Diy led build

[lighthouze08]

I'm planning on building a DIY led fixture for my 75 in a few weeks. Anyone interested in following along? if yes it'll be a PITA but i'll post pictures of the process as i go. i'll also keep track of the material, cost, ect in case anyone wants to build one similar (or bigger, or smaller). The fixture i'm thinking of will have enough light to burn the most demanding sps to a crisp when turn on 100% max :-D, 3 channel dimming for white, blue, and royal blue. Cost wise it'll a bit more than the cost of 1 AI sol blue with almost 3 times the amount of LEDs using the same LEDs AI is using in their fixtures. Yay or nay for build thread?

 

[dadyoj21]

yes please keep us posted it may be something I want to do in the future for my existing tanks.

I just dropped a bundle on a vertex fixture for the new tank I am putting together and if I really like the results I would love to switch the other tanks over but no way could I afford to put out the cash for a 5 ft vertex for the 220.

 

[4adam12]

I am. I'm considering something for my tank.

 

[ThurlowR]

yes please keep us posted it may be something I want to do in the future for my existing tanks.

I just dropped a bundle on a vertex fixture for the new tank I am putting together and if I really like the results I would love to switch the other tanks over but no way could I afford to put out the cash for a 5 ft vertex for the 220.

What size and style did you go with? I checked out the tank and it's awesome.

 

[dadyoj21]

I ordered the tank last friday. Should be in tomorrow.

just got an email from premium aquatics they are having a 10% off vertex sale so I ordered it a few hours ago. I was hoping they would run a sale for black friday and was going to wait.

I ordered a 12" vertex 260. also added the red module, upgrade kit, and v-link.

I was thinking I needed the 24", but after doing some research I discovered the 12" will get the job done and save a bunch of money. The people at premium aquatics are only recommending the 12" for the 93 cube and someone posted some pics of that setup in the equipment forums. it seems the vertex will cast the light at a wide enough angle to handle a 30" spread when hung about 7-8 inches above the tank and still provide sufficient PAR.

I am getting all the pieces together for the new tank but have some plumbing issues to deal with.

 

[lighthouze08]

That's awesome Jorge, you have to share some pictures once it's up and running!!

1st order of leds

Rapid LED Items
10 CREE XP-E Blue 3W LED on star @ $3.60 = $36.00
2 Osram 660nm 3W Red LED @ $5.50 = $11.00
28 CREE XP-G R5 Cool White 3W LED on Star @ $4.50 = $126.00
28 CREE XP-E Royal Blue 3W LED on star @ $3.40 = $95.20
3 Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive @ $6.99 = $20.97
3 10K Ohm Linear Potentiometer @ $3.50 = $10.50
1 10V AC Adapter @ $10.00 = $10.00
1 AA Battery LED Tester @ $2.00 = $2.00
1 Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver @ $34.00 = $34.00

Sub-Total: $345.67

i still have to order 4 more drivers so that's an additional $136. The total of the build should be 345.67 + 136 = $481 + misc (heat sink, wires..ect)

That's not bad for 68 LEDs each driven at 3w giving me the total of 204w if i run it at 100%

 

[creefer01]

Subscribed! I'm planning a new system and the DIY LED route is super attractive. I'm looking forward to this.

 

[dadyoj21]

wow that seems like a lot of light for a 75, i get the feeling when its done you will only be running the fixture at 50% max, but what do I know about the LEDs

 

[lighthouze08]

yea Jorge, i would say 30-50% max when it's all done. I'm doing it so if later i decide to upgrade to a bigger tank i'll have the ability to reuse the fixture and just crank it up.

 

[Fleur]

Wow! I will definitely be following along. Maybe I can convince my husband to build some lights too.

 

[koddyVT]

Are you going to use any optics over your LEDs? I'd recommend using 70 degree optics instead of 40 degree.

 

[koddyVT]

And yea you're going to be running those LEDs really low. I have the AI Sols and I'm still running them super low (corals seem to be doing alright).

 

[lighthouze08]

Are you going to use any optics over your LEDs? I'd recommend using 70 degree optics instead of 40 degree.

probably not going to run any optics on them. I have a few 60 degree optics left from a previous build for the cube that i might try out but i don't think i'll need it for tank since it's not that deep.

 

[lighthouze08]

2nd order

found some True Violet LED - 420nm - 6 Pack - $5.50ea. People have been raving about the Violet LED, they just started appearing in the states the last couple of months so i've decided to throw 6 in there and take out some of the blue. It should give me more control over the colors of the leds. Ordered and should be on its way

Product Description

There are 6 single LEDs in each package



Often mistaken for UV LED, this 420nm LED is in the perfect range for coral growth.

Combine this with the CREE XP-E Royal Blue, which runs at 455nm, to get the perfect range of Violet / Royal Blue for your corals to make them really "pop"

These are the new and improved 300mW-320mW versions.

 

[4adam12]

What are you using for a heat sink/mounting?

 

[lighthouze08]

What are you using for a heat sink/mounting?

for heat sink i'll be using the c channel aluminum at home depot http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc...splay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

and will be mounted into 2 fixtures that i have laying around dimension = 18 x 11 x 3.25 each

 

[4adam12]

So it will be 2 individual fixtures tied to the same driver?

 

[lighthouze08]

So it will be 2 individual fixtures tied to the same driver?

Actually each fixture will have 2 drivers and theres one driver shared between the 2 fixture. Total of five drivers

 

[4adam12]

Gotcha. Went back and saw you still had to order a couple more. I don't know too much about them that's why I asked.

 

[lighthouze08]

first order came in saturday, the rest should be in by the end of the week. Hopefully i'll have some time to work on it this weekend, or at least get started.