terry4505
New member
I finally called it quits on my failed attempt with my DIY LED setup from Rapid LED. I was looking at old pictures of my tank and it dawned on me that my light demanding corals were struggling and being overrun by less light demanding corals.
I found an 8 bulb Tek light on Craigslist for a good price. It was designed for hydroponics, so it only had one cord to control all eight bulbs (two switches, which isn't helpful for having the lights come on at different times.)
So the first thing I did upon getting it home was tear the whole thing apart and wire in a second cord for the outside four bulbs. I also relocated where the cords exit the light fixture so they come out of the middle in the back, where I can hide them more effectively.
I had a six bulb tek light in the past, which I added two controllable PC fans to for active cooling of the T5 bulbs (one blowing down, one blowing up). I added these to the new fixture as well, as it is a fairly easy mod, and one that can extend the life of the bulbs, as well as help keep things cool in the summer.
6-Bulb Tek light mod:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1966662
The next thing I wanted was to add LED moonlights to the fixture, I love the look of moonlights and with the T5s, I miss out on being able to enjoy the tank either early in the morning when I get up, or late at night.
It occurred to me that I still had all of the components from my failed LED setup, including moonlights. It also occurred to me that I would like to try to retain some of the shimmer effect that my LEDs provided. I decided to add 12 RB and B LEDs on a constant current meanwell 35-700 driver that I had leftover as well as 4 moonlights from my RapidLED moonlight kit to the fixture.
I attached the 12 Cree LEDs and 4 moonlights to a 36 inch piece of 1" U-channel aluminum.
I cut both reflectors on one edge to make room between the middle T5 bulbs (there is just enough room!) wired everything up and closed it all up. I don't have progress pics because I was working on a time limit (we had dinner plans).
I am thrilled with how it all came out.
The moonlights will be on 24 hours a day
The LED bar will come on at 6 am and go off around 11pm
The actinic T5 bulbs will come on around 10 and go off around 8 pm
and the T5 daylight bulbs will come on at 12 and go off at 6
I am still messing around with the bulb combination.
Links to the pictures:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgelpaT09JWUFXQmc/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5Bbbusgb2tXN2txOHZCVFU/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgMkhBem9ERTY3Z2M/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgZEJlUnRMTHNiRms/edit
I found an 8 bulb Tek light on Craigslist for a good price. It was designed for hydroponics, so it only had one cord to control all eight bulbs (two switches, which isn't helpful for having the lights come on at different times.)
So the first thing I did upon getting it home was tear the whole thing apart and wire in a second cord for the outside four bulbs. I also relocated where the cords exit the light fixture so they come out of the middle in the back, where I can hide them more effectively.
I had a six bulb tek light in the past, which I added two controllable PC fans to for active cooling of the T5 bulbs (one blowing down, one blowing up). I added these to the new fixture as well, as it is a fairly easy mod, and one that can extend the life of the bulbs, as well as help keep things cool in the summer.
6-Bulb Tek light mod:
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1966662
The next thing I wanted was to add LED moonlights to the fixture, I love the look of moonlights and with the T5s, I miss out on being able to enjoy the tank either early in the morning when I get up, or late at night.
It occurred to me that I still had all of the components from my failed LED setup, including moonlights. It also occurred to me that I would like to try to retain some of the shimmer effect that my LEDs provided. I decided to add 12 RB and B LEDs on a constant current meanwell 35-700 driver that I had leftover as well as 4 moonlights from my RapidLED moonlight kit to the fixture.
I attached the 12 Cree LEDs and 4 moonlights to a 36 inch piece of 1" U-channel aluminum.
I cut both reflectors on one edge to make room between the middle T5 bulbs (there is just enough room!) wired everything up and closed it all up. I don't have progress pics because I was working on a time limit (we had dinner plans).
I am thrilled with how it all came out.
The moonlights will be on 24 hours a day
The LED bar will come on at 6 am and go off around 11pm
The actinic T5 bulbs will come on around 10 and go off around 8 pm
and the T5 daylight bulbs will come on at 12 and go off at 6
I am still messing around with the bulb combination.
Links to the pictures:
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgelpaT09JWUFXQmc/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5Bbbusgb2tXN2txOHZCVFU/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgMkhBem9ERTY3Z2M/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B8ceH5BbbusgZEJlUnRMTHNiRms/edit
