LEDs

[phenom5]

Thinking about switching out my T5s for LEDs.

The wife was actually a lot more receptive to the idea than I expected. So now I'm giving it some real thought.

48x18x21 tank, SPS pretty much throughout (or, soon to be at least) for those who haven't seen my tank.

Ideally I would pick up a couple of GHL Mitras and call it a day. But back in the real world...

-I'm looking for something that is dimmable, either through the fixture or through my RKL.
-It's got to look nice on top of the tank, hanging or with legs...the wife will never go for it if it looks too DIY (not that I'm opposed to DIY).
-Must be enough to handle SPS.

A pair of Maxspect Razors would be nice. But the price is a little steeper than I'd like (isn't it always?)
A pair of the ReefBreeders 16" dimmable units would work, from what I've seen of them.
A pair of DIY or Pre-built RapidLED fixtures would work (I think).

Other options?
Kessil 350W? Love the idea of just having 2 of those hanging over the tank, but would it be enough?

 

[savageAJC]

For a while I thought about going with reefbreeders, they're full spectrum, dimmable, and easier on the wallet. Pretty nice looking fixtures.

 

[brettinteriors]

I have kessil a350 if you want to see it in person. I personally prefer led mixed with t5 for visual which I have at home vs the standalone 350 at my store. I use the a350 (narrow) and they are powerful

You could do the 350w.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

 

[miatawnt2b]

I made a 50W multichip canon for my 18" cube. A pair of 100W chips with dimable ballasts and no optics about 7" off the water surface would rock your tank. You could probably get by with about $100 per light complete if you want to DIY.

-J

 

[phenom5]

For a while I thought about going with reefbreeders, they're full spectrum, dimmable, and easier on the wallet. Pretty nice looking fixtures.

Pretty nice looking fixtures. This may be the direction I go.

I have kessil a350 if you want to see it in person. I personally prefer led mixed with t5 for visual which I have at home vs the standalone 350 at my store. I use the a350 (narrow) and they are powerful

You could do the 350w.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I've thought about gutting my T5 so I have the ballast & 2 54W T5s running, with a retrofit DIY LEDs in the middle.

Any issues with stuffing the LEDs/ heatsinks with the drivers into the fixture? Assuming I could fit them.

I made a 50W multichip canon for my 18" cube. A pair of 100W chips with dimable ballasts and no optics about 7" off the water surface would rock your tank. You could probably get by with about $100 per light complete if you want to DIY.

-J

Those multichip LEDs are interesting. But my tank is and will be an open top tank, and those bigass CPU heatsinks will not fly with the boss.

 

[miatawnt2b]

Mine is too... I'll shoot you a picture. Basically I took a standard 90mm cpu heatsink and fan, stuffed it in a stainless kitchen utensile can from ikea. Mounted the whole thing onto a piece of aluminum bar stock which I bent with a little heat.

 

[phenom5]

That looks pretty good. That's got enough of a polished look to it the wife may go for it. Some of the one's I've seen are not the best looking.

How is it for heat?
What all did you use, parts-wise (LED, Driver, etc)? I'd be interested in any additional details you have.

Very interesting. If I could get away with a couple of the 100W for ~300 bucks, I'd be very happy.

Nice looking tank BTW.

 

[cd823]

what is your budget?

 

[cd823]

Reefbreeders has the 32" controllable for 449 shipped...would be perfect for your tank. Buddy has it on his 120, and i just bought it for my 90 gallon...with the 90 degree (maybe 120) optics you would be set....or 2 16 inch fixtures with 90 degree optics...

 

[phenom5]

The concern with the 32" ReefBreeders fixture is...one I have a center brace on the tank, and two I have SPS pretty close to the edge of the tank.

 

[cd823]

The center brace is not an issue. The 120 i was talking about (and my 90) both have center braces....then if thats the case, i would definitely recommend either 2 24" fixtures or at least 2 16 inches...

 

[xpertrifle]

I just put 2 Radion XR30w's on my 6' 180gal. They recommended 3, but 2 was all I could afford. They are fully programable, I can individually adjust all the colors of the spectrum. I have the lights about 12" over the water and set at only 60% white. The mushrooms are not happy about how bright it is, but I put a anemone in and it is happy. The only complaint I have is that The software was made for PC and I have a Mac, They have an online based program now for all but it is in its beta stage and glitches.
The only other Leds I have used are the Current tru lumen pro's, the burned out after less than a year. not sure if they fixed the problems since.

 

[miatawnt2b]

Search for 100w led driver lens on eBay. I bought from top-ledlight. Emailed him asking for specific 25000k color. Its a complete kit minus the housing which as I said is a 3$ IKEA item.

Sorry about the huge pic. As soon as I get to a real computer again I can fix it.

 

[phenom5]

Pulled the trigger. Two RB Photon16 w/ 90* optics, great price with the March group buy.

 

[savageAJC]

Can't wait to see how they look!

 

[phenom5]

Finally...my lights arrived yesterday. And they were the wrong lights.

I seem to have a knack for getting the wrong reef thing sent to me.

Few years ago I ordered my SRO-XP1000sss skimmer, received a SRO HOB skimmer. :headwally:

Few months ago I ordered some Calcium Chloride for DIY 2-part, received a small business check ledger.

Now I ordered 2 Photon16 fixtures, received 2 non-controllable value fixtures. :furious:


So, I don't know. For his part, Logan and Reef Breeders have a good reputation, and I'm not worried about getting my money back, but to get the fixtures I ordered (which I looked at the value unit over my tank because it is basically the same light, and there's no way two 16" units will work.), or to get 2 of the 24" unit...it looks like I'll be waiting for the new units again as part of the April group buy. So I would be waiting until May. I don't know if I want to wait that long, AND I wasn't exactly blown away with the lights.

 

[evo_2679]

Rob - man that sux !!! Sorry to hear that RB fixture don't blow you away!!! I have read / heard good reviews on them too.