I am thinking about building my own LED fixture for a 5 gallon nano. The tank surface is 10" x 16". I am going to use CREE 3 Watt LED's (white and blue). I am wondering anyone can suggest the number of LED's I may need. The fixture will only be 3 inches above the water line. Is it too close?
LED suggestion
- Thread starter raytse
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saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
What are you planning to keep in this tank? 3 LED's will be adequate for a dark fish only tank. If you were to keep a reef of moderate light corals I would say a minimum of 15 over a 5 gallon system. I would try to get as many as I could fit over it whether that be 15 or 50. LED has come a long way but has a long way to go. It takes a lot of them to get bright enough to light a reef.
BowieReefer84
New member
I have 24 led's over a 29gal biocube. 12 xr-e blue and 12 xp-g white. I am getting 800 par at the top and 200 at the bottom.
15 leds would be overkill for 5 gallons.
I would do 4-6 max. 2 rows of 3 would be nice. No lenses/optics.
15 leds would be overkill for 5 gallons.
I would do 4-6 max. 2 rows of 3 would be nice. No lenses/optics.
Zoa Robber22
New member
you would need alot of leds to produce enough amount of lighting..but they're better for the electric bill
BowieReefer84
New member
24 cree led's are the equiv of a 250watt halide. 72 watts vers 250 watts.... When I put my par meter right at the fixture I am at 1,900+ PAR value. This is a lot imo... On small tanks they make sense, whereas on large tanks I would agree they are not worth it. The main issue is lack of "spread." This is why I would not tell anyone to go led on a big tank.
saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
Differing opinions. You decide. Then post a pic of what you decided and tell us what worked.
100%hydrophylic
New member
saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
Judging by the pictures looks like 12 is about right. So I was close with 15. If you had to do it again would you do it the same or more or less?
100%hydrophylic
New member
if i were to do it again, id explore red LEDs, just to see how that looks. to me the 12 seems about right, and there arent any spotlights. that was the main thing i was worried about.
saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
My aquarium came with a Marineland Double Bright LED. http://www.fosterandsmithaquatics.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3733+10704+21973&pcatid=21973
It is junk. All 9 are spot. Basically what I was basing my estimate of 15 on. If my aquarium did not come with this light I would never buy it or use it. Seems DIY is the way to go. The so-called reef capable seem to not quite be there yet. Massive par numbers are great but the par weakens rapidly as you move out from directly under the LEDs. Of course we knew that. As said many times before, they work best on a small tank. But then again the cost does not make it worth it. The electric savings is not as substantial as many think. Though it is cheaper to run check your electric company bill to see how much you pay per KWH. Then calculate how much your light costs. Then compare that cost to your heaters, chiller, pumps, etc. It's not that big a deal on a smallish tank.
It is junk. All 9 are spot. Basically what I was basing my estimate of 15 on. If my aquarium did not come with this light I would never buy it or use it. Seems DIY is the way to go. The so-called reef capable seem to not quite be there yet. Massive par numbers are great but the par weakens rapidly as you move out from directly under the LEDs. Of course we knew that. As said many times before, they work best on a small tank. But then again the cost does not make it worth it. The electric savings is not as substantial as many think. Though it is cheaper to run check your electric company bill to see how much you pay per KWH. Then calculate how much your light costs. Then compare that cost to your heaters, chiller, pumps, etc. It's not that big a deal on a smallish tank.
100%hydrophylic
New member
ohh, i was kind of curious about the marineland double bright things. the LED look very spaced apart, and the thing looks like its supposed to be very close to the tank (seen in its legs). thought it might cause some spotlighting.
the main things i like about the functionality of LED is very little heat transfer to the tank (pertty important on small tanks. i refuse to buy an obnoxiously large chiller for 5g lol), and i supposedly don't have to change any bulbs for 13 yrs
.
the main things i like about the functionality of LED is very little heat transfer to the tank (pertty important on small tanks. i refuse to buy an obnoxiously large chiller for 5g lol), and i supposedly don't have to change any bulbs for 13 yrs
.
saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
There is some spotlighting. It is not real bad but while the water clears it is very apparent. I shall not that when it is on it does produce some heat. Enough you can feel it but of course it is not hot at all. I had the light laying directly on top of the aquarium glass canopy. Tank measures 20" X 18" X 20" Light is seriously inadequate for me. However, I would say LED is perfect for a 5 gallon. Measuring the light spread and height of the diode you should be able to make a real nice fixture where each diodes light crosses the ones next to it.
saltjohnswharf
Conscientious Member
http://www.ecorayled.com/Ecoray60/Home.html
Interesting... I saw this setup at a store next to a 250 watt halide. Light looks similar but not the same. They say you will save $375 a year on electric and bulb replacement costs. If the bulbs costs $100 a year that means your light costs about $22 a month to operate? The funny thing is when I had my large reef with a chiller and 2 - 175 watt halides, big pumps, etc my electric bill only went up $25. There are tons of lies out there about LEDs. Because of this I don't like them anymore. Sorry... something just pushed my buttons when my gmail gave me the link above in an ad.
Interesting... I saw this setup at a store next to a 250 watt halide. Light looks similar but not the same. They say you will save $375 a year on electric and bulb replacement costs. If the bulbs costs $100 a year that means your light costs about $22 a month to operate? The funny thing is when I had my large reef with a chiller and 2 - 175 watt halides, big pumps, etc my electric bill only went up $25. There are tons of lies out there about LEDs. Because of this I don't like them anymore. Sorry... something just pushed my buttons when my gmail gave me the link above in an ad.
100%hydrophylic
New member
haha, the $375 a year must have been from someone using a couple dozen metal halides over a couple thousand gallon tank who switched to LED 
.
Ive seen that fixture. Its kinda cool, but i still feel like DIY LEDs are way different.
.Ive seen that fixture. Its kinda cool, but i still feel like DIY LEDs are way different.
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