DIY LEDs - The write-up

[dtech]

I finally started getting some parts together it is slow going do to budget but I got the heatsink and gonna order some of the LED's in the next week then work on the next LED order etc. Soudwave the tank is looking great and since I have a 75 I'm doing pretty much exactly what you did, I am thinking of doing 1000ma pucks on the blues also what is the opinion on that? I would like it to be a little bit bluer tintwhen all are on.

 

[Soundwave]

From what I've gathered, there is supposed to be no difference other than heat with higher current in the blues. If you want a bluer look, just add more blues.

 

[dtech]

Thanks for that, I don't want them any hotter than neccesary, maybe I will swap a couple of whites for blues, do you thonk I will hamper growth any if I do that I will be doing 50 led's and was gonna do 30/30, maybe do 25/35 for the extra blue? I really like the look of 14k and 20k tanks, but I also want the growth like your getting.

 

[Soundwave]

The blues are going to give you the color, whites make it grow. I'm at 60 total. 28 white and 32 blue.

 

[dtech]

With the 28/32 what color temp do you see to the eye, well at least what does it resemble, like a 20k or 14k halide for comparison maybe? if that makes sense it does in my head

 

[geo]

I have a 50/50 mix and the color reminds me of a 20k radium on a HQI ballast.

 

[dtech]

I like the sound of that I don't need to keep overthinking it then just go with the plan, thanks for the info, I like the tint of the 14k, and 20k halides for daytime lighting, the colors are alot nicer on my clam under those color temps.

 

[james3370]

or do them each dimable, so you can ramp up or down each's intensity to get the color mix you like. wasn't that how the solaris unit worked??? where each had independent control??

 

[dtech]

that will be an option too I am gonna do 30/30 over a 75g with dimable pucks, I read in ome of the earlier posts about gang potentiometers, I can't find them with 5 inputs, would it matter how many inputs? I can find 2,4,6 and 8. I thought 1 of those for each color that will cover the 10 pucks.

 

[Soundwave]

It's hard for me to throw a color temp at this since it's not really something a halide can reproduce. If I had to do that, though, I would peg it somewhere between the 14k and 20k. Kind of a purple tint to the whole thing.

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15106106#post15106106 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
It's hard for me to throw a color temp at this since it's not really something a halide can reproduce. If I had to do that, though, I would peg it somewhere between the 14k and 20k. Kind of a purple tint to the whole thing.

good to know. i think what i might do (if/when i get around to doing the nano i am planning) is to do a 50/50 of the blue & white (3 strings of 6 of each blue & white) & then a string of maybe 6 reds & have each dimable, so i can adjust each independently till i get the color i want

that should be more than adequate for an 18" cube....don'tcha think??? or should i drop it down to 2 strings of 6 each blue & white & 1 string of 6 red??

 

[Soundwave]

So.... why red?

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15111851#post15111851 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
So.... why red?

as i mentioned a few posts earlier (6th post pg 11), i have a growlight that i am gonna use as the refugium light in the sump of my current build that has a mixture of red & blue that gives a purple tint to it......

figure i can put a few reds on a dimable string to get that purpleish hue that most mh get w/ the combination of the main bulb & the actinic supplementation?

 

[Soundwave]

I get that already with my current mix. I guess we will never know until someone tries it. Give it a go but keep us updated.

 

[apt220]

Also, some T5 users with Fiji Purple get really, really, really nice red colors out of their SPS. The theory is that the Fiji Purple has two wavelength peaks. One in the purple region and one in the red region. But I have not seen any graphs to verify this.

 

[Galantra]

I was going to purchase a led fixture but figured to Do it myself. I am looking to create a long Led strip looking for moon lights as well as supplemental light for my display tanks. I am not so savvy with this but would like to give it a try. This unit will be housed with my T5’s
What would be the best way to accomplish this? The size of the tank is 72in long I know it will be around 60-65 inches long the fixture need to be how many leds would that be?
How are Super antinics Led created?

 

[james3370]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15116064#post15116064 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Soundwave
I get that already with my current mix. I guess we will never know until someone tries it. Give it a go but keep us updated.

might be awhile before i am actually putting something together (still in the planning stages), but i'll let ya know when i do

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15116527#post15116527 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by apt220
Also, some T5 users with Fiji Purple get really, really, really nice red colors out of their SPS. The theory is that the Fiji Purple has two wavelength peaks. One in the purple region and one in the red region. But I have not seen any graphs to verify this.

the fuji purple is the only t5 bulb that reefgeek doesn't have a spectrum graph for :mad2:

 

[fernandokng]

Does anyone know whether these buckpucks overheat? I have them all tightly sealed in a project box with no ventilation. I don't want to kill them because they are $20/each.

 

[Soundwave]

I have 10 in a tiny project box. They don't overheat unless you try to run 8 LEDs. Then they let the smoke out and stop working.

 

[apt220]

So Fernandokng did you get your fixture mounted?