Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board  

Go Back   Canreef Aquatics Bulletin Board > General > Reef

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 08-20-2011, 04:37 AM
megs_clark megs_clark is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: chilliwack
Posts: 117
megs_clark is on a distinguished road
Default

I just bought a 29 biocube off another member here. Theirs to many options on everything, lol. I feel like im going to be reading forever. The controler thing is neat. I read a diy journal and someone used a Arduino off ebay. Their only like $20 and it said you can buy seperate Buckpucks and hook them up to the one Arduino and controll how bright the lights are, like if the blue were to blue or whites were to bright you could lower them seperatly. It seemed like a cheap way to have that power lol. I was only planning on doing a led for my little 5.5g nano buy it sure seems like you can do an affordable one yourself for only a little more then it would cost to buy replacment lights.

Had anyone mixed in the true violet leds from the ledgroupbuy site.
Also for the ones you solder on, did you use a special soldering gun? I read you need a stronger gun and they looked to be about as much as the build would cost?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-20-2011, 03:21 PM
MarkoD's Avatar
MarkoD MarkoD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,904
MarkoD is on a distinguished road
Default

why not use one of those LED PAR 38 bulbs?
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-20-2011, 04:58 PM
megs_clark megs_clark is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: chilliwack
Posts: 117
megs_clark is on a distinguished road
Default

Id never heard of a LED PAR 38 bulb Mark. After a fast google It looked like they only have one Led in the bulb. Can you add more to them. I want some blue mixed in. The fixture lookes nice.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-21-2011, 01:20 AM
MarkoD's Avatar
MarkoD MarkoD is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Edmonton Alberta
Posts: 1,904
MarkoD is on a distinguished road
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by megs_clark View Post
Id never heard of a LED PAR 38 bulb Mark. After a fast google It looked like they only have one Led in the bulb. Can you add more to them. I want some blue mixed in. The fixture lookes nice.
I'm pretty sure they have reef par 38 bulbs. With 12 LEDs blue and white. Just google reef par 38
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-21-2011, 01:32 AM
megs_clark megs_clark is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: chilliwack
Posts: 117
megs_clark is on a distinguished road
Default

bblinks, I just wanted to double check... im going to order the leds tonight, did you go with the Neutral white or the cool white?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-21-2011, 01:55 AM
Milad's Avatar
Milad Milad is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 901
Milad is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to Milad
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by megs_clark View Post
bblinks, I just wanted to double check... im going to order the leds tonight, did you go with the Neutral white or the cool white?
Go with 2 RB per 1 NW. That is the trend currently because of the warmer color the Neutral has.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-21-2011, 02:12 AM
mike31154's Avatar
mike31154 mike31154 is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Vernon
Posts: 2,073
mike31154 will become famous soon enough
Default

Dimmable PAR38. MR16 base LEDs are now also available, run straight off 12VDC, no soldering, just need the MR15 sockets.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/110646443892?...84.m1423.l2649

MR16 in cool white, I'm sure if you search, other colours are available, including blues. If one burns out, pull it & plug in another.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/260807325869?...84.m1439.l2649

MR16 sockets

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/360261138385?...84.m1439.l2649
__________________
Mike
77g sumpless SW
DIY 10 watt multi-chip LED build http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82206
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-20-2011, 05:13 PM
roblarss roblarss is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: rocky mountain house, ab
Posts: 70
roblarss is on a distinguished road
Default

I am using an arduino to control my led lighting system. Its not a simple project. The arduino can turn the lights on/off at set times but as far as I know it cant dim a buckpuck directly.

If you want to just set the lighting levels to what ever pleases you and not change it then the buckpucks will work alone for that. They have a small current adjustment pot on them.

The arduino is good if you want to have a sunrise/sunset effect or led cooling system temp monitoring and dont mind figuring out a little bit of programming.

A couple of puckpucks would probably do a small system like that nicely.

I didnt use a special soldering gun just a cheap 100w one (maybe cost 25 bucks).
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-20-2011, 07:11 PM
Bblinks's Avatar
Bblinks Bblinks is offline
Moderator
 
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Coquitlam B.C.
Posts: 3,033
Bblinks is on a distinguished road
Default

I think the best option and bang for your buck would be the rapidled bio cube kit. If you want to truly control it them opt for reef keeper system or apex. I am not very good at soldering but the offer solderless connectors for certain Cree LEDs that will make life a lot easier. IMO I think don't complicate things, try to make it as simple for yourself as possible. That way you have less chance of messing it up.
__________________
Though a tree grow ever so high, the falling leaves return to the root.

300DD - 140DD



TOTM Fall 2013
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-21-2011, 12:42 AM
Milad's Avatar
Milad Milad is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: North Vancouver
Posts: 901
Milad is on a distinguished road
Send a message via MSN to Milad
Default

Also stick to the CREE LEDs that are proven to work.

Ive seen a some info on the bridgelux the aquastyle guys use and you basically need twice as many if not more, to get the same output as the CREE which throws the power savings out the door. Some guy had a comparison on them, ill link it if I can find it again.

The PAR38 would actually work real well for that tank. Just make sure you get a quality one like nanotuners sells. Only issue is you cant dim for sunrise sunset and you cant customize it to your tank.
Reply With Quote
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 08:55 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.