My new projects

[rsuplido]

I'll be creating new threads for each of the builds soon, but here are the two projects I'm working on now.

First, a DIY 40pc Cree XP LED fixture to replace my 250w MH on my 30g. It's currently on hold, waiting for the LEDs from a group buy:

Second, a rimless 3.5g Pico tank. The ADA Garden Mini-S tank arrived today. It will be an SPS tank filled with only seriatoporas (birdsnests), pocilloporas, and stylophoras from my 30g tank, as well as from those willing to donate some :

Suggestions welcome.

 

[grendl]

I love picos, and cant wait to see yours!

If you dont mind me asking, how much will you be spending on the DIY?

 

[rsuplido]

Thanks Travis!

The DIY should come out at about $400 -- cheaper if I chose to use just angles or wood instead of solid aluminum for the ballast.

 

[carb850]

Do the LED's come in a specific temperature?

 

[rsuplido]

Do the LED's come in a specific temperature?

It can go between 6500K and 20,000K depending on how much you dim the cool whites or the royal blues.

 

[Kung]

I can't wait until LEDs are more, um, affordable and available, but that seems to be happening rather quickly.

 

[carb850]

Are there any SPS dominated being successful keep with LED's over time here on RC? With the more traditional lighting technologies, the coloring of the corals can change with the lights. I'm wondering if the SPS keep a high color with LED's.

 

[Altpers0na]

the led's are more affordable and available. atm the trouble with them is its best to diy it... and that sorta blows.

reggie whats the specs on your led project?

i intend to do a little nano project (<10g) w/ 1 of each of the common crees (cool/warm/blue/royal) each w/ a dimmer..

i havnt ordered my leds yet... hammering out details is driving me nuts..

 

[rsuplido]

Are there any SPS dominated being successful keep with LED's over time here on RC?

The newer LEDs can work with SPS for sure. I'll see if I can find LED SPS threads later tonight. It's hard doing a search from a phone.

reggie whats the specs on your led project?

i intend to do a little nano project (<10g) w/ 1 of each of the common crees (cool/warm/blue/royal) each w/ a dimmer..

I'll be using the newer Crees -- 20 XP-G (cool white) and 20 XP-E (royal blues) and 4 Meanwell 60-48d's with dimming controlled by the Apex. If you are into DIY and you need them asap, you can get the XR-E ones. If you want something built already, get one of those Par 38 20K LED bulbls (out of stock now) from nanotuners for about $120. It should be enough to power your 10g.

 

[rsuplido]

Sorry duplicate.

 

[Altpers0na]

ya, i hope to keep my costs under ~30 bucks..

i have most of the stuff, just not the led part..

xpG ohhhh

 

[rsuplido]

Here is your parts list (remove what you don't need):

3 x XRE-WG (cool white) - $18.87
3 x XRE-RB (royal blue) - $18.87
1 x Meanwell ELN-30-27 - $35.95
1 x 5"x5" heatsink - $10.42

Total: $84.11 (shipping not included)

 

[Altpers0na]

mine? no mine is much easier

4 xre's ~ $25
1 or 2 heat sinks ~ free
1 power supply ~ free
4 pots (knobs) ~ free (if what i have will work..)
misc parts ~ free (as long as i can make em work)


my problem is current limiting resistors.

i think i keep screwing the math up... im well out of practice it seems..

 

[Altpers0na]

my intent is something like this

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1761547

props to der_wille_zur_macht for pic taking n light makin..

 

[cdbias2]

I don't know much about it. but I saw these the other day. Par 38 LED's with built-in reflector and offered in a variety of k values for around $70. They look easy.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/PAR-38-LED..._content=&utm_campaign=LEDNews_Email11_par38_

 

[coralreefer]

Two very cool projects Reggie. :beer:

 

[Altpers0na]

I don't know much about it. but I saw these the other day. Par 38 LED's with built-in reflector and offered in a variety of k values for around $70. They look easy.

http://www.1000bulbs.com/PAR-38-LED..._content=&utm_campaign=LEDNews_Email11_par38_

those would make excellent easy fuge lights, if they made an all blue or a 50/50 they would be a very good regular light...

 

[jmccown]

I picked up an LED floodlight at Sams and put it on one of the clamp on style sockets and put it in my canopy and it makes an awesome set of lunar lights. Gives a great shimmer. Bulb was $14 and the socket I already had but was about $6 bucks.

 

[Altpers0na]

one problem i see with lots of the new retail led products is the kelvin rating.

for shimmer, that flash light is a great find.

but, most of the new products i see are 3k kelvin.. i had been very tempted by some stuff i spotted at lowes... then i called the number on the box and all the stuff is 3k..

 

[ijw]

i'd like to put together an led setup for my old nano cube that had CF. I may pick your brain sometime if you don't mind.