DIY LEDs - The write-up
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thelastlaugh9
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Using exatctly 1/2 of your set up, what wattage power supply is needed and how is it determined. I've noticed some that offer the same amprage with different wattage
goofyreefer
Member
I was at a Petland right by my house tonight and they have a small reef display tank and use a Solaris 24 inch fixture. It has 50 LED lights and was really unimpressed with this fixture. What type of LEDS does Solaris use?
Fist off thank you for the incredible DIY thread. Amazing man!
I have been dreaming of getting an LED system on my 225 and have read through most of this thread (actualy just reading your answers to the many questions) but I decided to do the math on what this would cost me.
Am I doing this right?
You have 48 star LED's for a 75 gallon that comes to .64 Star LED's per gallon.
Now if I try and apply that to my 225 I would need 144 Star LED's right?
Figuring that the each Star LED costs $7.21, that would mean it would cost me in $1,038 in just the LED's.
Then for ever 6 LED's you need 1 buckpuck, adding $360.00.
Heatsinks I would guess as being $150
Maybe $100 for a power supply to run it all (probably more but I know very little about PS's)
Total $1,648 and that is not including any mounting material, wires, fans and whatever else. Just based on the math I would figure on this being about $7.50 per gallon if you where wanting to do this yourself on any tank. It's competitive with most LED lighting.
My conclusion is that it would be more cost efficient to either get 24/7 supply LED bulb's (if they stay in business after this whole lawsuit thing) or wait till the LED market lowers there prices. Though there is some night and day differences and huge benefits to having a personalized light fixture to fit your individual needs, the fact that you will almost never have to think about your lights for the next 10 years, and that it's just plain cool, this does not seem like a project that would be a good use of my time and money.
I don't mean that to be offensive in any way (you've got enough sh%t thrown at you for this build as it is). Matter of fact I had no opinion till I just figured this out in this post and I could be completely wrong on my math anyways. Those questions marks were not rhetorical.
Once again, Thank You for the awesome thread Soundwave.
Sculp1n
I have been dreaming of getting an LED system on my 225 and have read through most of this thread (actualy just reading your answers to the many questions) but I decided to do the math on what this would cost me.
Am I doing this right?
You have 48 star LED's for a 75 gallon that comes to .64 Star LED's per gallon.
Now if I try and apply that to my 225 I would need 144 Star LED's right?
Figuring that the each Star LED costs $7.21, that would mean it would cost me in $1,038 in just the LED's.
Then for ever 6 LED's you need 1 buckpuck, adding $360.00.
Heatsinks I would guess as being $150
Maybe $100 for a power supply to run it all (probably more but I know very little about PS's)
Total $1,648 and that is not including any mounting material, wires, fans and whatever else. Just based on the math I would figure on this being about $7.50 per gallon if you where wanting to do this yourself on any tank. It's competitive with most LED lighting.
My conclusion is that it would be more cost efficient to either get 24/7 supply LED bulb's (if they stay in business after this whole lawsuit thing) or wait till the LED market lowers there prices. Though there is some night and day differences and huge benefits to having a personalized light fixture to fit your individual needs, the fact that you will almost never have to think about your lights for the next 10 years, and that it's just plain cool, this does not seem like a project that would be a good use of my time and money.
I don't mean that to be offensive in any way (you've got enough sh%t thrown at you for this build as it is). Matter of fact I had no opinion till I just figured this out in this post and I could be completely wrong on my math anyways. Those questions marks were not rhetorical.
Once again, Thank You for the awesome thread Soundwave.
Sculp1n
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Soundwave
New member
I'm pretty sure if I had a larger tank like yours, I probably would have never even tried this.
Tonight, I finished the enclosure for the fixture and cut giant holes in my canopy so it can shine through. I took a few pictures so I'll be sure to post them.
At this point, I'm waiting on the optics. I really hope this will be as good as I'm expecting.
Fingers crossed.
Tonight, I finished the enclosure for the fixture and cut giant holes in my canopy so it can shine through. I took a few pictures so I'll be sure to post them.
At this point, I'm waiting on the optics. I really hope this will be as good as I'm expecting.
Fingers crossed.
Skymonster
New member
Soundwave,
Thank you for taking the time to write up such a detailed thread.
I have a few questions, that I could not find an answer too reading all the other pages.
1. You attached 24 Leds to each heat sink that was 12"x8.5", can you tell me the spacing / distance between each LED and Row
2. I believe you used Cree XRE Q4 LEDs, I am looking at using the CREE XRE P4s, any opinions or downside to this change?
3. Also could not find the dimentions of your Tank. HxLxW? Sorry I know you have mentioned a Stanard 75Gallon, but I am in Australia and may mean something different.
4. Your fixture is 48" by 8.5"?? Do you have the measurements for the placement of the lights/heatsinks within the overall fixture?
E.g. The heatsink is x" from the end of the fixture with x" between them.
Thanks for you time in replying.
Thank you for taking the time to write up such a detailed thread.
I have a few questions, that I could not find an answer too reading all the other pages.
1. You attached 24 Leds to each heat sink that was 12"x8.5", can you tell me the spacing / distance between each LED and Row
2. I believe you used Cree XRE Q4 LEDs, I am looking at using the CREE XRE P4s, any opinions or downside to this change?
3. Also could not find the dimentions of your Tank. HxLxW? Sorry I know you have mentioned a Stanard 75Gallon, but I am in Australia and may mean something different.
4. Your fixture is 48" by 8.5"?? Do you have the measurements for the placement of the lights/heatsinks within the overall fixture?
E.g. The heatsink is x" from the end of the fixture with x" between them.
Thanks for you time in replying.
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Soundwave
New member
The P4 would work but they just aren't as bright. The lumen output according to cree is only 87.4 max at 350mA. The Q4 is 107. The Q5, their highest, runs at 114.
This is all at 350mA. They can handle up to 1000mA and the lumen output increases with the amperage.
As far as spacing, it's something close to 2 inches. I have to paint the thing today so I'll measure for sure.
Tank size is 48x18x21
As far as placement, the whole thing is 48 inches. 12 inches in from each end is the center of the heatsinks. that leaves 6 inches from each end to the beginning of the heatsink with a 12 inch gap between the two.
Hope that helped.
This is all at 350mA. They can handle up to 1000mA and the lumen output increases with the amperage.
As far as spacing, it's something close to 2 inches. I have to paint the thing today so I'll measure for sure.
Tank size is 48x18x21
As far as placement, the whole thing is 48 inches. 12 inches in from each end is the center of the heatsinks. that leaves 6 inches from each end to the beginning of the heatsink with a 12 inch gap between the two.
Hope that helped.
EBOLII
New member
That looks fantastic. Remind me again, how many buckpucks you deployed? I see 2, is the power supply under them? Looks like a double side box, with a piece of aluminum between.[like a I-beam] then a you add a cover.
I would like to see a closer image of that if your willing
Also show the belly of your new light box please
I would like to see a closer image of that if your willing
Also show the belly of your new light box please
Imzadi
New member
I have a modest question compared to others...
I mentioned before about my thoughts about getting into this... For my little 55g... I intend to run 2 x 96w actinic, and 2 rows of 6 x white leds like yours... Do you think that would be enough for most of the basic corals? And what would I need... 2 of them pucks, and a power supply... would I need a heatsink? Do those little buggers really get THAT hot?
I mentioned before about my thoughts about getting into this... For my little 55g... I intend to run 2 x 96w actinic, and 2 rows of 6 x white leds like yours... Do you think that would be enough for most of the basic corals? And what would I need... 2 of them pucks, and a power supply... would I need a heatsink? Do those little buggers really get THAT hot?
Soundwave
New member
Should be fine for some softies. It's hard for me to recommend something like that as I've not tried it. They do get hot. Running them at 1000mA, they can actually damage themselves in minutes without proper cooling.
As an update, I have phase 1 done on this new venture. The enclosure is built and painted and has been mounted on top of my canopy. I'm amazed at how bright it still looks. I can't wait for the optics to show up. Could be a week and a half, still.
As an update, I have phase 1 done on this new venture. The enclosure is built and painted and has been mounted on top of my canopy. I'm amazed at how bright it still looks. I can't wait for the optics to show up. Could be a week and a half, still.
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