2Tall 185g - Build
- Thread starter bugs713
- Start date
Rippinfrags
Active member
Looking good bugs. Are you going to put your optics on soon?
Dbroncoboy
New member
I love the control box. Once I get moved and am reassembling my tank I think I am going to have to use that idea.
Hi Bugs,
No you're right, it won't control drivers that are 1-10V like yours, but there's a whole other method of dimming called 'pwm' (meanwell 'd' drivers are 1-10V and 'p' drivers are pwm). PWM works off pulse width modulation of a 1-5V signal. People use arduino computers and typhon controllers to dim pwm LED drivers. I believe (not verified) there's some patent turf fights that have kept the controller companies like DA from using pwm. The reason I went pwm is that it affords a perfectly gradual dimming from 0-100% , where the 1-10V cuts off at about 10-20% which is still pretty bright. I can actually use a regular blue or white channel at less than 1/2% as moonlights.
What I was asking on the channels and colors, is when you have time to look them over, I'd love to know if you like the colors and ratios you used. In other words, now that you can actually see the channels and mess with them individually, would you do it the same way again. Would you do more of certain colors and less of others etc. I know evolved said he really liked how his additional colors made his tank look, much more 'halide' like.
My setup will be the same # LEDs as yours. Your setup looks like a crazy amount of light, you should be able to grow sticks in your sand! Give them a good acclimation period..
No you're right, it won't control drivers that are 1-10V like yours, but there's a whole other method of dimming called 'pwm' (meanwell 'd' drivers are 1-10V and 'p' drivers are pwm). PWM works off pulse width modulation of a 1-5V signal. People use arduino computers and typhon controllers to dim pwm LED drivers. I believe (not verified) there's some patent turf fights that have kept the controller companies like DA from using pwm. The reason I went pwm is that it affords a perfectly gradual dimming from 0-100% , where the 1-10V cuts off at about 10-20% which is still pretty bright. I can actually use a regular blue or white channel at less than 1/2% as moonlights.
What I was asking on the channels and colors, is when you have time to look them over, I'd love to know if you like the colors and ratios you used. In other words, now that you can actually see the channels and mess with them individually, would you do it the same way again. Would you do more of certain colors and less of others etc. I know evolved said he really liked how his additional colors made his tank look, much more 'halide' like.
My setup will be the same # LEDs as yours. Your setup looks like a crazy amount of light, you should be able to grow sticks in your sand! Give them a good acclimation period..
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
I initially wanted to use an enclosure to hide and protect all the equipment as there was no room under the stand. But I will incorporate an enclosure for my other reef tank and future tanks. The control box has worked out rather well!
***
I just watched my first sunset with my new LED's and it was very very cool!!
Need to adjust some color timing, but the ramp down was awesome! I wish I could be here in the late morning tomorrow for sunrise!
I took a few pics, but the violet and red/orange really whacked out the resolution. Will work on camera setting tomorrow. I am glad I added violet and red/orange to the line up (thanks evolved!) These colors seem to define the contrast and sharpen the other colors, kind of High Definition like!
I think I have the perfect moon light matching - 2 Royal Blue and 2 Red/Orange Cree's powered by their own dimmable driver. No more of the blue Windex washout moon lighting!!
Gotta love DIY!
:thumbsup:
***
I just watched my first sunset with my new LED's and it was very very cool!!
Need to adjust some color timing, but the ramp down was awesome! I wish I could be here in the late morning tomorrow for sunrise!
I took a few pics, but the violet and red/orange really whacked out the resolution. Will work on camera setting tomorrow. I am glad I added violet and red/orange to the line up (thanks evolved!) These colors seem to define the contrast and sharpen the other colors, kind of High Definition like!
I think I have the perfect moon light matching - 2 Royal Blue and 2 Red/Orange Cree's powered by their own dimmable driver. No more of the blue Windex washout moon lighting!!
Gotta love DIY!
:thumbsup:
evolved
Wrasse Nut
:thumbsup:
Glad to see it all come together.
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
Thank you!
Worked on the the light cycle today, getting it the way I like it.
Also checked the temperatures of the modules today at high noon and nothing above 85 degrees, the 4 fans are doing their job. May need a bigger (more cfm) fan for the driver side of the main control box as it it rather warm in there. All doing good though and I'm happy with it!
I will do a video once I get the light cycle dialed in.
Dbroncoboy
New member
Nice pics!
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
Thanks Austin!
Sunset in my house is now an event haha Still dialing everything in, might make some small changes in dimming channel line up.
I looked at wood today and starting to get ideas on the final big project for this build - the stand enclosure.
Thank you everyone that has followed along and to those that helped out!!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
BTW: That Grandfather clock is not in the tank....but I guess it is now an official part of the aqua-scape.
Night time on the reef:
Sunset in my house is now an event haha Still dialing everything in, might make some small changes in dimming channel line up.
I looked at wood today and starting to get ideas on the final big project for this build - the stand enclosure.
Thank you everyone that has followed along and to those that helped out!!
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
BTW: That Grandfather clock is not in the tank....but I guess it is now an official part of the aqua-scape.
Night time on the reef:
Weyrman
New member
That's a "screen saver" for sure!
bugs713
In-A-Gadda-Divita!
40 degree optics installed on all except a few Blues and all Red/Orange. The pictures below are at 100% brightness and the light is intense!! Two of the four RBTA's had already moved lower since I installed the fixture last week; the clowns are hiding out right now from the intense light. I dimmed it back to 60% so everything can adjust.
I think I will have the par I need, but will get a meter reading this week. I meant to get a meter Friday when I was at Reef Culture, but left with everything except what I went for...
I may change out some of the 40's to 80's along the left and right edges of the modules as there is some spot lighting. I may also need to reposition the fixture from the ceiling or further separate the space between the left to right modules to get better spread. I'll observe for a week and see.
I'm loving these LED's and will start coral hunting at next weeks auction!:bounce2:
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I think I will have the par I need, but will get a meter reading this week. I meant to get a meter Friday when I was at Reef Culture, but left with everything except what I went for...
I may change out some of the 40's to 80's along the left and right edges of the modules as there is some spot lighting. I may also need to reposition the fixture from the ceiling or further separate the space between the left to right modules to get better spread. I'll observe for a week and see.
I'm loving these LED's and will start coral hunting at next weeks auction!:bounce2:
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
Reef-o-Roni
Active member
What kind of par are you getting near the sand?
Reef-o-Roni
Active member
Cool.look forward to it
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