36" Current T5 to LED Retro!

[ghellin]

Ok time to build a new light for my new tank. I have just started a 46 bowfront that i need to make a light for. This tank is an upgrade from my 24 gallon aquapod. I had a half working t5 fixture laying around so I decided it would make a nice housing for an LED fixture. Ok so on to the details I am using 28 Cree XT-E Royal Blues, 7 XP-G Cool Whites, and 7 XP-G Neutral Whites. This will give me a nice 2:1 ratio of RB to white. For the heatsink I ordered a 32" x 5.886" heatsink from Heatsink USA and the LEDs came from rapidled.

Time for pics!

Heatsink marked for LEDs.

The layout

T5 housing gutted ready for LEDs.

 

[shawne]

Looks good! Where are the drivers going?

 

[ghellin]

Possibly inside as well I am waiting on fans that should move a lot of air through the fixture with little to no noise. If it doesn't work they will be mounted to the back of the stand and i will use a nice quick disconnect cable.

 

[rustyjames]

Looks good. The Meanwells fit nicely in my old 2x39 Current fixture.

 

[ghellin]

Looks great! Do you have a picture of it on your tank? What corals do you have in your 40 and how is your light coverage?

 

[ghellin]

Updated pics!
LEDs mounted and wired.

We have light! This is one string of CW/NW, and one string of RB.

 

[johnsonj]

How much did it cost? And was it hard?

 

[Scuba Steve]

That's Sweet I'm going to my 24" light now.

 

[ghellin]

I have right at $300 in it.
28 XTE royal blues $95.20
7 XPG neutral whites $35
7 XPG cool whites $31.50
32" x 5.886" heatsink $60
2 lpc 35 700 $34
1 lpc 1050 $26
And about $15 in fans.

 

[ghellin]

Ok its been a busy day I added 8 UV LEDs and 4 Blue LEDs to the fixture on my 58 gallon tank. After adding those I went back to work on the current retrofit. Today I added stealth variable speed fans one on each side they are very quiet so that will keep wifey happy. I also did some more wiring on the heatsink I am using a 4 wire cable one on each side of the 3 strings this will leave an open channel if I decide to add another string or moonlights later. The wires come together on the back of the heatsink positive on one side negative on the other. Time for pics!

New fan.

Negative side wiring.

Ready for power!

The whole thing.

 

[Scuba Steve]

No heat issues. Will thoese fans work good enough to keep it cool?

 

[ghellin]

Yea they work great the top was only warm and I am able to touch the led star after 6 hours of full on.

 

[johnsonj]

Was your t-5 housing for a 2 or 4 bulb?

 

[ghellin]

4 bulb it was the 4x39 watt

 

[johnsonj]

So if I do a 2 bulb fixture and do about 24 LEDs, which 16 blue and 8 white would that be enough for my bowfront?

 

[ghellin]

Yeah that would be good if your using Meanwell drivers you would max out at 14-15 LEDs per driver.

 

[johnsonj]

Do you suggest 30 or 60 degree and how far above the tank should I hang it?

 

[ghellin]

Optics would be dependant on the height of your fixture above the tank. I used the t5 fixture legs so I am not using optics. Your fixture height depends on what you want for your setup.

 

[johnsonj]

I have no glue on the optics?

 

[ghellin]

For optics we need to know your fixture height above the water and your tank depth.