DIY LED Light Questions

Beanz · #1 08-08-2010, 01:51 AM

Thanks guys. So do you think that 13 CREE XR-E G5 Cool White and 13 CREE XR-E Royal Blue with 80 degree optics would b enough to keep SPS (More or less of which lights or is having the same amount of each type beneficial for the corals?) Also the light would be more at the back of the tank where the SPS corals would be, so like an 8" area. Cause i wanna have some swimming room for fish at the front of the tank. I don't have a very large budget probably $400-$500 so would more of the whites b better or would this 50% blue 50% whites work well?

Thanks, Ian

Cal_stir · #2 08-08-2010, 03:18 PM

i built a led lt for my 90, 2 48in x 6in heat sinks welded together, 36 cree xpg cool white, 27 xpe royal blue ,9 xpe blue, 6 eln-60-48d drivers, diy sunset/sunrise simulator, no optics, lt @ 1 in above tank, glass canopy, tank 48x16x24high, driving the whites @ 1300ma and the blues @ 900ma, the penetration is good, the distribution is good, and it shimmers, it is definately brighter than my Current USA 4xt5 ho 4ft fixture, i am lps dominant with some sps, all are doing well. you definately should use the cree xpg and xpe leds, i got mine from cutter electronics in australia, got free shipping and $30 COD for taxes & brokerage (before HST), got my drivers from rapidled and they do sell xpg but i don't think xpe. i am new to this forum and not sure how to send pictures. all my leds are bin 5. this link has a few pictures, it is post #34
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...r#post17418032

Beanz · #3 08-08-2010, 11:34 PM

Ok thanks Cal

Beanz · #4 08-09-2010, 03:22 AM

Ok so i was looking on rapid LED and i think that imma just get the 24 LED kit with dimmable drivers i'll order it with 80 dsegree optics, and then i'll get 2 23" heat sinks and 92mm vantec stealth fan kit. while i work more to get money i'll build the fixture, what would be a good design and what is a good material to build it outta? i was thinking of designing the fixture so that it its on the inside rim of the tank so it will have enough weight that my eel won't get out. (atm i'm using ziplocks with sand, not all that attractive of and appearance

) Anyways what r ur guys' opinions on this and also about the fixture?

Thanks, Ian

Cal_stir · #5 08-09-2010, 11:00 PM

are u using the fixture as a cover? saltwater and aluminium don't mix to good, you will have a lot of corrosion, aluminum angle or square tubing are good for frame, dissimilar metals will corrode as well so keep it all aluminium.

Beanz · #6 08-09-2010, 11:53 PM

Naw i'm using the the fixture to hold down some acrylic sheets that i already have on top of the tank (should i cut some spaces in the acrylic and buy some fans to mount is in it to get more airflow over the top of the tank water? or will a 10 gallon sump with a coralife ss 65 gallon and 10 gallon refugium b enough for gas exchange and such?), ill probably raise the fixture up maybe 4-6 inches and hold the acrylic down and keep the fixture propped up on some 1X1 struts. I think for the fixture imma use L channel aluminum and put the heat sinks in the L, then i was thinking of screwing the L channel onto a 2X4 than putting the same stuff that's on my stand. But before i will cut squares in the side of the wood so i can mount the fans in there. Is this wise to mount the aluminum to the wood? or will it get too hot?

Thanks, Ian

Cal_stir · #7 08-10-2010, 02:53 PM

don't cut the sheets, you will get enough gas xchange with sump and skimmer,the fan will keep the heatsink nice and cool, the leds will fail before the heatsink gets hot enough to set wood on fire

Beanz · #8 08-12-2010, 05:23 AM

This is a little off track but this is my new little zebra eel

and thanks for the help, please keep the info coming it is really giving me ideas and an understanding of lighting. O and i need to get some calcium additives and a test, if i get some Kent Marine Liquid Calcium do i need to dose kalkwasser? I am looking to keep SPS near the top of the tank and LPS near the bottom.

Thanks, Ian

fkshiu · #9 08-12-2010, 06:08 AM

Contact Ron99 on here. He's built his own DIY LED fixture that's already spreadin' the PAR wealth.

Ron99 · #10 08-12-2010, 07:34 AM

Ian, figured I would continue answering your questions here instead of by PM. I think for your sized tank you will need at minimum 48 LEDs with 80 degree optics to provide sufficient PAR for SPS corals. Personally I would go with 54 to 60 LEDs. For comparison, I used 80 LEDs with 60 degree optics on my 48" x 18" tank in 4 rows of 20. I am currently running the blue LEDs at 100% and and the white LEDs at about 80% and have around 500 to 600 PAR 1/3 to 1/2 the way down my tank which is 20" deep.

With your tank being 12" wide rather than 18" you could drop one row and do 3 rows of 16 to 20 LEDs. The more you do the higher the PAR will be. With 24 to 36 LEDs you will have to run them without optics and may not have sufficient PAR for many SPS.