DIY LEDs - The write-up
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rkelman
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I'm hoping someone can anyone point me in the right direction here. I want to replace the PC lights in my MH / PC fixture with LED's. I have about a 13" x 6" Area to work with. It has a clear glass shield so that will protect the lamps. I see some 6X6 LED Panels on Ebay would 1 or 2 of those work? The fixture is over a 5ft tank so It would be nice if it gave the center enough light so I could keep SPS there. Right now with 2 x 250w de halides the center is not bright enough with just the Pc's. A shopping list would be much appreciated 
yupgopotty
New member
der_wille_zur_macht: i actually was searching on ebay and saw this auction when I referred to $26.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&item=150351397861
It seems the other website was cheaper, but I'm not sure how to order from them so I might just go w/ the one on ebay. I'll keep searching and let you know what I figure out.
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
Personally, I would NOT buy a finished fixture or panel from anyone unless you had a 100% accurate way to verify the make, model, and bin codes of the LEDs inside it.
Even among the top 3 or 4 brightest LEDs out there, there can still be a large variance in light emitted (like 40 - 50%) from model to model and bin to bin.
You mention replacing PC lights in a PC/MH fixture, but then you also mention supplementing in the middle of your tank so you can grow SPS. Are you trying to replace actinic PC bulbs, or supplement "white" light, or both?
dtech
New member
tonggao to glue the lEDs use the Arctic Silver Thermal Epoxy, if possible you should probably use the Arctic Silver Thermal compound and screw the LEDs down, if you ever need to change one this will make it way easier.
As for the optics I read tha they just slip on and stay, haven't seen them in person yet so not sure on them.
As for the optics I read tha they just slip on and stay, haven't seen them in person yet so not sure on them.
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
It depends on the make/model of optic. Some "clip" on, some come pre-glued, others require you to glue them.
I haven't used any, so I can't comment on what adhesive would be appropriate.
I haven't used any, so I can't comment on what adhesive would be appropriate.
Thanks a lot dtech and der_wille_zur_macht for the information. I agree that screwing down the LEDs is a lot better, now I just need to figure out how to do it precisely.
The optic thing confuse me. After some more thinking, I decide not to use them for my pilot 12G project (I was going to use the 80 degree optics on XR-E just to get some experience with them, even though they are not needed for such small tank).
The optic thing confuse me. After some more thinking, I decide not to use them for my pilot 12G project (I was going to use the 80 degree optics on XR-E just to get some experience with them, even though they are not needed for such small tank).
Is there any recommended place where everyone is buying the LED's from? I found a place to buy the power supply / driver (meanwell eln=60-48p's) but not sure of the led's.
I'm looking for the cree xr-e cool whites q5 and the royal blues.
Also question about mounting. It appears that most are putting the led's on solid aluminum blocks finned and cut to hold a fan. I'm actually thinking of putting them on a 1/2 to 1 inch thick hollow aluminum bar. This would give me a bit of flexibility in how I mount and position the leds.
Just not sure how hot these guys get....
I'm looking for the cree xr-e cool whites q5 and the royal blues.
Also question about mounting. It appears that most are putting the led's on solid aluminum blocks finned and cut to hold a fan. I'm actually thinking of putting them on a 1/2 to 1 inch thick hollow aluminum bar. This would give me a bit of flexibility in how I mount and position the leds.
Just not sure how hot these guys get....
james3370
Premium Member
nonoreef is having a group buy that ends tomorrow. low quantities, your best best is ledsupply.com but if you need more than 25 or so, you can get them cheaper directly from ETG (that's who ledsupply gets them from & where the group buy is getting from)...about $6/each i think. response i got in the nanoreef thread about ordering from ETG:
"You have to call or email ETG to order. Talk to Anna Lopez. She will be more than happy to help you out."
http://www.etgtech.com/
for the meanwells, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the price here (& its US, so less wait time)
http://www.powergatellc.com/pricing/meanwell/e.htm
"You have to call or email ETG to order. Talk to Anna Lopez. She will be more than happy to help you out."
http://www.etgtech.com/
for the meanwells, you'll be hard-pressed to beat the price here (& its US, so less wait time)
http://www.powergatellc.com/pricing/meanwell/e.htm
rkelman
New member
"Are you planning on just getting the blue from them or do you want more of a full tpe light there?"
I was hoping to get full spectrum in the center.
"Personally, I would NOT buy a finished fixture or panel from anyone unless you had a 100% accurate way to verify the make, model, and bin codes of the LEDs inside it."
I'll take that advice thanks.
"You mention replacing PC lights in a PC/MH fixture, but then you also mention supplementing in the middle of your tank so you can grow SPS. Are you trying to replace actinic PC bulbs, or supplement "white" light, or both?"
Ok. I'll clear that up. Right now the pc's are for supplement. But on a 5" fixture they really just make the center of the tank too dark. I want to be able to grow sps or anything in the center and forget the supplimental lights all together. I don't think I see any difference with the pc's on anyways. (or much)
I was hoping to get full spectrum in the center.
"Personally, I would NOT buy a finished fixture or panel from anyone unless you had a 100% accurate way to verify the make, model, and bin codes of the LEDs inside it."
I'll take that advice thanks.
"You mention replacing PC lights in a PC/MH fixture, but then you also mention supplementing in the middle of your tank so you can grow SPS. Are you trying to replace actinic PC bulbs, or supplement "white" light, or both?"
Ok. I'll clear that up. Right now the pc's are for supplement. But on a 5" fixture they really just make the center of the tank too dark. I want to be able to grow sps or anything in the center and forget the supplimental lights all together. I don't think I see any difference with the pc's on anyways. (or much)
Thanks James.
I won't be able to make the group purchase over there I'm afraid but I will be placing a order here within the week. I believe I'm just going to put together a small prototype tank with my 20 gallon and see how it goes first before I go with the larger display. I'm a bit rusty in the hobby overall I feel.
Those meanwells - you are correct. That is a killer deal. I'm going to go ahead and order two of those today.
Optics. To me it seems the width of the optics is dependent of the height of the led above the tanks surface? Is this a correct assumption? Or is it just based on what you are trying to light, spot light, or focus on?
Thanks again.
All I wanted was shimmering effects to supplement my NEP T5s.
I got that and more with 6 CREE XRE 3watt Royal Blue LEDs, 1A Luxdrive Buckpuck w/pot, 24V 0.85A power supply (home found). LEDs are screwed down with plastic washers, applied with thermo compound, and are 4" apart with no optics (although I thought I needed them). NEP and LEDs are 8" above and sandbed is 13" below water level. The fixture is 36" long, painted black to match NEP and also acts as heatsink. It's only slightly warm in the middle portion.
Shimmering is spread evenly across the tank. The color is less purple in real life than in these pics. The corals looks unreal with the royal blue LEDs alone...like a 3D poster. My pics and video don't do justice for these LEDs since it's very hard to capture shimmering blue lights. Gotta see them in person to appreciate. I can crank or dim them to my taste on the fly.
Here are some pics and a short video.
...LEDs only, with flash
...LEDs only, without flash
short clip
I got that and more with 6 CREE XRE 3watt Royal Blue LEDs, 1A Luxdrive Buckpuck w/pot, 24V 0.85A power supply (home found). LEDs are screwed down with plastic washers, applied with thermo compound, and are 4" apart with no optics (although I thought I needed them). NEP and LEDs are 8" above and sandbed is 13" below water level. The fixture is 36" long, painted black to match NEP and also acts as heatsink. It's only slightly warm in the middle portion.
Shimmering is spread evenly across the tank. The color is less purple in real life than in these pics. The corals looks unreal with the royal blue LEDs alone...like a 3D poster. My pics and video don't do justice for these LEDs since it's very hard to capture shimmering blue lights. Gotta see them in person to appreciate. I can crank or dim them to my taste on the fly.
Here are some pics and a short video.
...LEDs only, with flash
...LEDs only, without flash
short clip
der_wille_zur_macht
Team RC
Finally ordered LEDs for the nano I am building:
4 x 3-up white Endor Stars (i.e. 3 white Rebels on each)
2 x 3-up blue Endor Stars
6 x XR-E royal blues
So a total of 12 white, 6 blue, and 6 royal. The nano will have a 16" x 16" footprint, and I am planning on a creative mounting scheme for the LEDs. I'll post details once the project is under way.
4 x 3-up white Endor Stars (i.e. 3 white Rebels on each)
2 x 3-up blue Endor Stars
6 x XR-E royal blues
So a total of 12 white, 6 blue, and 6 royal. The nano will have a 16" x 16" footprint, and I am planning on a creative mounting scheme for the LEDs. I'll post details once the project is under way.
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