90 gallon cube lighting

[buffalo123]

Like to go with LEDs for this aquarium I'm thinking DIY rapidled 36 led dimmable set up. Would that be enough for mix reef. Aquarium size 30 x 30x 24.
just trying to make final lighting decision,

 

[katchupoy]

Try this...
Simple XP-G Cree LED Calculator

 

[buffalo123]

Using a 15 factor i get 60 LEDs that sound very high. With 36 leds 2 inches apart i thought it would be difficult to accomodate without crowding.
60 leds wow.
factor of 20 i get 48 leds which is the next size up from rapidled.

 

[katchupoy]

Yes we have the same footprint, 75g, but yours is taller. So thats why you need an extra factor... but you are correct, 48 is a good start. Are you going to do the block heat sink or the cheap aluminum C or U bar approach?

My Build.

What about a single chip approach?

 

[ABlueReef]

What about a kessil 350W? People are stating that it should be able to cover 24in wide and depth.

 

[katchupoy]

That kessil 350w is 90 watt? compared to 144watt for the crees?

 

[buffalo123]

Was not familar with kessil had to look it up, would be great if one could cover 30x30. (need to see some setups with kessel)
I have not decided on what aluminium i will use heatsink or aluminium channel.
48 seem to give me some room to play with.

 

[buffalo123]

Read some more about kessil it seem it could cover 30x30 surface area, it being a very new fixture it seem difficult to judge real performance. It has a good price point
(if compared to rapidled 48s) ;if it can successfully cover the area and grow coral.

 

[firebirdude]

Try this...
Simple XP-G Cree LED Calculator

You misspelled "length". Just FYI.

And the kessil really has nothing in terms of spectrum. It's just the basic curve you'd get from an all blue/cool white fixture. Also, if you view this video from MarineDepot, you'll see how the different colors look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EyabHl1dPA&feature=player_embedded#!
It's obvious that only the sky blue would be desirable if you're only running one. Additionally, from reading the comments and viewing the video of what appear to be a tiny AIO tank, it's obvious you'll need more than one to cover a 30x30" area. Also note that you'd have to have the same color units spaced over the tank to prevent one side of the tank being sky blue and one being deep blue, for example. So if you wanted to mix the colors, you'd need 4 of them to mix well and give the proper coverage (someone even did this in the comments). At over $250 each, that's a little ridiculous. All in all, it just doesn't work for larger tanks.

As I've said a million times. I think our direction in researching LED aquarium lighting should be towards using many more lower-power LEDs versus fewer higher-power ones. Light intensity has NEVER been a problem here. It's equal coverage, color selection and color blending that's been a problem. Instead of a 36 3W LED setup, for example, use 108 1W LED to light the same given area. This would allow the LEDs to be much closer together making color blending a snap, give us of room to select any color scheme we wanted and reduce the "disco" effect to a pleasant shimmer. Of course, while still having the sheer numbers to give sufficient intensity.

 

[buffalo123]

You misspelled "length". Just FYI.

And the kessil really has nothing in terms of spectrum. It's just the basic curve you'd get from an all blue/cool white fixture. Also, if you view this video from MarineDepot, you'll see how the different colors look.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EyabHl1dPA&feature=player_embedded#!
Instead of a 36 3W LED setup, for example, use 108 1W LED to light the same given area. This would allow the LEDs to be much closer together making color blending a snap, give us of room to select any color scheme we wanted and reduce the "disco" effect to a pleasant shimmer. Of course, while still having the sheer numbers to give sufficient intensity.

I see your point with 1 watt leds as the blend would be no problem. As for intensity LEDs are here as i observe the leds found in street lights lately just as bright as MH.
However a 3w over 30x30 aquarium 2 inches apart should also have no problem with color blend, 48 also over that space should not be a problem for color blend, as long as you configure the leds to blend.
kessil seem best for small footprint aquariums. 24 inch would work best imo

 

[firebirdude]

Best case scenario for the Kessil's in that video, it's over a 29g Biocube. That's still only ~20x20". I know it's tough to judge from a video, but it certainly doesn't look like anything special either. Certainly darker than I would think a 150W halide over the same tank would be (as it's being marketed as a 150W equivalent). Just seems like far too much money for what they are. I mean, hell, a PAR38 bulb would give nearly the same amount of light and it's 100 bucks!!! They need to be in the $150-$175 region to even compete.

 

[MaLi]

... for what is worth; had 36 LEDs (20 RB + 16 CW) over a 60 cube and I was not impressed (search for my build under MaLi name). Now I have a 90 cube and I use a Lumenbright mini with a 250 W Radion + 24 RB LEDs (4 x 6 LEDs) around pendant.

hope it helps,
MaLi

 

[firebirdude]

Since nobody is really doing the 1W LED route yet (I'm going to experiment with it), I'd recommend 48 3W CREEs or Luxeon LEDs. 6 rows of 8 LEDs. Probably 26" x26".
24 Royal Blue
12 Neutral White
4 True Blue
3 Green
2 Red
3 Violet

The royal blues split between two drivers, all the whites on one driver and all the exotic colors on another driver. Four drivers of 12 LEDs each. Optics would depend on how high the fixture will be. But with a 24" deep tank, anything over ~12" from the surface, 60 degree wouldn't be a bad option. Under ~12", 80 degree would give you better blending.

Probably run you ~$500 all said and done. Just a ballpark. PLENTY of PAR to grow anything you want.

 

[buffalo123]

Since nobody is really doing the 1W LED route yet (I'm going to experiment with it), I'd recommend 48 3W CREEs or Luxeon LEDs. 6 rows of 8 LEDs. Probably 26" x26".
24 Royal Blue
12 Neutral White
4 True Blue
3 Green
2 Red
3 Violet

The royal blues split between two drivers, all the whites on one driver and all the exotic colors on another driver. Four drivers of 12 LEDs each. Optics would depend on how high the fixture will be. But with a 24" deep tank, anything over ~12" from the surface, 60 degree wouldn't be a bad option. Under ~12", 80 degree would give you better blending.

Probably run you ~$500 all said and done. Just a ballpark. PLENTY of PAR to grow anything you want.

How you come up with the color mix for the LEDs? I like the mix of colors, usually its only blue and white and i think other colors might be beneficial. ( might be)