So after struggling with the controller for a bit I realized that it is going to take me a little while to sort that part out. I have also been getting some algae and cyano showing up on my rocks which I am fairly certain is due to my old T5 bulbs (15+ months old) I decided to just set it up without the controller for now and I can add that in later.
Here's a pic of the enclosure wired up with fans and drivers:
I also took a picture of the tank with the T5s using manual settings on the camera. Other then cropping a bit I didn't enhance the pictures at all as I wanted it to be a comparison between the two lights:
And here it is with the LEDs using the exact same camera settings:
It's definitely more blue with the LEDs and to me the coral colours look a bit nicer. It is also a bit dimmer to the eye so lumens are probably less but that is normal with blue LEDs. However, here's the important info...PAR readings.
With the 8 x 54W T5HO fixture I had about 300 PAR near the top of the tank, around 240 or so near the middle and about 160 at the bottom. This is running the lights about 3.5 to 4 inches above the water.
Now with the LEDs at about 7.5 to 8 inches above the water PAR was a bit over 500 near the top of the tank, about 400 in the middle and about 290 at the bottom. Holy photons Batman!
So I raised the fixture to about 15 inches in height for now as I can't dim the LEDs yet. Par is now about 350 at the top of the tank, 280 in the middle and still around 200 at the bottom of the tank. Remember, this is with the fixture 15 inches above the tank:
Also, the shimmer is really noticeable compared to the flatter T5 lighting. Oh and the bloody fixture weighs at least 50 pounds if not a bit more
I think I will pick up some heftier S hooks to match the heftier chain I have already switched to!