Custom 8020 Light Rack for T5-LED combo

So I have been running SOL Blues on my 75 grow out tank, With pretty good success. I recently was at a fellow reefers house and he was running the SOL's with some retro T'5s and had some really nice colors going in the tank.

So the wheels started spinning! I had recently picked up a Icecap Ballast and some end caps in a tank breakdown I bought for some of the components. But was struggling on how I wanted to mount them.

Fast forward I from reading a few posts decided to make it out of 8020.

I say it came out very nice. I am eventually going to upgrade the 75 to a 80 rimless and the spread will work perfectly on a wider tank.

Overall dimensions are 48" x 18". I used 3 rails. The two outer rails hold the T5 bulbs (using Blue+) and the center rail holds the 2 Sol's.

Zip tied all the wires neat and tight and have them running on the Apex.

 

Nice. What's your intensity on the AI sols? I have one kicking around I might use again

 

I have them controlled by the apex. At peak whites are about 70% and blues about 85%.

 

I have to say I had bought some Vegas to upgrade from and after a day sold them. I can not compare to the hydra but the sol blues were and are great lights.

 

If I had never upgraded to Vegas from my Sols, I might still have been using LEDs.

 

Wow really. I didn't like the spread on the sols. Good color though

 

I love the combo. Great spread. great color.

 

For the upgrade to the 220 I will run a 6 bulb 60' ATI and 4 kessil 350W's