Fluval Spec LED lighting upgrade question
 

Evening everyone,

I purchased a Fluval Spec over Christmas break to set up as a pico tank for our upstairs. Now that I've spent weeks reading about LEDs builds for my BC29, I am going to try my hand at upgrading the LED lights that come with this little tank first.

Here's what the tank looks like now with the stock clip-on light. The light appears to be enough to get the little blob of xenia on the live rock sprouting. The tank is approximately 2 weeks old at this point (water, sand & LR from larger tank). Please ignore the dying SPS in it, I was hoping to save it but I think it's a goner.
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC00165.jpg

This picture shows the stock LED light (all white) that comes with the tank.
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC00166.jpg

Now I am ordering through LEdsupply the following
2 - Cree XR-E Royal Blue Star
1 - Cree XR-E Q4 Cool White Star
1 - Wired BuckPuck, 700mA Output, DC Powered w/ Potentiometer

I have already the following:
-18.5V, 2.7A laptop power supply
-Heatsink with matching fan (blatantly stolen from scrap computers at work). I've attached of how I want the LEDs paid out (RB on the outside, CW on the inside). Cdn quarters are about the same size.
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC00168.jpg
-one electrical journeyman to help me with other supplies and technical support!
-wood canopy made to fit

Seeing how I have zero electrical skills and after reading so many LED builds I wanted some input on this build. Would the three LEDs be enough or should I go to 3 RB & 2 CW? I've been reading a lot about the power supplies needed and I hope the one I am using would be sufficient for either 3 or 5.

If I go to 5 LEDs, I want to add a second buckpuck. Can both be 700mA for or should I upgrade to the 1000mA for both?

Deanna

I think what you have chosen will probably work out fine but I would probably take a look at going with the XP-G and XP-E rather than the XR-E...it's more efficient, can put out more light at the 700mA and that ensures that 3 will probably be enough. If it wasn't, you could add optics which would make it enough. Once you see how bright these are, you will be shocked.

Not sure about your power supply. I use the meanwell drivers and don't have to worry about buckpucks and DC power supply matching. Going the way you are, you will be able to dim them so that has some distinct value. The Meanwell that would enable you to dim them really needs more than 3 LED's on it.

Shortly after I posted this, I went back to LEDsupply and I think I may try the following instead

2 - Royal-Blue 1-Up Cree XP-E Star and
1 - 105 Lumen Cool-White Cree XP-E 1Up Indus Star and
1 - 3023-D-E-1000P Wired BuckPuck, 1000mA Output, DC Powered w/ Potentiometer

Cost is part of the reason I'm going with the buckpuck instead. If this doesn't work out for me then I won't be out too much money since it's a test. Just have to wait for payday to send the order and get everything else ready!

Thank you for your input!!

Following along. I also just set up a Spec and want to upgrade the lighting.

Haven't forgotten about this!! I am still waiting for my supplies to arrive!! So much for "first class" shipping from USPS!

Updated: Well, it seems I royally screwed up the wiring, now fixed but still no light :(

Finally got all the components together to build my little LED for my Spec.
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC_8248.jpg

Testing using batteries before wiring everything up..Royal Blue XP-E on the outside and one Cool White XP-E on the inside. My entire soldering experience comes from watching youtube tutorials last night :(
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC_8251.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/q...s/DSC_8250.jpg

Toasted the CW, didn't I?? The RB furthest away wouldn't work if there was something wrong with my wiring?

Deanna

the failure is possibly do to sloppy soldering job:neutral: as it show in the photo.But then again i never liked wiring different color led on the same string.

i do have a spare white if you need it.

I"m going to have a friend check everything over for me, she's done this before. I did end up wiring up my power supply, buckpuck and LEDS and nothing happened :( I know the soldering isn't the best, having only learnt to solder a mere 24 hours ago.

The stupid thing is I had made notes, detailing exactly how to wire it from other builds and I ignored my own notes.

Well...maybe the canopy build will at least turn out.

Just a blow for my DIY ego

Let there be light!!! I slept on it, cleaned off all the solder points and redid all the soldering and it works...Woohoo!!!