend a minute ago, works great (all corals growing like crazy. I’m worn out chasing the new shiny toy.

 

[ingchr1]

How optimal do you think the overall spectrum of the Actinic Blue and 50/50 combination is?

I currently have an ATI four bulb with an XHO Actinic Blue. In the ATI I have two Blue Plus, Actinic and a Coral Plus. I'm running the XHO at 70% to get my target PAR of 130 on the bottom (mixed reef). Fixture is mounted at 11".

I'm adding a second XHO Actinic Blue. My plan for the ATI is to stop running the Blue Plus bulbs. Just run the Actinic and Coral Plus, maybe try out something like an Aquablue Special if the tank looks too blue. I'm also going to rewire the ATI so the the two middle bulbs are on the same ballast, the two I'll be running.

Any thoughts on my plan?

 

[Dustomatica]

Been running XHO’s exclusively on this tank for 16 months. Have two blue and one white.

 

[Opus]

If I'm remembering correctly, Josh (Gonzo) ran these over his tanks exclusively when they first came out. So that would have bee around 2012/2013.

 

[Yevoc]

There will always be a place in my heart for T5 Bulbs and T5 fixtures, but after seeing all of the performance tests for LED strips... I might consider them over T5s going forward.

How about you?

I replaced my t5s due to reliability issues prior to this series with a Reef Brite strip.

No bulb replacement. No stepped up AC over the tank. The LEDs for me won in ease of use before the color was scrutinized.

 

[eea60123]

Nope. Still like the t-5’s spectrums.

 

[Yevoc]

Nope. Still like the t-5’s spectrums.

On that front it looks like the Orphek bar is closer to the wider blue band of the Blue Plus vs the Reef Brites blue.

 

[Midrats]

Nope.

 

[Opus]

Nope. Still like the t-5’s spectrums.

That is one of the reasons buildmyled was so great. They had several spectrums to choose from including several for freshwater tanks. If you didn't like what they had they also had an option that let you choose each led on the bar separately. They were made in Austin, TX so turn around was fairly quick.

 

[Midrats]

That is one of the reasons buildmyled was so great. They had several spectrums to choose from including several for freshwater tanks. If you didn't like what they had they also had an option that let you choose each led on the bar separately. They were made in Austin, TX so turn around was fairly quick.

Yeah too bad BML ditched their aquarium line. I have one of their 20K strips. The lens on it works really well in blending the different colors. It puts out a much more t5-like light than the couple of Reefbrites I have.

 

[randyBRS]

@randyBRS Being that i have enough PAR for acros will the lumilites be sufficient? Since i just need it for some shadowing on my acros.

Using the LumiLites or XHOs as supplemental fill light is a solid option!

 

[randyBRS]

I believe Reefbrite runs at ~50% max per LED (1.5W not 3W). So total is probably around 360w. Would love to see BRS report actual wall plug measurements though.

Solid point here. I'll see if I can't get the powerstrip hooked up to a Kill-a-watt and find out what our 24" setup draws at 100%

 

[MnFish1]

No - but the Radion G5 Pros would - they are outstanding.