Any reason why I should buy this LED kit for my NC 24?

If you want to save some money here is the kit I have. It was less than $150.00 shipped to my front door and it comes with everything you need. (heatsink,dimmable drivers, all wireing). The leds are Bridgelux with are pretty much the same as cree. You can research it yourself but I have this exact kit and I love it. It comes with 24 bulbs and combination of color you want and its half of what you were going to spend. Here is the link:

http://www.aquastyleonline.com/products/Aquarium-24--LEDs--DIY-Dimmable-Kit.html
 
Thanks!

Also, the title of this thread should read shouldn't instead of should but I cant figure out how to edit.
 
I wouldn't buy anything from NT.com. You will wait FOREVER to get it shipped. You'll also be supporting the know-it-alls on the "other reefing website".

Just my .02
 
Last edited:
Yes, I would also love to see a pic of the Aquastyle kit assembled and in use in the real world. That seems like an affordable option for a first time DIY by your truly. Would be nice for my old 24 cube that I've decided to set up as a "quarantine / second" tank to go with my newly acquired 75.
 
I would like to keep my options open but the biggest factor is lower temps and no replacement bulbs. The more I read the more I want 16 RB LED's and 8 NW LED's. If I use the adhesive pads I see no reason to buy the predrilled NT heatsink and I will just buy a standard size one off heatsinkusa. Still researching the best way to powere the 24 LEDs. I might just go with two meanwells and run 14 RB's on one and 8NW/2RB's on the other. Any suggestions? I am going to start ordering tonight to basically force myself to do this.
 
Adhesive pads are not recommended (by the manufacturer) for permanent structural attachment. The thermal epoxy would work instead. Predrilled is not necessary, heatsinkusa is the way to go. I would go with cool white instead of NW, cause NW is too warm and will grow algae no problem ;) Don't put less than 12 LED's on a meanwell otherwise they will fry (ask me how I know ;) )

Also, design it for no fan (passive cooling), and add a fan (active cooling) if you want to. It's better to over-engineer, and if the fan fails, LED's still stay cool enough to not self destruct ($$$).
 
So how do I power the other 10 LED's! From what I have been reading it seems like a 2-1 ratio of RB to NW is preferred to 1-1 ratio of RB to CW which is what people used to do. How do I design it for no fan? The only thing I can do is get the largest heatsink that can fit in my hood right?
 
MrHarvard said:
If you want to save some money here is the kit I have. It was less than $150.00 shipped to my front door and it comes with everything you need. (heatsink,dimmable drivers, all wireing). The leds are Bridgelux with are pretty much the same as cree. You can research it yourself but I have this exact kit and I love it. It comes with 24 bulbs and combination of color you want and its half of what you were going to spend. Here is the link:

http://www.aquastyleonline.com/products/Aquarium-24--LEDs--DIY-Dimmable-Kit.html
Click to expand...

Looks real nice. Why is it so cheap? Genuine parts? It looks like it ships from China. How long have you had it?
 
on_ice said:
Looks real nice. Why is it so cheap? Genuine parts? It looks like it ships from China. How long have you had it?
Click to expand...


Not sure why it is so cheap. Yes bulbs were bridgelux. It took a week shipped from china. I have had it alittle over a month. I have zoas,gsp,acans,frogspawn,duncans, and a few sps and they all seem to be loving it. I love the colors and the lack of heat it puts off. I didnt even install the fan it came with I didnt need it. I will post some pics when i get a chance. Hope this helps.
 
on_ice said:
So how do I power the other 10 LED's! From what I have been reading it seems like a 2-1 ratio of RB to NW is preferred to 1-1 ratio of RB to CW which is what people used to do. How do I design it for no fan? The only thing I can do is get the largest heatsink that can fit in my hood right?
Click to expand...

What other 10 LEDs? From my count, you had 24, with is perfect 2 drivers with 12 each.


Yes, the larger heatsink, the better. Also make sure there is enough ventilation in your hood to let the heat escape.
 
MrHarvard said:
Not sure why it is so cheap. Yes bulbs were bridgelux. It took a week shipped from china. I have had it alittle over a month. I have zoas,gsp,acans,frogspawn,duncans, and a few sps and they all seem to be loving it. I love the colors and the lack of heat it puts off. I didnt even install the fan it came with I didnt need it. I will post some pics when i get a chance. Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm interesting. I have no problem shelling out ~$300 for a nice kit but it seems like you cant go wrong with these. I kinda wonder how long those drivers are going to last at a price like that. If the drivers go bad, it shouldn't affect anything else right? I can just replace them with brand name drivers?


Also, the site doesnt offer a heat sink in the size I need. Do you think I could use two 3.7"X11.9" heat sinks instead? Ideal for me would be one 8.5"x11" but thats pretty close.
 
schudini said:
What other 10 LEDs? From my count, you had 24, with is perfect 2 drivers with 12 each.


Yes, the larger heatsink, the better. Also make sure there is enough ventilation in your hood to let the heat escape.
Click to expand...


Yes, but in order to benefit from dimming the blues and the whites separately I would rather have the blues on a seperate dimmer than the whites. If I went with 16 blues and 8 whites I would have to do 14 blues on one and 8 whites+2 blues on the other. I think I am just going to buy that kit and see what happens.
 
MrHarvard said:
If you want to save some money here is the kit I have. It was less than $150.00 shipped to my front door and it comes with everything you need. (heatsink,dimmable drivers, all wireing). The leds are Bridgelux with are pretty much the same as cree. You can research it yourself but I have this exact kit and I love it. It comes with 24 bulbs and combination of color you want and its half of what you were going to spend. Here is the link:

http://www.aquastyleonline.com/products/Aquarium-24--LEDs--DIY-Dimmable-Kit.html
Click to expand...


Can you post more pictures of your kit?
 
Hello Mr. Harvard.
are they as bright and high intensity as the Cree led may I ask?
I need something for my 57g tank. something like a 36led kit but there is not complete kit that has a heat sink up to 23 or 24" long.

do you think we should buy these Bridgelux led? there is no cool white led bulbs though.
thanks
 
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