DIY LEDs - The write-up

[apricotscrub]

have any of you ever thought of using 405nm blu ray diode phr-803t (about $20)

 

[zachtos]

Doesn't look like that will work, way too expensive and bulky, no optic to spread it out and it may be too much for corals, also it's not 420nm, which is what I think we really want.

 

[obet_carlos]

has anyone had a problem with rust?

 

[kcress]

Yeah... my 86 Suburban has a large hole in it.

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14801177#post14801177 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by obet_carlos
has anyone had a problem with rust?

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14801372#post14801372 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by kcress
Yeah... my 86 Suburban has a large hole in it.

 

[kcress]

obet_carlos; Sorry I couldn't resist a line like that.

You need to be n\more specific though. Nothing we are talking about here has any iron in it. Rust means the "oxidation of iron". So you see we're at a bit of a loss in answering your question.

If you mean 'corrosion', we would all be worried a bit about that. LED hoods are too expensive to allow much salt water contact. Most of them will be running so warm that no moisture will normally condense on them.

If you have spashy fish then something would need to be done.

 

[dogstar74]

Well, I wired my project up! and it didn't work. I couldn't figure out what was wrong. So I finally decided to switch the polarity of the ballast, and WAAA LAAA! It works! My little 6 light array for my 10 gallon blasts out the lumens! And the colors of the tank are so much more clear! And did I mention the shimmer!? It's great! Thanks again Soundwave.

Oh and for those that care, I used a Xitanium driver, and it's great for a small string. It's really plug and play.

Cheers!
Aaron

P.S. I promise pics to come as soon as my wife gets home with the camera!

 

[Soundwave]

I'm glad I could help. I really want to see this.

 

[widmer]

I would also love to see it, with only 3 whites and 3 blues. Because I'm tentatively planning a fixture with 14 blues and 14 whites (of the same LEDs) for a tank that's really not much bigger...

 

[dogstar74]

Well initial observations, the coloration is great! The intensity is an improvement from my 2 VHO and 1 T5HO actinic light before. But in fairness, the bulbs have been running for over a year I believe.

Critique, the light doesn't seem to reach all the corners of the tank exactly like the bigger light did. Not a problem since I have just a small island in the middle of the 10 gallon. But if you had light loving critters in the corners of your nano, then you may need 12 lights rather than 6.

I did notice much better coloration of the few softies that I have. in other words the greens pop out a bit more now than they did before.

As far as pics go, I'll have to wait until Sunday when the camera gets here, and I'll try to give a good representation of the color difference.

Good luck,
Aaron

 

[Soundwave]

I've noticed, as well, that my greens pop more along with the blue spots on some of my shrooms. How do you like the blue/white shimmer on the sand? It kinda irritated me at first but I really like it now.

 

[dogstar74]

Actually, I'm running a bare bottom ICU of sorts for my two clown fishes and a couple of corals I'm trying to hold onto. So the bottom of the tank is covered with cyano, hair algea, and coraline algae. So I can't really comment.

Also, I haven't had much over the tank time yet, as I haven't built an enclosure to keep the salt spray away from the components. I was just thrilled to have the lights on and checked what it would look like over the tank.

Thanks again soundwave,
Aaron

 

[Soundwave]

Throwing another update out there...

I'm winning the diatom bloom and things are looking good. The new aquascape is growing on me.

Before:

After:

A little later: - notice the brown rocks...

Tonight:

 

[lilmonster]

It looks Great! :thumbsup:

 

[dogstar74]

I like it except this rock right here. It looks too artificial, and is an eye sore if you're asking my opinion. I know it's a great place to place frags while they grow, but I don't think it works aesthetically.

But I like the look otherwise!
Aaron

 

[tahiriqbal]

LED have been sent

LED have been sent

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14682463#post14682463 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by stugray
For someone who claims to be ready to patent something, he sure has a lot of things to work out.......


BTW - I PMed my address. We'll see if I ever get to look at these mystery LEDs.

Stu

Hi Stu,

LEDs have been posted out to you. I have sent you one with 10K and one with 25K. Remember its our own LED.... Have a close look at these LEDs and I am also posting out some info on these LEDs too.

Please could you kindly PM me the findings and what your test result shows.

Here are for my project.....

some more

and some more

 

[stugray]

Tahir Iqbal,

"Remember its our own LED...."

Oh.... so then you work for Furuier in Guangdong China.

Very interesting...


http://furuier.en.alibaba.com/product/215375995-200152460/3W_white_high_power_led.html

Stu

Nice try cutting the top off the datasheets ;-)

 

[eros]

This is a very inspiring thread, thanks for posting. I'm tempted to give this a shot.

 

[traveller7]

Folks,

This is a Reef Central discussion area:

No sales
No trades

A few folks are way over the line with commercial intentions, Websites, assembled for resale, etc.

Now would be a great time to head over and carefully read the user agreement:
http://www.reefcentral.com/agreement.php

Please keep the thread focused on the discussion side so it may remain productive, informative, developmental, and most importantly: in public view.

Thank you for the support.

 

[Lutefisk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=14803811#post14803811 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by dogstar74
I like it except this rock right here. It looks too artificial, and is an eye sore if you're asking my opinion. I know it's a great place to place frags while they grow, but I don't think it works aesthetically.

But I like the look otherwise!
Aaron

Personally, I think it looks fine. Yes, it looks a little "whiter" than the rest of the tank but once some coraline grows and corals encrust I think it will fit in fine.

Paul