210 Upgrade Build with LED Build
- Thread starter nuclearheli
- Start date
canesfan44
New member
your LED build looks incredible!
From Heli's post #78
"To date I have about $1800 invested in this light. But I expect that the overall cost will probably be around $1500. If I had to build the light from scratch today knowing what I know now without the mistakes and wrong components the cost would be lower. I intend to add up the light's total cost at the end. The fixed cost that there is no getting around are the LED's and the drivers. For the drivers I spent $130 each (2x). For the LED's I spent $917 for 69 XR-E royal blue, and 69 XP-G cool white and 2x Artic Silver premium.
I didn't buy the LED's from rapidled because they were all out of what I needed. I purchased the LED's from Reef LED Lights (www.reefledlights.com) and I got better pricing for the same CREES and they were in stock. The lenses however I did buy from rapidLED. I like their lenses better."
nuclearheli
Member
Thanks for all the great comments. I couldn't be happier with the way this turned out. I had it running for about 4 hours last night before finally giving up for the weekend. It was a real marathon. All the specs were perfect. Didn't heat up at all. Drivers were just off "cold", barely could tell if there was any heat at all. Very quite also. I also noticed the light's were very stable. No ripple or flickering, just a steady glow.
I am going to do more testing this week and have my buddy come over and put the sides on the canopy. Also finish the power connection in the back and wrap this thing up. Now I need to identify a good hanging kit that will support this thing and look good. Help would be appreciated
By the way, I estimate it weighs about 100 pounds. It could even be lighter. The light bridge itself is pretty light given it's structure. I used the hollow core structural framing pieces for both weight and to add surface area for the heat sink.
I am working on a detailed build list with pricing and where I got each component. May be handy for somebody some day. Next I will finish my detailed wiring diagram both for everyone to see and for future reference.
I should be receiving my sump any day now. I see my custom sump build up on LifeReef's web site. http://www.lifereef.com/home.html.
Stay tuned, lots more fun to follow.
I am going to do more testing this week and have my buddy come over and put the sides on the canopy. Also finish the power connection in the back and wrap this thing up. Now I need to identify a good hanging kit that will support this thing and look good. Help would be appreciated
By the way, I estimate it weighs about 100 pounds. It could even be lighter. The light bridge itself is pretty light given it's structure. I used the hollow core structural framing pieces for both weight and to add surface area for the heat sink.
I am working on a detailed build list with pricing and where I got each component. May be handy for somebody some day. Next I will finish my detailed wiring diagram both for everyone to see and for future reference.
I should be receiving my sump any day now. I see my custom sump build up on LifeReef's web site. http://www.lifereef.com/home.html.
Stay tuned, lots more fun to follow.
nuclearheli
Member
Mine is a custom build based on the LifeReefugium II on this page:
http://www.lifereef.com/lifereefugiumII.html
The changes to mine include size, it will be bigger. Also the fuge will not be a drop in fuge it will be built in. The pumps are bigger and the protein skimmer is the 30" over sized. I am getting 3 cartridge inserts also.
I originally wanted to order teh LifeReefugium II but when talking to Jeff at LifeReef he made some suggestions and showed me some photos of a custom sump he just finished for someone that was more to my liking.
torombolo2222
New member
This is an awsome build, everything is looking so slick. How can I subscribe I want to follow up on every update :dance:
nuclearheli
Member
Originally I was going to do a DIY sump out of acrylic. I have seen some amazing work from people on these forums. As you can see from the light I am comfortable with that type of DIY but my skills are at best challenged when it comes to designing, cutting and working wtih Acrylic. I am trying to put the very best into this build and I know my sump build would not be anything you guys would want to read about or see. Besides I would have spent more money screwing up Acrylic sheets anyway.
Know you limitations right? Some people would feel more comfortable working with Acrylic instead of HV DC Power rigs. Not me
Are the lights in person as Blue/Purple as they appear or is it just the white balance of the shots that's off? I ask as I am leaning towards a 50/50 W/B combo but worry it will be too blue. I am currently running 14K MH's and HATE the heavy blue look they give. I'm looking for more of a 10K MH look to my LED setup.
nuclearheli
Member
I choose the Royal Blue LED's. I currently run 20K MH's and actually like the more blue spectrum. I think from what I see you can achieve almost any desired color by dimming one or the other. The pictures you see were both LED's at 75% power (7.5 Volts on my dimmer control). Fooling around with the controls last night I was able to get more of a 10K spectrum by bringing the White all the way up and the blue down to about 20%. It takes some fooling around to get the look you really want. I also wanted enough blue to handle the dawn/dusk and evening lighting which I tend to keep on the blue side.
nuclearheli
Member
If I can help don't hesitate. I have to say this is one of those rare times that I wouldn't change anything given the chance, not at least right now.
How are you at plumbing?? Any one else please chime in. I have a general plumbing question.
My Sump setup will have two pumps, the pressure side will be a BlueLine 100HD pump. So here are perhaps the two dummest qustions of the day.
The pump output is 1", I have two 3/4" returns. Do I need to plumb from the pump 1" to 1.5" up to the first floor from the basement (10 or so feet to the left and up) until I get under the tank then branch off to 3/4" to the returns? Or is it fine to just use 1" all the way up to the tank then tee off into 3/4" under the tank?
Dumb question 2 also related to 1. My drains are 1". Does that mean I need 2" pipe under my tank to handle both drains? Will 1.5" be adequate?
Plumbing confuses me. I have done a lot of it but never designed anything, only put stuff together.
nuclearheli
Member
Ok so I have a pretty complete build list. It's a bit over my original estimates but when is anything on schedule and below budget.
The cost of the build with the Neptune Apex Control equipment and Lunar Light addition is $2,436.38
If You build this rig with manual mixing/dimming control and simple timers the cost is $2,127.44.
Of course more than half this cost was associated with the LED's, drivers and Neptune control. You can reduce this cost by a large group buy on the led's if you can wait. There was a few hundred dollar cost savings not using the MW drivers and using HV drivers but the real savings in this area is the simplicity and cleaness of the build. They are long life beautiful drivers built for indoor/outdoor use with a very long life estimated at 300,000 hours MTBF at 80% load. Built very well.
View attachment LightCost.pdf
I did forget to mention that I believe I saved over $2,000. I have spent quite a bit of time pricing out commercial units that are similar in size, output and control. Very pricy.
The cost of the build with the Neptune Apex Control equipment and Lunar Light addition is $2,436.38
If You build this rig with manual mixing/dimming control and simple timers the cost is $2,127.44.
Of course more than half this cost was associated with the LED's, drivers and Neptune control. You can reduce this cost by a large group buy on the led's if you can wait. There was a few hundred dollar cost savings not using the MW drivers and using HV drivers but the real savings in this area is the simplicity and cleaness of the build. They are long life beautiful drivers built for indoor/outdoor use with a very long life estimated at 300,000 hours MTBF at 80% load. Built very well.
View attachment LightCost.pdf
I did forget to mention that I believe I saved over $2,000. I have spent quite a bit of time pricing out commercial units that are similar in size, output and control. Very pricy.
Crazy35111
New member
I had the same thought for a DIY sump and also voted against it to an extent. my sump is a 240g, and I figured that was a lot of water to hit the floor if i screwed up a seam. What I did was ordered a 240 acrylic aquarium and then I'm going to glue in baffles and filters. Figure if the seams don't hold completely not a big deal to drain and fix. Tank cost me about 1200 shipped and maybe another 100 in acrylic sheets
nuclearheli
Member
Yes, agreed that also. Large sump wow, what size is the tank?
I had also considered that route as well but decided on getting the LifeReef. I have my hands full with DIY projects. Besides, I was engulfed in the light project and I am anxious to get this tank running. I like the integration also. The system I purchased from Jeff has everything included. My choice of pumps, skimmer, has cartridges, the fuge lighting, fixtures and fittings, evertything down to the clamps and hoses. Also becasue of my lack of talent in this area I just decided it wouldn't be as much fun as building the light. The light gave me the biggest ROI.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
That would be great. I am probably going to go LED's and want to have a good idea of where the money goes. Seems like the LED's are the big expense.
Now the most interesting question - is there any way to measure possible current leakages?
Everybody - please remember, that this LED setup is DANGEROUS! Due to high voltage across the LEDs.
easy2led.com Cree strips are claimed to be safe up to 160V but there are no solder connections there.
Everybody - please remember, that this LED setup is DANGEROUS! Due to high voltage across the LEDs.
easy2led.com Cree strips are claimed to be safe up to 160V but there are no solder connections there.
Sisterlimonpot
Premium Member
It's DC right? what are these dangers you speak of?
Crazy35111
New member
I will be getting a 500g tank with a 240g sump. Also after much debate I have decided to have 2 75g quarantine tanks (at least for initial stocking...I am doing an angel tank and my LFS told me to add 4 at a time to combat any potential aggressiveness. Then I will also have another 75g for a saltwater mixing station.
I understand the whole time crunch, I on the other hand havent started building the house thats coming in july/aug so I have been piecing things together slowly. Ordered the sump, and the framing members for the light. So my plan is to do the sump first then the light, order a steel stand, and should be all ready to go come septish.
I understand the whole time crunch, I on the other hand havent started building the house thats coming in july/aug so I have been piecing things together slowly. Ordered the sump, and the framing members for the light. So my plan is to do the sump first then the light, order a steel stand, and should be all ready to go come septish.
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