Chinese LED Lights

IT120 or D120 for sump?

IT120 or D120 for sump?

I am setting up an established system soon, and want to go LED in the DT and sump. it is a 120g tank that is 48x24x24

I am planning on getting 2 IT120 for the DT, but debating if I should get another IT120 or a D120 for the sump. Eventually I'm sure I will be going to a larger tank, and feel it would be nice to have that third light already so they are the same....

OR will there be better options in a year for that third light that will work with the IT120?

I realize this is guessing the future... but looking for thoughts on what others would do. BTW: They will all have DIY configuration with optics.
 
Added Cyan to my light last night. I was supposed to add red too, but I broke a led removing it from a star, and have to wait for more.

Cyan alone doesn't change color much, but it helps ever so slightly. It is more useful for its possible photosynthetic peak. Reds are the main color enhancers, which I'll have to wait for again.

CameraZOOM-20120912010908432.jpg


The optics are nice. They are twist off, and easily removeable/replaceable.

IMG_20120911_224320.jpg
 
aklee987 said:
Bhaz, can you tell me if these LEDs are wired in parallel or serial?
Click to expand...

Serial, which makes interchanging leds so much easier. Not all companies do this though.

Be cautious though, the drivers go up to 90-100v, so don't work on the light and don't touch it while plugged in (obviously). The fact it has a pcb board, and not someone's DIY wiring connecting the leds does make things safer, but always be aware.
 
Hey Bhazard, What spectrum of LED would be most similar to actinics?? I would like to throw one or 2 in just to give a tad bit of glow when I turn the whites down for dusk/evening. My current PC fixtures has a nice set of super bright LED moonlights that give a nice pop at night. Thanks, Ty
 
Straight_Chaos said:
Hey Bhazard, What spectrum of LED would be most similar to actinics?? I would like to throw one or 2 in just to give a tad bit of glow when I turn the whites down for dusk/evening. My current PC fixtures has a nice set of super bright LED moonlights that give a nice pop at night. Thanks, Ty
Click to expand...

450nm (royal blue), 420nm (fiji pink/purple/violet)
 
Ready to pull the trigger.

Ready to pull the trigger.

Going to go with this layout. Hopefully I'm not making a big mistake. If anyone sees anything wrong with it please let me know.
 

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The issue that I feel many people don't realize is that the actinic blue which is the primary benefit of the actinic VHOs and metal halide lamps is the production of the 420nm wavelength. Even the "white looking" metal halides have the 420nm when you look at the spectrum and 20K is heavy in the 420nm range.

This wavelength is crucial in the health of most living things including humans. If your baby had jaundice, it was treated by the use of Bili lights which are lights that produce a high level of 420nm.

Even though they may not look as "Blue" I feel that including them in the layout as bhazard did inhance the corals health. I am trying to find info on the spectral analysis of the 440nm and 450nm because I suspect that they are narrower wavelength and do not provide enough output in the 420 range. I suspect that the reason people that purchased LEDs in the past were disappointed due to the use of lower wattage LEDs and wavelengths that were only producing blue color but not necessarily the best wavelengths.

If you look at most of the major LED lighting companies, they are now producing lights with 420 LEDs.

Just an observation for consideration.
 
bhazard451 said:
No one has really tried the high k leds yet. It might be too white if those leds aren't blue-ish. Supposedly the higher ones wash out some color.
Click to expand...

So what would you suggest if the 14K and 18Ks are not very blue? Replacement with some ratio of 10K and 460nm?

There is an option to use just CREE LEDs, but they do not come in 14K and 18K like the BLs. My thinking was that the more choices in spectrum would give better chances of hitting the appropriate spectra. If higher K LEDs are an unknown, any thoughts on what ratio to go with if the 14K and 18K to end up with a 14Kish look? I am a little leary of trying out a sketchy bulb mix that comes out badly - a mistake not possible to undo.
 
This is my latest color grid I came up with, and coined the 3IIE layout lol. Let me know what ya'll think, Bhazard, going for a 16k-18k look. I am very much liking the balance of color here, it has good feng shui!

Led553rd.png
 
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