LED equivalent to T5 HO?

morganatlanta

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What would be the equivalent in LED lights of a 4x54 watt T5 HO fixture? I'm thinking of converting, but have had a little trouble figuring out how many LEDs (or strips) I'd need to get about the same lighting output. Help from anyone who has done a similar analysis and is happy with the LED results would be appreciated.
 
I figured if you just go by power usage it's safe to think half of the total watts will give you similar light so in your case LEDs should be around 100W.

I got the idea by looking at the LED fixtures and how manufacturers compare them to halides or T5
 
the issue isn't wattage.. its PAR. The LEDs can put out what appears to be a dimmer light.. at a lower wattage and still completely FRY your corals.

B
 
SnowManSnow;539927 wrote: the issue isn't wattage.. its PAR. The LEDs can put out what appears to be a dimmer light.. at a lower wattage and still completely FRY your corals.

B


Yea I did 24 LEDs and if you were to look at the T5 vs LED brightness its not a match but I after reading up on the par levels these put out.. its pretty impressive
 
thats the big issue with LEDs right now.. they are so new... that being said there are some posts on RC about LED par values... just google the search with the light you are considering and see what you can turn up.

B
 
if the mods will allow this.. here is something interesting on another site concerning SPS tanks and LEDs

B

showthread.php
 
This would be for my new tank (which I'm going to get Chris at Fish Scales to build). It would be roughly 60" long x 16" wide and 21" deep.

My current tank with the 4x54 watts of T5 HO is 30" long x 12" wide and 18" deep. I like the light output from the T5s, so the alternative plan would be to stick with those, but I think the LEDs are worth looking into figuring they are just about getting to the point where they will pay off over time, and I'm happy to do some DIY to keep the cost down.
 
SnowManSnow;539927 wrote: the issue isn't wattage.. its PAR. The LEDs can put out what appears to be a dimmer light.. at a lower wattage and still completely FRY your corals.

B

That's kinda my problem. It's hard enough to find real numbers on lumens, much less figure out what the *real* equivalent would be, in terms of PAR or "usable" PUR, which I'm guessing it the real important number. I'd love to see one of the LED sellers put forth some comparisons between LED, T5 and MH by watts per square inch of surface area and the resulting PAR numbers at different depths. I guess you'd have to do different color temperature mixes as well.

So lacking that kind of real data, I'd love to get someone's experience of

"I had ### watts T5 HO in color temps X and Y and switched to ### 1W LEDs in a 50/50 mix of colors A and B and really love the results (or not and why)"
 
without getting into spread and spectrum details the article confirms my rule of thumb above, at least for the more modern LED fixture.
 
grouper therapy;540185 wrote: Here is something that might interest you.
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature2">http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/2/aafeature2</a>[/QUOTE]


That's the data I was looking for. Thanks!
 
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