My ATI Sunpower T5/LED Hybrid - with PAR measurements as well

[sahin]

OK, here are the PAR measurements of my ATI Sunpower HYBRID 5x24watt T5 and 24 Cree LED's @ 700mA (approx 60watts). 20 of the LED's have 80degree lens, the remaining 4 have 60degree lens.

The tank is 18" tall, 30" long and 20" front to back. The water height is 16" from top of sand to water surface.

Excuse the bad quality of the photo. For some silly reason I took the photo at an angle, but here goes:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_9719.jpg

Some notes about the various numbers:

1. PAR measurements were made using the Apogee MQ-200 PAR Quantum meter. This meter underreads the PAR from narrow spectrum LED's (mainly in the blue section) by around 10-20%, so my PAR levels are probably a fair bit higher.

2. The T5 tubes, bar the actinic tube, are about 5 months old. When I put in new tubes I expect the PAR levels to increase slightly.

3. The light unit is suspended 7.5" above the waters surface. If I mount it lower, PAR levels get too high causing bleaching due to photoinhibition.

4. Numbers in RED are PAR readings on the SAND. The 175, 265,175 are right against the FRONT glass. 175's are in the extreme corners. The 390-A is the PAR in the centre of the tank on the sand bed.

5. PAR levels 1" below the unit are in excess of 2500!!!

6. PAR numbers just below the surface of the water is around 1100!

I am extremely impressed with this light modification. Since the purchase of the PAR meter, I have been looking at various PAR measurements carried out by other hobbyists and it appears that the PAR levels are in similar range to 400watt halide systems. All in all, I am very happy with the PAR levels and the possibility of supplying very good spectral quality via the use of various T5 tube combinations.

The unit has the following T5 Tubes/LED front to back:

Front:
ATI Blue+
ATI AquaBlue Special
Cree XR-E LED's: 20 x Royal Blue + 4 x Blue
KZ FijiPink
Arcadia 420nm 03 Actinic
ATI Blue+

The actual look of the tank is not as blue as the photo. It is a very nice 20K look.

Some photos during building:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5845.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5844.jpg
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5849.jpg

Not content with modding my ATI Sunpower with high power LED's I decided to add LED "moonlights" as well:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5806.jpg

A shot showing the "moonlights" in use:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5811.jpg

Hope you enjoyed reading this.

[solitude127]

Anymore detail as to how you did this? Where did you put the driver for the LED? How are the LEDs cooled?

[sahin]

Anymore detail as to how you did this? Where did you put the driver for the LED? How are the LEDs cooled?

Hi there, other than what you see in the posted photos, I have not taken any further photos. Perhaps I can explain in this way:

http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5844.jpg
In the photo above you can see that the LED's are attached to an Aluminium plate. The ATI chassis had to be cut out and the Aluminium plate fixed on the back.

In the photo below you can see what the other side of the chassis looks like:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5845.jpg
You can see that on this side the Aluminium plate has various small flat type VGA heatsinked fans. In the above photo I was trying out different fan types. So the LED's are fixed to Al plate on one side, and on the other side small heatsink/fans cool the LED's. Fresh/cool air is obviously drawn in by the ATI fans - I used the design of the ATI fans to good use here.

Lastly, the LED drivers are located outside the unit. Those meanwell drivers put out a lot of heat...imagine, a bunch of (24) LED's, ballasts for the T5, and the T5 tubes themselves, its a lot of heat to deal with...there is no way you can pack in the LED drivers in there and cool things.

I hope that explains things, not sure there is any further explanation that I can give other then for you to see the fixture in person.

[solitude127]

Thank for the time and explanation. How many hours do you think you put into this project? On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate the complexity of this project?

[sahin]

Thank for the time and explanation. How many hours do you think you put into this project? On a scale from 1 to 10, how would you rate the complexity of this project?

I did the work over a month...just a bit here and there after I came back from work and had time for the hobby after helping out with the kids etc, so honestly, I am not sure of the man hours... 15 or more hours would be a guess?

Its not complex, I'd say 6-7 (10 being highest). Most of it is having the tools and hours on hand to do the job (and having some basic level of electrical knowledge. eg I had to take out one of the double T5 ballasts and put in a single version. I also completely re-wired all the T5 tubes so that tubes 1,4 and 6 light up together, and 2 and 5 light up on another line.

If you do this job then get dimmable drivers. The PAR is just insane. I now have the fixture 9" above the water.

All in all, it was a fun project and the PAR measurements confirm my aims and expectations of this project.

[o0jmadr0x0o]

i have been dying to do this with my tek fixture. Is that heatsink a part on the ati fixture or did you add that? do the leds add any shimmer with the t5's on? do you have a shot of the tank with just the leds on?

[solitude127]

I wonder if the inside of the PM looks the same.

Do the "guts" of the fixture just slide out?

[matttg]

very interesting, i wanted to do this with a t5 fixture, does it give you a slight shimmer?

[salsipuedes]

How does the growth / coloration compare to what you were running before?

I am considering doing something similar to this as I am not 100% sold on the growth rates from led.

[solitude127]

Any chance we can get a picture of how the wires come out of the unit?

[sahin]

i have been dying to do this with my tek fixture. Is that heatsink a part on the ati fixture or did you add that? do the leds add any shimmer with the t5's on? do you have a shot of the tank with just the leds on?
Hi, I had to add the Aluminium plate and add the heatsinked fans.
With 5 T5's on there is still a noticeable shimmer. With 3 T5's on there is lots of shimmer. Sorry I dont have a photo with the LED's only.

I wonder if the inside of the PM looks the same. Do the "guts" of the fixture just slide out?
No, the inside of the PM is very different. Do a search for it. There is next to NO extra space inside the PM. I recall from PM dismantle photos that it does indeed slide out.

very interesting, i wanted to do this with a t5 fixture, does it give you a slight shimmer?
See posted reply above.

How does the growth / coloration compare to what you were running before? I am considering doing something similar to this as I am not 100% sold on the growth rates from led.
The LED/T5 hybrid lights went on this system when the tank was first setup. So I can only compare to previous tanks I've had and I can say that even when I factor in all other variables; coral colour is the best I've ever had. I can tell you that LED's will definately grow corals.

Any chance we can get a picture of how the wires come out of the unit?

See this photo:
http://i685.photobucket.com/albums/vv217/Sahin_UK/DSC_5844.jpg
You can see the wires for the LED's coming out the top left hand corner. I dont have my own laptop/computer at the moment to take photos/transfer/upload etc.

Hope that helps.

[dg3147]

Man...can I contract u to build one for me????? I would totally give u a couple bucks....

Why doesn't anyone make these???

[sahin]

I know that SFILIGOI can make one for you that is a hybrid of T5 and LED. But they cost a BOMB. I wish the likes of ATI and Tek made these. But honestly, its not too difficult to DIY into an ATI unit.

[NeverlosT]

it looks like ATI liked your idea!

http://www.atinorthamerica.com/powermodule.php

[sahin]

it looks like ATI liked your idea!

http://www.atinorthamerica.com/powermodule.php

Haha looks like it. I bought the ATI LED/T5 Powermodule now anyway. :lmao:

[fessoclown]

Really glad I came across this thread. I have been racking my brain and Googling trying to sort out what to do for lighting my tank.

Currently I am using 3 Radions (1xGen1 and 2xGen2).
I can't for the life of me dial them in and want to go back to T5HO

I don't want to ditch LED altogether as I really like the RB POP and dig the shimmer.

I have been thinking of either dumping the Radions altogether and going with an ATI 6X80W and attaching Reefbrights.
OR
Adding retrofit T5HO 4x80W on either side of the Radions
BUT
now I am wondering if I were to get a 6x80W ATI powermodul and take the 2 centre lamps out do you think a Radion fit in that space?

If I were to go that route it saves me the hassle of selling off the Radions and building decent housing for a retro t5 kit ( my tank is rimmless and no hood)

Thoughts please?

[sahin]

If you can find a T5 fixture that will hold the Radions nicely recessed in with some of the tubes removed, that would be the best option and look good too.

I will point out that my buddies who have LED's have good results with both the Radion Pro and AI Hydra units.