Ludnix's tropical 120!
- Thread starter ludnix
- Start date
ludnix
New member
I would like to be able to get away with 72 leds over my 120g, 36 on each side because of the center brace. I'm not sure if it's enough or not, but I've been emailing back and forth with rapid LED to see what will work best. I think the distance off the water is just dependant on how much you want the light spread to be. If you use wider reflectors the light can be much closer to the water. I plan on putting all of my fixtures in the existing canopy and removing the current T5 and MH lights. They will likely be close to 12" off the water.
I plugged a kill-a-watt into my 12 LED fixture on the frag tank and it using a steady 30watts which is what I expected. I also brought one of my fixtures into the LFS and showed it to several people who were also impressed with it's output, low energy requirement and low heat.
I plugged a kill-a-watt into my 12 LED fixture on the frag tank and it using a steady 30watts which is what I expected. I also brought one of my fixtures into the LFS and showed it to several people who were also impressed with it's output, low energy requirement and low heat.
ludnix
New member
If the 72 LEDs are not enough than I'd be going with 96 LEDs would only be 240watts which is still very low compared my current 700 watts of light during high noon.
With LEDs I plan to use my arduino controller to adjust the brightness throughout the day, they'd probably be on for 12 hours a day, but lower intensity in the morning and evenings.
With LEDs I plan to use my arduino controller to adjust the brightness throughout the day, they'd probably be on for 12 hours a day, but lower intensity in the morning and evenings.
***?! I cannot see any pictures on this thread. I can see them on the other ones though. What gives?
ludnix
New member
Does http://www.reefsome.com/gallery work at all for you?
That link was dead, too. :/
firereef
New member
Try a different browser.
Dang I love those turtle handles. Did u make those yourself?
Right now I'm using Firefox. I guess I could try Safari.
Nope.
It's funny because the pix on other threads show up just fine. They used to work for me when this thread originally started.
ludnix
New member
Well big news for the tank, we decided to go entirely LED for the tank. I just placed an order through rapidled for 84 leds. Each of the 6 drivers will run 14 leds at 700ma. It should end up being a total of 210watts.
Based on our current electric bill it will only take a year and a month for the LED lights to pay for themselves with the electrical savings. It's also time to change my MH bulbs so I'll be saving a little by not having to buy new MH bulbs every 9 months.
Based on our current electric bill it will only take a year and a month for the LED lights to pay for themselves with the electrical savings. It's also time to change my MH bulbs so I'll be saving a little by not having to buy new MH bulbs every 9 months.
So jealous. When I set my tank up again, I think I'm going to go the LED route.
ludnix
New member
I got my LEDs in the mail yesterday, RapidLED really does a great job in making sure you have everything you need they were very helpful in coming up with what would be the most cost effective LED solution for my tank.
I've got 4x 4"x23" heat sinks with 84 LED XR-E LEDs. I need to make a frame to hold the heatsinks though. I'm planning on using angle aluminum and rivets to make a frame to hold the heat sinks and maybe some sort of adjustable hanging kit so I can adjust the height inside my canopy. I also ordered some blue and yellow 20 AWG wire from bulkwire.com. The rapidLED kit comes with wire, but I plan to wire the royal blue LEDs separate from the white so they can be turned on independently, the wire the kit comes with is pre-cut and only long enough to go from LED to LED.
I'll be sure to take pictures during the build!
I've got 4x 4"x23" heat sinks with 84 LED XR-E LEDs. I need to make a frame to hold the heatsinks though. I'm planning on using angle aluminum and rivets to make a frame to hold the heat sinks and maybe some sort of adjustable hanging kit so I can adjust the height inside my canopy. I also ordered some blue and yellow 20 AWG wire from bulkwire.com. The rapidLED kit comes with wire, but I plan to wire the royal blue LEDs separate from the white so they can be turned on independently, the wire the kit comes with is pre-cut and only long enough to go from LED to LED.
I'll be sure to take pictures during the build!
