LED / T5HO combo

One of my Workhorse5 electronic ballasts that's running my T5HO lighting burnt out so 2 of my 6 bulbs are out.

Is this the "opportunity" to build a LED/T5 combo setup or do I just replace the bad ballast and call it a day??

Last year I started researching LEDs, I even build the pico vase to test out LEDs, it has been running for almost 3 months now and I'm happy with the results so far. I'm not sure what's the latest in the CREE LED now but I'm thinking maybe 2 heat synchs in the center (not sure how many LEDs each yet), then 2 T5HO bulbs on each side. This would be on my 75g DT, what do you guys think and recommend for LEDs, heatsynch, drivers and where's the best place to get them?

Thanks

 

I would think about using rapidleds actinic strip lighting heat sink to make a led strip to replace each bulb that blew out, that way you have control depending on how much you want to switch or keep your set up.

 

Hey Martin. I think doing a combo t5 / led is a great idea! You'll keep the ability to customize your color, save some energy and bulb cost, get some nice shimmer, and you'd be helping other hobbyists feel more confident in the switch to led light source.. I vote go for it and if you do, I hope we all get to watch and see

 

I did this a few months back, but reversed the roles of the primary lights to your situation...I had LEDs as my primary, with 2 T5HO lights as supplementing light/color balance. I love the shimmer look...I also love the color combos you can do with T5's.

 

I too have done this. Over my 55 gal. I have a 2 bulb T5 HO Glo fixture with 2 Ecoxotic Modules. I was going to go all LED but like stated, I like having the ability to change the color scheme. I also get a nice shimmer.

 

The quickest resolution to my burnt out ballast issue was to replace it, it was also the cheapest solution at only $22 on Amazon. Should be getting the new ballast on Monday. However, I will be building a new light setup where LED will be the primary but I would still have 2 T5HO on each side, I like the colors I'm able to achieve with T5s, whereas LED is either too blue or to white. As a test I put my 2 PAR30 BoostLED on my main tank with the 4 T5HO bulbs currently running...I was impressed with the color results.

More to come, the LED/T5 combo setup I plan to build will have to be scalable because I plan to switch to a bigger tank sometime within the next year.