250w HQI/DE pendants?
- Thread starter NeveSSL
- Start date
AdrianBryce
New member
I am picking up a DIY unit this friday. I am not DIYing it though, already done and looking sharp. It has 9 LEDs and will cover up to a 20 x 20 cube easy with just 60 degree optics. Built in potentiomters(spelling) and dimming knobs. Wave of the future. And FWIW, reefbrite doesn't even come close to the par you can get by DIYing yourself with full control over your LEDs. Nanocustoms are doing some cool stuff with their new LED and LED/T5 Hybrid projects.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Hmmm... just 9, huh? That doesn't sound quite right. You may be able to cover a 20x20 area with 60 degree optics, but I don't know that you will have good PAR and penetration. I'm thinking more along the lines of 24 LEDs. 
Basically mimicking the AquaIlluminations unit with Cree XP-Gs. To be honest, I'm considering getting an AquaIlluminations unit, but $580 is quite steep, even considering long term savings and the modular design.
Yep... I mentioned the ReefBrite limitations earlier in the thread. They only drive at 1.5w.
I'll have to check out the Nanocustoms stuff.
I've still got to do some research for my cube, though.
Brandon
Basically mimicking the AquaIlluminations unit with Cree XP-Gs. To be honest, I'm considering getting an AquaIlluminations unit, but $580 is quite steep, even considering long term savings and the modular design.Yep... I mentioned the ReefBrite limitations earlier in the thread. They only drive at 1.5w.
I'll have to check out the Nanocustoms stuff.
I've still got to do some research for my cube, though.
Brandon
Pandarian
Member
I'm doing a LED build that has been a year in the making. ie. I bought a bunch of LEDs, drivers, & heatsink to make it, but haven't had time to finish it. But if you're interested Brandon, we can talk over it and stuff. I tapped out my heatsink, but haven't had time to progress any further because of school. I'll finish it as soon as school lets out. Although, I had everything ready last summer, yet I still managed to not finish building it.
BTW, I will be running 24 XREs with a mixture of 60/40 degree optics. That's over a Solana (20x20). I'm even wondering if 24 is enough.
BTW, I will be running 24 XREs with a mixture of 60/40 degree optics. That's over a Solana (20x20). I'm even wondering if 24 is enough.
zef004
New member
Here's One. If it works as good as they say. Then I think it's a good deal. And not to looking. I am think on getting one or Two for a seahorse tank. I post it on the light forum but every got a reply about it.
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=512
http://www.ledwholesalers.com/store/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=512
AdrianBryce
New member
Hmmm... just 9, huh? That doesn't sound quite right. You may be able to cover a 20x20 area with 60 degree optics, but I don't know that you will have good PAR and penetration. I'm thinking more along the lines of 24 LEDs.
Yep... I mentioned the ReefBrite limitations earlier in the thread. They only drive at 1.5w.
I'll have to check out the Nanocustoms stuff.
I've still got to do some research for my cube, though.
Brandon
9 is plenty, It will be putting out so much light par won't be an issue. They aren't on top of eachother either in a little cluster. I will have to post pics of it when I get it.
They don't have to be stacked together to get results.
and zef, I wouldn't buy that if you want to grow corals, it might be fine for macros and maybe low light. But they also claim fish need "optimum" light for metabolism. Sooooooo.....
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Hmm... please do explain.
And I think the general problem with them not being close together is spotlighting, especially with optics. I've not looked at LEDs in a few months, though, so maybe I'm thinking backwards.
Brandon
AdrianBryce
New member
The best way to explain it is through photos. I will dig up the links tomorrow. Though along with optics is the distance from the tank that the light sits. The higher it is the more the light spreads, and with the capability of LED for light intensity that can be quite high. The light wasn't designed to sit right above a tank. I would not have an LED fixture that sat close in proximity to the water unless they were close together, say in a biocube retro. The light I am getting is designed to sit at least 16" above the tank and runs at 25% intensity at that height. Mind you this is coming from my limited knowledge on LED lighting. I am by no means a pro. Without optics it can cover a 17 x 17 inch cube 6 inches above the water with no spotlighting whatsoever. With 60* optics it covers a foot easily at 16" and that is as I said before running at only 25%.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Interesting. Keep me updated with what you find, and I will do the same.
As-is, I'm looking at doing XR-E royal blues and XP-G Cool Whites to get the most out of this fixture that I can.
This should be sweet. I'm pumped. Also, FWIW, Catalina Aquariums sells DIY fixtures to put these in so they look full on pro. Good stuff!
Brandon
As-is, I'm looking at doing XR-E royal blues and XP-G Cool Whites to get the most out of this fixture that I can.
This should be sweet. I'm pumped.
Also, FWIW, Catalina Aquariums sells DIY fixtures to put these in so they look full on pro. Good stuff!Brandon
AdrianBryce
New member
Yeah, I will post some pics for sure when i get the light. I was thinking about it last night, and recalled seeing a nanocube with a DIY LED retro that only had six LEDs in it that had great coverage(in regards to my comment above yours on biocubes and LEDs. I think it really is all in how you mount them. And the good news with mine is I can get another LED on each buckpuck if I needed too.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Interesting.
Personally I'm shooting for 26 LEDs. I agree that 9 will get you coverage, but I don't think they will get you good PAR. At least not for SPS, which is my goal.
You should check out the Meanwell drivers. A single driver can do up to 13 LEDs and doesn't require a power supply... and you can get them for around $30... its usually cheaper than BuckPucks.
Brandon
Personally I'm shooting for 26 LEDs. I agree that 9 will get you coverage, but I don't think they will get you good PAR. At least not for SPS, which is my goal.
You should check out the Meanwell drivers. A single driver can do up to 13 LEDs and doesn't require a power supply... and you can get them for around $30... its usually cheaper than BuckPucks.
Brandon
AdrianBryce
New member
The LEDs I am getting are already built with and are capable of growing SPS, with track record, I think you are underestimating them a bit. Take the "par38" bulb for example. 5 LEDs all in a cluster and are capable of growing sps with zero problems. If I was going to build one, especially for a larger fixture, I would use the meanwells. All I can say, especially with that many LEDs is be careful. It doesn't take much to bleach everything in a matter of a couple days if they are too much for the corals.
NeveSSL
Got tubes?
Oh yeah, forgot its already built. I was thinking you were DIYing.
Maybe I am underestimating a bit, but I haven't seen anyone using 9 over a 20x20 area successfully. The par38 bulb does have 5 Crees in it, and does SPS great, in an area that's about 5" square. People talk about using them for spotlights in 5.5g, so it takes quite a few for coverage.
The great thing about the Meanwells is that they're dimmable. So I will be able to ramp the light up slowly over time. No worries on bleaching anything.
When are you getting your new light?
Brandon
Maybe I am underestimating a bit, but I haven't seen anyone using 9 over a 20x20 area successfully. The par38 bulb does have 5 Crees in it, and does SPS great, in an area that's about 5" square. People talk about using them for spotlights in 5.5g, so it takes quite a few for coverage.
The great thing about the Meanwells is that they're dimmable. So I will be able to ramp the light up slowly over time. No worries on bleaching anything.
When are you getting your new light?
Brandon
AdrianBryce
New member
I am sending payment for it on friday. It uses dimmable buckpucks with potentiometers. I have seen the par38s used over biocube 14s and equivalently sized tanks and grow sps all over the place, but I am with you that it is a spot light at best, though I recently saw a tank with 10 or so of them over a large tank. it was crazy. Didn't look awesome though. The max size I would use it on is a 20 cube, 17'' x 17'' as that is as big as I want to/can go at the moment and will be for the next couple of years. It is for sure a light made specifically for nanos and by no means would it cover much bigger than that. Also, I am taking into account the way I want the tank to look as well. as in the rockscape and such. meaning that i am going to have an island of sorts in the middle with "swim around" type of setup, putting the rock directly under the light, and leaving the sandbed for lps. The other thing I am counting on is even without optics the light will put out more par than I will ever have use for when it is cranked up.
here are the links to the for sale threads
http://nationalcoralregistry.net/bb/showthread.php?tid=837
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=233160
here are the links to the for sale threads
http://nationalcoralregistry.net/bb/showthread.php?tid=837
http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=233160
AdrianBryce
New member
will do, and I would like to thank you for a spirited exchange of opinion and knowledge that didn't turn into a ****ing match. rare these days on any forum.
