Diy led

[FLGirl]

C channel aluminum $ 2.00 per foot (local metal store)

Metal Supermarkets
4731 Transport Drive
Tampa, FL 33605
(813) 241-2276
Open Weekdays 7:30am-4:30pm

This is the local store we are getting our c-channel from. Since u r in chicago maybe you can find a similar location.

few Arctic Alumina terminal adhesive $ 6

You can find this 2 bottle thermal adhesive (epoxy) all over the internet, including amazon. Prices vary from $5 - $20.

 

[jrizo1]

Ok few questions
1.- how many led per gallon?
2.- how many white and how many blue ?
3.- i am using 2 250w MH can i run led in one side and 1 MH on the other side?
4.- can i remove led from one heat sink to put it on an other one?
is a 90 gal tank 48" long.
Thank you

 

[g8gxp]

Ok few questions
1.- how many led per gallon?
2.- how many white and how many blue ?
3.- i am using 2 250w MH can i run led in one side and 1 MH on the other side?
4.- can i remove led from one heat sink to put it on an other one?
is a 90 gal tank 48" long.
Thank you

1. tough to equate led to gallons but i would say plan on led's being 2.5-4 inches apart center to center. obviously the more you pack in the more light you'll have. depth of light penetration and coverage will depend on the type of optics you get.
2. 1:1 or 1:2 is usual but depends on your design.
3. I would say just stick with one or the other.
4. yes but it's a PITA because it means you need to break the connection (solders) and resolder on the new heatsink and close up the break on the old heatsink.

 

[FLGirl]

I have a 110g 60 x 18 and this is the way I decided to do my set up.

I am going to use 80 whites on a 200w FEDY driver.
The LED's that are circled in red will be on an 85w FEDY driver and that will be 12 royal blues and 12 whites

I do want to tell you that I (personally and probably the only one ever) do not like that color mix that everyone else does. I prefer natural color. So you almost definately need to add more blues to get that mix that seems to be more popular.

 

[jrizo1]

thank for the info but i did not get this.

"close up the break on the old heatsink"??????

 

[Blackhawk007]

Been following the thread since Jae started it.

My LED's have arrived and the heat sink from Heatsink USA will be here tomorrow. My 300 gallon tank exploded a week ago and members of my reef club donated me a 210. This changed my heat sink set up but they had no problem changing my order for me, I am now getting 2 8.46"X71" lengths.

 

[2hi4u2c]

Blackhawk, how long did it take to get those? I asume from the packaging they are Fedys leds..

 

[Blackhawk007]

Blackhawk, how long did it take to get those? I asume from the packaging they are Fedys leds..

They shipped DHL on sunday from Hong Kong. So it took less time than most state side places. Yes they are Fedy.

 

[Blackhawk007]

Not sure how long this will be up but here is the play by play. About 2.5 days.
http://www.dhl.com/content/g0/en/express/tracking.shtml?brand=DHL&AWB=5127568950

 

[FLGirl]

oooooooo....how exciting....

I can't wait for mine to get here so I too can burn the tips off my fingers, sweat, curse, laugh cry, then sit back and enjoy the final product......

aaaaaagh...... the anticipation is killin' me


BTW I haven't noticed in this thread anything about power supply. With these FEDY drivers do you just buy a plug and wire it to the driver or do you need to purchase a separate power supply?

 

[bigt0706]

oooooooo....how exciting....

I can't wait for mine to get here so I too can burn the tips off my fingers, sweat, curse, laugh cry, then sit back and enjoy the final product......

aaaaaagh...... the anticipation is killin' me


BTW I haven't noticed in this thread anything about power supply. With these FEDY drivers do you just buy a plug and wire it to the driver or do you need to purchase a separate power supply?

u need to buy a cord aka plug and wire it in the driver is the power supply

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-47/3-dsh-Prong-Power-Cord/Detail

 

[bcobra]

For those of you that have not started your build yet take into consideration your overflows and tank braces. I finished and have a few lights that are wasted over both.

 

[mguti025]

I'm about to join a group buy but I'm still not sure how many LEds I would need to fully light up my tank the dimentions are 34x30x30. Any suggestions would be appreciated thank you

 

[brassmonkyballs]

I'm about to join a group buy but I'm still not sure how many LEds I would need to fully light up my tank the dimentions are 34x30x30. Any suggestions would be appreciated thank you

If you scroll up a page or 2 you will see a build on roughly a 20x20x20 cube. That now has 20 18000k whites and 10 Royal Blues on a 15" heatsink and its turned down on the dimmers and has no optics....started with 28 whites and 6 royal blues and then changed to the 20 and 10. here's a pic from last night

So maybe 50% more say 30 18000k whites and 15 RBs if you like that blue color like me or change the mix some...with optics to reach the bottom.

Thats my recommendation.

 

[Typlus5]

If you scroll up a page or 2 you will see a build on roughly a 20x20x20 cube. That now has 20 18000k whites and 10 Royal Blues on a 15" heatsink and its turned down on the dimmers and has no optics....started with 28 whites and 6 royal blues and then changed to the 20 and 10.
So maybe 50% more say 30 18000k whites and 15 RBs if you like that blue color like me or change the mix some...with optics to reach the bottom.

Thats my recommendation.

BRB, can you please clarify...do you have optics on the RBs in this pic above?
Are all the LEDs turned down? ...is that to acheive the color you want or to acclimate your tank inhabitants to the new light?

Thanks.
TY

 

[brassmonkyballs]

BRB, can you please clarify...do you have optics on the RBs in this pic above?
Are all the LEDs turned down? ...is that to acheive the color you want or to acclimate your tank inhabitants to the new light?

Thanks.
TY

No optics because the LEDs are in the hood and they're only 3 or 4" off the water. No acclimation. They are dimmed individually to achieve color temp and brightness I like. Whites are dialed back on the dimmer knob to about 3/4 and on the RB's about 90% on the dimmer. I did not take current readings at these settings....just by eye. Everything is very happy. Besides what you can clearly see there is a purple clam in there, a hydnaphora, 2 monti caps, and in the center there you can see is a pocillapora. It is a very bright setup.

A warning to those not going for a blue and just mixing in a few royal blues....you may end up with a pink/purple mix. Thats why I changed out so many whites. The 18000k are pretty decent themselves but probably shifted to the purple edge vs the blue. All in all I can not complain and will be doing 2 more tanks in the coming months assuming these continue the way they are and I don't see why they won't.

ps....enclosed in the hood on a very large heatsink there is impressive heat. I will need to upgrade my fans. I suspect in a more traditional canopy there is sufficient airflow. I also have come to the conclusion that those running the FEDY drivers are not driving them where I am on the Meanwell which is true 700ma. Only point is be careful on that channel gang.

 

[Typlus5]

Awesome clarification, thanks.
I'm actually working towards that slight tinge of purple (VHO like) and was totally impressed with Jae's tank color. For my 5 x 2 x 2 150 gallon reef the plan to date is to use 100 18,000K FEDY whites w/60 degree optics, 10 RBs w/optics (to push the blue down) then augmented with a 48" ReefBrite strip I already have for 24 more RBs for full spread.

As far as heat goes, I have an "open" canopy top with 4x 4" variable speed fans to move air when needed. I think I read Jae has even temps (107 max) within the c-channels and are within tolerance of normal operating tempatures for the LEDs.

 

[bucks448]

If you are planning on using a Fedy driver be careful of the heat, actually with any driver plan wisely. The output of the Fedy driver continues to rise as the heat increases. If you can't maintain a balance something will go, luckily in my case the driver before the LEDs.

 

[shiver905]

Im puttting in my order,

Order from Fendy:
60x 3w white 18000-20000K . Price is USD1.27/pc .
8x 3w Royal blue , 450-455nm, Price is USD2.29/pc .
80x degree lens Price is USD0.137/pc .
12x 3w blue , 460-470nm . Price is USD1.29/pc .
1x 200w power supply for 80 or 88 leds circuit . Price is USD39.9/pc


Order from Computer Store:
5x Arctic alumina


Order from HomeDepo
4 x 36" C Chanelle


My question is what degree optics should I get, Should i get the same degree optics for all the leds?

This will light up a 36"x30"x18"high tank. Do you guys think its over kill? Considering the powersupply isnt dimmable. Id really need a rough estimate from people who are actually useing these leds.

The tank will house mostly sps and some lps on the floor.

Just getting some oppnions before I put in the order.

 

[GUILLO1]

Im puttting in my order,

Order from Fendy:
60x 3w white 18000-20000K . Price is USD1.27/pc .
8x 3w Royal blue , 450-455nm, Price is USD2.29/pc .
80x degree lens Price is USD0.137/pc .
12x 3w blue , 460-470nm . Price is USD1.29/pc .
1x 200w power supply for 80 or 88 leds circuit . Price is USD39.9/pc


Order from Computer Store:
5x Arctic alumina


Order from HomeDepo
4 x 36" C Chanelle


My question is what degree optics should I get, Should i get the same degree optics for all the leds?

This will light up a 36"x30"x18"high tank. Do you guys think its over kill? Considering the powersupply isnt dimmable. Id really need a rough estimate from people who are actually useing these leds.

The tank will house mostly sps and some lps on the floor.

Just getting some oppnions before I put in the order.

First off for your tank size I would only do about 48 LEDs and I would use 4 dimmable Meanwell drivers. Its very important to be able to adjust the lighting, trust me on that. You will be using less LEDs but you will be running at full power if you need to. You will also need one dimming kit from rapidled.

As far as the lenses it will depend on how high the fixture will be from the tank. If its going to be say about 14"-16" above the tank Iwould go with 60 degree lenses.

Good luck with your DIY