Advice for making the LED switch from T5s on a budget??

You want NW, or at least cool white. so 5-6.5K, cold white (10-20K) whites are just bad, they don't cover a wide spectrum at all. A 3:1 W:B is way to blue, a 1:2 ratio will almost give you a pretty blue look. Go to either Rapid, Ledgroupbuy, or Steves leds for DIY.
HTH

 

Yes you need at least a heat sink, even on their site showing bottom as options, You might need extra things like fans for cooling, also extra stuff as timer etc.

When I say cost is similar with fixture, I can easily sell a fixture that is about $520 for about 216W 4ft light in bridgelux chip and even has the sun rise sun set option and timer comes with it. There are always options, DIY is not always the best way.

 

Thanks for the suggestions. What is "NW"?

 

NW = Neutral white (About 5K)
WW = Warm white (3.5-4K or so)
CW = Cool white (6-7K or so)

 

That does sound like a better option (especially with the timers and sunrise and sunset), but the fixture I need would be 6 ft long...or I'd need several 2 ft fixtures...right?

 

More info please, sounds like a nice light.

 

+1 and do you have a 6ft version?

 

I think it means Natural white?

So your tank is 6' x ? x ? Can you give me a full dimension?

For the new light info I will post on my own post under the LED section. I purchase a sample unit for 24 inch 108W.

I will post some picture and video once I get it. Here is the link
http://www.3reef.com/forums/led-aquarium-lighting/new-led-fixture-139784-2.html

As far as for the spec of the 216w 4' light as following

72x3w Bridgelux 216W in total
Fixture size 48"x 6" x 2"
weight is only 6.2kg
Par value (center)
@6inch 793
@12 inch 572
@24 inch 359
@32 inch 275
@39 inch 216
@48 inch 178

You don't need to pay for the controller for all the fixtures if you getting more than 1, 1 controller can control up to 4 fixtures. Also the controller can insert a SD card to program 28 days cycle including the Lunar cycle as well.

 

Impressive, how many whites, blues and what types.

 

The tank will either be a 180 (6' x 2' x 2') or a 220 (6' x 2' x 30"tall).