LED light redo.

[CrazyEyes]

So while my tank is down I decided I wanted to redo the way the light is housed. I didn't hate it before but it was definitely a little too bulky for my liking. So the new build is just going to use some 1/2" x 2" x 1/8" aluminum channel which will connect the two heatsinks together. Then various pieces of aluminum pieces to make it more of a closed fixture. Also, the fins on the heatsinks are going to get routed down so I can install the fans without them sticking up, then the whole thing will get painted black.

Here is the way the light looked previously, I dubbed it the flower box.


The first pic I took of it, a little too long for the length of the tank.


Had the channel cut down to 34", much better.



And today I picked up some more 1/8" aluminum to fill in the middle section where I'll put the drivers, PS and controller. I also have another piece of 1/8" aluminum that will go on the top piece, this way there is no gap from the channel and the top.

Just wanted to share this, will definitely making some more progress soon. Next I have to have end caps made and get some acrylic for a splash guard.

 

[djsmallz]

That is looking very nice, where did you get the aluminum channel, I'm thinking of doing a similar light rack for my 210.

 

[hobbzz]

Looks good. Estreetplastics is a good online source. Prices are cheap and shipping is cheaper than you would think. Are you planning on a splash guard down the whole length of the fixture or just covering the leds?

 

[CrazyEyes]

I got the channel from metals depot dot com. We have a few local acrylic places that have really good prices. The bottom will have a full splash guard since I'm putting my drivers and power supply in there. Might paint the middle of the splash guard black though so it covers all the electronics. Just got the final top piece on.

 

[snake1]

Looks very clean

 

[CrazyEyes]

Thanks everyone. So I decided to add T5's to the light 2x39w should be perfect. So I went ahead and picked up some 1/8 inch wall 1 3/4" square aluminum tubing, makes the total length 37" which is perfect. Need to make some brackets to attach the tubing but for now this what it looks like.

 

[hobbzz]

Looks awesome. I'd love to do something like that if I could convince my wife to ditch the canopy lol.

What are you going to run for t5? I'm trying out bulbs right now for the same purpose.

 

[CrazyEyes]

Probably two ATI coralplus bulbs or two Giesemann Aquablue Coral bulbs. My g/f makes a majority of the decisions i.e decorating the bathroom, living room etc but when it comes to the tank I'm doing what I want, when I told her I was going bare bottom and all SPS (sticks) she rolled her eyes and said why? Because I let you have full control over everything else lol.

 

[hobbzz]

When we moved to our current house my wife said she wanted a canopy because the lights blinded her when she was sitting on the couch in the living room where the tank is...now there is a canopy and she never spends any time in there lol.

 

[janes_mw]

Sweeeet. You'll like the flexibility of the T5 supplements for sure!

 

[CrazyEyes]

Got the square tubing for the t5's fixed to the heatsinks, got the end caps, got the ballast for the t5's now I just need to get some bulbs so I can mount everything up, oh and wire everything up.

 

[anbosu]

It looks awesome!

 

[hobbzz]

Nice progress.

 

[gobytwo]

Fire that puppy up! Like to see how good it looks. Pics please!
Happy reefing
Rick

 

[CrazyEyes]

Thanks. Still have a things to get new LED power supply, bulbs and misc stuff. Still deciding if I want to just keep the conduit hangers or go with aluminum square channel. Decided to atleast hang the light up tonight to see how it looks. The back T5 might be useless over the overflow but I guess we'll see.

 

[hobbzz]

You could use the clips to point the reflector on the back bulb towards the middle of the tank.

I think it looks good with the conduit! I'd save the money and opt for coral/fish/equipment rather than getting square channel.

 

[CrazyEyes]

That was my idea honestly, just moving the reflectors because the way it sits now, if they were straight down it would literally just light the whole overflow up.

 

[CrazyEyes]

Yeah.....square tubing was a much better idea.

 

[MrHarvard]

Looks good homie! Good call on adding the T5s. At this rate we will both be getting our tanks up around the same time.

 

[CrazyEyes]

Thanks Anthony. I'd normally give you hell about not having a running tank but new baby trumps reef tank. Hope everything is going well for you and your fiance. I see that she is almost ready to pop lol.