DIY LEDs - The write-up

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Soundwave just wanted to tell ya how great that set up looks I was just talking to one of the local to me fish shop guy about a LED set up and then later ran across this thread link one our local reef club forum. I am very interested in doing something like this but seem to be pretty complicated, but after seeing and reading on this post doesn't seem to bad. I have a 180 AGA gallon reef tank and the hood I have works great but with 3 175 watt MH, 2 160 watt VHO's and 2 110 watt VHO bulbs. Draws ALOT of power and would looking for a alternative to the norm.

Please let all of us know how the corals respond to these. I'd half to make three rows for my tank to light up each section.

Thanks alot for posting this and when it comes down too how much power it draws the way I see it , it's going to draw a heck of alot less then what I have. So the difference if there is any in what is stated and what is actual is inmatterial. The facts looks like it draws alot less then anything currantly out there that is comperable so if it works better brighter and draws even half the power of a normal light were all gonna be ahead of the game.

Sorry for the long read but want to express my opinion.

Thanks Bill
 
Sound Waves, How long have you had your LED Lights up and running?

How often will you need to change the LED's.

I ask this because i know LED's last for 100,000 hours

but how long will they be sufficient for reef, any ideas?

by the way, GREAT PROJECT!!!!!

I will be making this next year when I set up a tank!
 
I really think soundwave is using way to few LEDs in his design. He needs to double what he has to get decent PAR. I also hope that people realize the light must be placed very close to the water to work without optics. I would like to see someone else take some PAR readings on this before anyone goes out and builds this they might be a little dissapointed
Click to expand...

lynxvs: What exactly do you consider "decent" PAR? I posted the PAR levels and, for my needs, they are more than adequate. I keep a lot of softies and a few LPS and SPS. Why would I go all out and double my LEDs and add optics? I apologize for feeling this way but you seem to be very very against the issue and you seem to say "nay" every chance you get.

Jack04: I have had them up and running for about a week. According to all the information I have read, the LEDs shouldn't need a change for at least 10 years. At about 11 years of something like 12 hours a day, they will decrease light output a bit.

I'm glad to see that this thread has reached other forums!
 
Soundwave,

" According to all the information I have read, the LEDs shouldn't need a change for at least 10 years."

I will bet that you will lose one LED in just a couple of years when driving them at the rated current.

With your setup, you will lose 6 LEDs and will have a little difficulty replacing one since they are glued in place.

Stu
 
I guess we won't know till it happens, Stu. I'm prepared, mentally, for this thing to stop working all together. Not that it will. It's just that with any experimental setup like this, nothing is certain.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14566356#post14566356 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
The fixture hit 460 at 12" away with no water. Does that count for anything?
Click to expand...
No because if it produces 400 1" below water it will put around 800 12" away with no water
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14566309#post14566309 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
lynxvs: What exactly do you consider "decent" PAR? I posted the PAR levels and, for my needs, they are more than adequate. I keep a lot of softies and a few LPS and SPS. Why would I go all out and double my LEDs and add optics? I apologize for feeling this way but you seem to be very very against the issue and you seem to say "nay" every chance you get.

Jack04: I have had them up and running for about a week. According to all the information I have read, the LEDs shouldn't need a change for at least 10 years. At about 11 years of something like 12 hours a day, they will decrease light output a bit.

I'm glad to see that this thread has reached other forums!
Click to expand...

Soundwave it's just constructive criticism don't take it the wrong way... I was right about the power wasn't I?

Your right if those PAR levels work for you that's what it's all about.

Can you explain the two pictures that you posted?

PC light?
LEDAquarium2.jpg


PC PAR readings
DSC04853.jpg
 
The first picture that you have is the PC light with 4 3-watt Luxeons used for a shimmer effect. That's where it all began. The second picture is the same PC lights but taken with a higher shutter speed. I took the second picture right before switching to the LED fixture to show the difference from PC to LED. The LED picture I posted immediately after the second picture was much brighter.

PCs
DSC04853.jpg


LEDs
DSC04858.jpg


PC PAR - 260watts (same picture used for LED PAR)
Before.jpg


LED PAR
After.jpg
 
How good are the blue LEDs? If VHO actinics are the gold standard, and T5s are adequate when it comes to making the colors jump out at you, where would you put the blue LEDs?
 
I can't say I've read all of this thread, and I hope someone hasn't already posted this, but here is a really cheap 700ma driver: http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.13552
I'm building a little LED desk lamp using that driver and 8x 100ma LED's. The driver should be here by the end of the week. Can't wait to try my hand at an LED based project :)

Thanks a lot for sharing your knowledge with us Soundwave. I know there's a lot of info here that's helped me learn about LED DIY.
 
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