LED 29 biocube SPS build

[bgoldacker]

Well i finally converted my tank over to all LED lighting. I did a complete in tank overhaul! Got rid of most of my soft coral and my lil neon psuedochromis* who killed half my tank. rescaped all the rock and am starting an all SPS tank.

Here are some pics of the LED hood retro.
2 Panorama pro 445nm/magenta
Stunners
2 8,000k/453nm
1 12,000k/magenta
1 12,000k/445nm

Before

Had to take out the moon lights to fit 2 more stunners.

LEDs installed

Just the Stunners

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6016/5976336047_ed18526cde.jpg
All

 

[racerfreak]

Good luck, idk if those LEDs will be enough to grow an all sps tank but I'd like to see you do it :thumbsup:

 

[NanoReefie]

The Stunners do look good, however they are not designed to be able to run as the primary source of light. I use 2 blue stunners 24/7, they add more blue during the day, and as moonlights during the evening. They make great accents to my pair of 12" Vertex Illumilux LED modules.

 

[pkirby]

the stunners are not designed to be primary, but the panorama pros he's using are! They are 19 watt each, the LED's are running at just over 1.5 watts but I believe they are actually rated at 3 watts... they're ran lower to keep things cool and extend life.

I'd expect you can grow plenty of SPS with this lighting... and you have the option of adding the reflectors if needed, but I don't expect you would.

 

[bgoldacker]

The panorama pros are ridiculously bright, I had reflectors on them but had to take them off because they blinded out the tank. However I left reflectors on two of the stunners. I'll post a FTS soon! It goin to be quite an adventure, crossing my fingers and hoping it all goes well!

 

[bgoldacker]

Just a few pics of my red planet acro and diamond goby under the new lights.

 

[reefer74]

I too am using an led setup similar to what you have....except I have the 12 watt modules...I bought them just before the new ones came out. How are you liking the magenta? I've been looking at them but didn't really know if I would like the color. They look great from the pics on your tank.

Johnny G.

 

[bgoldacker]

I too am using an led setup similar to what you have....except I have the 12 watt modules...I bought them just before the new ones came out. How are you liking the magenta? I've been looking at them but didn't really know if I would like the color. They look great from the pics on your tank.

Johnny G.

The magenta really pops the coraline algae, the pink coloring does take a little getting used to but I am really liking it so far.

 

[bgoldacker]

the stunners are not designed to be primary, but the panorama pros he's using are! They are 19 watt each, the LED's are running at just over 1.5 watts but I believe they are actually rated at 3 watts... they're ran lower to keep things cool and extend life.

I'd expect you can grow plenty of SPS with this lighting... and you have the option of adding the reflectors if needed, but I don't expect you would.

Haha yes the pan's are intense. I have already seen new growth on the sps and the lights have only been on a week.

 

[reefer74]

I didn't see any of the small 3w stunners in magenta...even on the website. I'm going to place them on the side...if they don't have them then I'm just going to use the blues....really jam that hood full of lights.

 

[reefer74]

Also I noticed you placed a stunner on the feeding hood....how'd you manage that also I know they are suppossed to be waterproof but man just the evaporation on the hood makes me a little weary.

 

[RedStangGA]

Like the LED's. Have you noticed any affect on temp with the LED's? I'm looking at a LED retrofit kit in part because I'm hoping it will run cooler than the stock lighting.

 

[reefer74]

I'm running a few under the hood of my 29...I have the silent x fan upgrade from nano tuners...and my tank stays around 78 to at the most 80. I keep my house from around 72 to 76 degrees. I ran the lights without the fan kit and some of my panoramas began cutting out due to heat...added the fans...not a single problem and super quiet.

 

[bgoldacker]

Also I noticed you placed a stunner on the feeding hood....how'd you manage that also I know they are suppossed to be waterproof but man just the evaporation on the hood makes me a little weary.

I cut a hole in the side of the plastic cover and ran the wire through it i also drilled through the hood itself to put screws in. That stunner is the last one on the link and has been on the tank for about 9 months without any failure. i'm actually surprised it has lasted.

 

[bgoldacker]

Like the LED's. Have you noticed any affect on temp with the LED's? I'm looking at a LED retrofit kit in part because I'm hoping it will run cooler than the stock lighting.

They run a lot cooler than the stock PC lights. i have no cooling fans running on the tank at the moment and have a heater to keep the tank at 77 degrees. though my house is kept rather cool.

 

[bgoldacker]

Update!

Current FTS (sorry for the bad image didn't have my DSLR with me had to use my phone)

Also picked up a dragon face pipefish from the LFS. eating frozen seahorse diet and pods from my fuge so hopefully all goes well with him.

 

[bgoldacker]

Update
Water and salt got into the hood and fried a lot of the LEDs in the panoramas despite heat sealing and electrical taping the connectors :headwally:
Sadly not covered under warranty, but Ecoxotic has been very helpful with the process to replace them and gave me a 40% off code, which i was very happy to receive! I plan on getting the 18" fixture when it becomes available next month. Hopefully the coral can hold out until then!

I'll post pics of the damage tomorrow.

 

[walnuts24]

Why dont you tell me the 40% off code so I can pick up the new panorama fixture I was thinking about getting? haha

Well goodluck with your venture and the tank looks great.