DIY led build (steves led)

[saf1]

the price on LED has dropped a lot in the last 2 years so therefore DIY today isn't worth the time and money.

3 yearsa go, DIY made a lot of sense but not any more.

You better off buying the premade fixtures. A lot full spectrum that are very affordable are out there and they definitely will give you some resale value. You will pay a lot more if you are going to DIY and it won't look as clean, nice and you will be paying closer to those Radion's price for the DIY projects, so why??
These days, for LED on DIY, I would only do if I have spare parts sitting around otherwise I would rather buy those fulls spectrum fixtures out there for the tank

I'd actually disagree but it is just an opinion. Off the shelf products still limit a couple key components such has intensity and spectrum. Those items drive up the cost in shrink wrap packages. DIY has more control since high quality LED's such has Philips or Cree now offer red, green, and violet. Add in a controller for PWM control and you can get the color combination that you like.

Not to mention there are some pretty cool multi-chips now you have a lot of options. 240 bucks for a retro DIY kit isn't bad nor is 400 for some larger tanks. Just depends in the end I guess but I'd still go, and am going, the DIY route due to cost and control.

Just my opinion