der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
I'm not familiar with the Apex specifically, but MOST reef controllers with some sort of variable output have 0-10v DC, so you probably want the D model, not the P. But please check the specs of the Apex to make sure.
DIY LED Array build
- Thread starter sphil876p
- Start date
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
For FOWLR, I'd go with 150 LEDs, 50:50 mix of Cree XR-E royal blue and Q5 cool white, run at 700mA (buckpucks or meanwells, you choose). I'd get beefy angle aluminum, say 2" wide, and space it evenly across the tank for heatsinking and mounting the LEDs. Use fans, too.
Total cost with a standard build should be in the range of $1400 - $1800. Electrical consumption should be ~400w, depending on which drivers you use and how efficient they are.
Total cost with a standard build should be in the range of $1400 - $1800. Electrical consumption should be ~400w, depending on which drivers you use and how efficient they are.
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
That's a big tank! Probably in the range of 150 - 200 LEDs to support those kinds of corals.
Heavy U channel is fine for heatsinking as long as you're not packing the LEDs in too tight and you're using fans to get good air movement over the entire surface of the heatsink. Luckily that's easy to do with big U channel because you can just point a fan down the channel.
Heavy U channel is fine for heatsinking as long as you're not packing the LEDs in too tight and you're using fans to get good air movement over the entire surface of the heatsink. Luckily that's easy to do with big U channel because you can just point a fan down the channel.
Thanks.....I'm just trying to sort through a bunch of ideas first before ordering anything....It would be some huge, heavy, chunks of heat sink over the tank.....Just trying to figure something alittle lighter.....Yeah the new tank is a plywood build....I thought I've seen you over on Fingerlakes as well????
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
Yep, I hang out there sometimes. Your tank's dimensions are actually pretty similar to mine, it'll be interesting to compare builds.
Chicago
New member
ok.. forgot to add the reason i had 4 400 mh watt bulbs was this use to be a large sps dominated tank.. then had sps crash.. so now a fowlr tank....but that may change in the future.... so what would you have on a 96 x 31 x31 tank that would be sps dominated with fish... how much is the saving on electric bill over a year ..
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
To have an SPS dominated tank that size is gonna take a lot of soldering. 
Probably on the order of 300 LEDs. It's hard to talk specifics without getting a lot more in depth.
FWIW, my 360g tank will be a mixed reef, and I'm planning on 180 - 200 LEDs. It's 6' x 4' x 2'. If it wasn't for LEDs, I would probably do four 250w MH with a few actinic VHOs or T5s. Total power consumption for that rig might be ~1200w. The LED rig I'm planning will be more like 400 - 500w.
If you're paying the national average in power cost (around 12 cents per kwh), and lighting the tank for 10 hours per day, that's a difference of 84 cents per day. Doesn't sound like much, but over 10 years, it's ~$3k. If you consider lamp cost, the 4x MH lamps I would have used probably cost ~$75 each, and require replacement once a year. The fluorescents are probably another $100/year. That's $400/year. So, my total savings over 10 years would be roughly $7k. Your case would probably be similar.
Of course that's not factoring in component failure and other things like that, but it's probably fair to assume that both systems would eat parts at comparable rates. Regardless, from a financial perspective, the LEDs are clearly going to win.
Probably on the order of 300 LEDs. It's hard to talk specifics without getting a lot more in depth.FWIW, my 360g tank will be a mixed reef, and I'm planning on 180 - 200 LEDs. It's 6' x 4' x 2'. If it wasn't for LEDs, I would probably do four 250w MH with a few actinic VHOs or T5s. Total power consumption for that rig might be ~1200w. The LED rig I'm planning will be more like 400 - 500w.
If you're paying the national average in power cost (around 12 cents per kwh), and lighting the tank for 10 hours per day, that's a difference of 84 cents per day. Doesn't sound like much, but over 10 years, it's ~$3k. If you consider lamp cost, the 4x MH lamps I would have used probably cost ~$75 each, and require replacement once a year. The fluorescents are probably another $100/year. That's $400/year. So, my total savings over 10 years would be roughly $7k. Your case would probably be similar.
Of course that's not factoring in component failure and other things like that, but it's probably fair to assume that both systems would eat parts at comparable rates. Regardless, from a financial perspective, the LEDs are clearly going to win.
Chicago
New member
wow.. you are a wealth of info.. thanks for the input.. i have had two ballasts already go ... i was replacing he four bulbs every six months.. i was noticing the lamp spectrum changing to much after six months...
vho changing more than that.. the vho were eight bulbs every 6 months min at 25 apiece.. so 300 for vho per year. mh per year.. 400.. 700 per year on bulbs... maybe i dont want to add this up...argg.. funny huh
i think what i would like to do.. is put up two units.. so i can build on see how it goes and then move on to the other... so i would do two units in the area of size of .... 4 x 3
that way not as heavy when using pulleys to raise and lower ect.. also if one fails the other still works ect..
thoughts..
vho changing more than that.. the vho were eight bulbs every 6 months min at 25 apiece.. so 300 for vho per year. mh per year.. 400.. 700 per year on bulbs... maybe i dont want to add this up...argg.. funny huh
i think what i would like to do.. is put up two units.. so i can build on see how it goes and then move on to the other... so i would do two units in the area of size of .... 4 x 3
that way not as heavy when using pulleys to raise and lower ect.. also if one fails the other still works ect..
thoughts..
Chicago
New member
i have been out of the boards and sps hobby since my sps crash.. i was looking into doing a led system.. but stopped because it seemed like it just was not up to speed compared to mh.... do we have reports that the sps systems are responding well to led lights... at depths of 24 to 30 inch.. anyone have link to threads...
thanks
thanks
I believe there are only a handful of systems running LED's that are over a year, however i think growth levels are excellent from what i have read. There are mentions (unfortunately i don't have the specific links) that certain species of SPS just don't respond well to it but the majority are fine.
Pulleys are a good idea. my 24x8 heatsink so far weighs in at around 11 lbs. With the various fans/wiring/lights/splash guards i would imagine it won't exceed 14 lbs. a 1/8" steel cable (smallest I could find) has around 300 lbs load. some of the picture/frame hanging wire is rated for around 50 lbs. but i wouldn't trust it.
Pulleys are a good idea. my 24x8 heatsink so far weighs in at around 11 lbs. With the various fans/wiring/lights/splash guards i would imagine it won't exceed 14 lbs. a 1/8" steel cable (smallest I could find) has around 300 lbs load. some of the picture/frame hanging wire is rated for around 50 lbs. but i wouldn't trust it.
kcress
New member
Check this thread near the bottom.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1751598&highlight=budget+LED
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1751598&highlight=budget+LED
Chris,
There was a group buy on nano-reef.com (now closed). Alot of people bought the XP-Gs (only cool whites were available). I already have some XR-E CWs (12) but I ordered the XP-Gs (40). The XP-Gs seem to have a more limited selection of optics (40 degree and 30). My next LED build will have a mix of the XR-Es and XP-Gs
Bob
widmer
Drug Enthusiast
Whoever desires to answer this question may do so in either this thread or DIY LED's thread, because the author has posted it both places today :rollface:
Sorry it bothers you that I posted in both threads:rollface:
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