DIY LED's

[AriMiko43]

Anyone on here know how to make DIY LED's? I am thinking of doing it for my tank but would like someone who has done it before tell me everything I will need. Also where I can order the lights and how to assemble it. I will be making it for a 65 gallon tank 36w x 18d x 24h. Thank you

 

[dj ze]

check this write up on reef central but ill tell you its cheaper to buy a chinese unit i have 3 on my sytem now for about 7 months and they are the best i've seen so far u can see them under my pictures ..Reef Central Online Community - DIY LEDs - The write-up

 

[kaOzGrUnT]

This guy did an amazing job, he is here on Manhattan Reefs:
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/75055-basic-led-build.html

 

[Staaan]

check this write up on reef central but ill tell you its cheaper to buy a chinese unit i have 3 on my sytem now for about 7 months and they are the best i've seen so far u can see them under my pictures ..Reef Central Online Community - DIY LEDs - The write-up

Could you share a link to what LED fixture you got on ebay?

 

[ming]

Keep in mind as with everything in this hobby, you generally get what you pay for.

 

[Staaan]

Yeah.. I figured. Just wanted to check it out.

I did get some pretty decent cases for my Droid on Ebay though, from Hong Kong.

(Yes I know its not part of reefing, lmao)

Any how.. not to highjack this thread, but since its related to the topic..

Where can I find how much wattage I'd need of LED to support a specific size tank.

Like for instance my 6g Nanocube.. I figure a DIY LED shouldn't cost me too much at all. Or thats more of a HOPING it shouldn't cost me too much.. lol

 

[ming]

You can't judge it purely on wattage. Optics can increase the intensity significantly.
Also, how much you need depends on what you want in the tank.

 

[Staaan]

The only thing I'd like to keep is some type of clam.. maybe maxima or something.

I have the stock PC lighting now, but its on a 6g and it heats the water a great deal.

Yesterday the tank reached 85.5 degrees..

So the LEDs would be for heat removal and keeping a clam or somthing.

But not really any SPS.

 

[Staaan]

http://ledsupply.com/5mm-leds.php

Would any of these LEDs be ok to use for a reef?

I don't see any color temperature anywhere tho...

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

I would go 108W LED for a 65G,

3 channels with dimmer
1 channel Blue
1 channel White
1 channel white, Blue, Red, Green Mixed

you will need
1 3 channels Constant Current Driver
1 power supply
60 3W LEDs
Heat sink
Wires
Tools to do soldering

 

[Aqua Pro Builder]

http://ledsupply.com/5mm-leds.php

Would any of these LEDs be ok to use for a reef?

I don't see any color temperature anywhere tho...

5mms will require too much soldering.


What's your dimension of the 6G?

 

[joseney21]

Thats the great thing about DIY LEDs... You can choose how much light you want (how many LEDs) the optics the colors....read up on the RC threads, once you put in the time a lot of your questions will be answered. Personally, for a 65g, i would try 27 XPG cool white with 60degree optics and 18 XPE royal blues with 60 degree optics (mounted 12 inches off the water)... if you want more light you can always add some more, if you want less you can dim your leds. (you can up it to 48 to make it 4 even groups of 12 or go down to 36 to make it 3 even groups of 12) again you can modify your initial fixture until you find something that you like.

ETG tech has the optics that fit these leds pretty cheap...

xpg whites were 5.85 (i'm ordering 90 R5 bin)
XPE RB were 4.85
and the 60degree optics for both were 1.25

i ordered the meanwells at CDI for just under $27 bucks each but theyre on backorder until may 25 (my order)
the rest of the stuff (wire, thermal epoxy, solder) i got on amazon....
i still have to buy the wall warts and dimmers for the meanwells

 

[joseney21]

for the 6g you can go for extra bright with 8 3w leds with a dimmable buck puck (you would have to find the appropriate power supply) 5 XPE RB and 3 XPG cool whites, depending on the dimensions and mounting height you might be able to get away with half of that (maybe four LEDS) using 40-60 (maybe narrower) degree optics...

 

[ming]

Thats the great thing about DIY LEDs... You can choose how much light you want (how many LEDs) the optics the colors....read up on the RC threads, once you put in the time a lot of your questions will be answered. Personally, for a 65g, i would try 27 XPG cool white with 60degree optics and 18 XPE royal blues with 60 degree optics (mounted 12 inches off the water)... if you want more light you can always add some more, if you want less you can dim your leds. (you can up it to 48 to make it 4 even groups of 12 or go down to 36 to make it 3 even groups of 12) again you can modify your initial fixture until you find something that you like.

ETG tech has the optics that fit these leds pretty cheap...

xpg whites were 5.85 (i'm ordering 90 R5 bin)
XPE RB were 4.85
and the 60degree optics for both were 1.25

i ordered the meanwells at CDI for just under $27 bucks each but theyre on backorder until may 25 (my order)
the rest of the stuff (wire, thermal epoxy, solder) i got on amazon....
i still have to buy the wall warts and dimmers for the meanwells

Just making sure, the wall marts are to power the dimmer itself and not the meanwells right?

for the 6g you can go for extra bright with 8 3w leds with a dimmable buck puck (you would have to find the appropriate power supply) 5 XPE RB and 3 XPG cool whites, depending on the dimensions and mounting height you might be able to get away with half of that (maybe four LEDS) using 40-60 (maybe narrower) degree optics...

Buckpucks can power max of 6 leds. so you can get 2 pucks and go up to 12 leds

 

[Staaan]

5mms will require too much soldering.


What's your dimension of the 6G?

L (11.81") x W (13.39") x H (11.81")

 

[Staaan]

Thanks for the info guys..

I actually also just got a 65g..

I think I'm going to build an LED system for it as well.

Before I make my purchase(s).. I'll post them up here.. and see what you guys think.

 

[Staaan]

Alrighty.. well the dimensions of my 65g.. actually seem to be I think a 55g.

its

36" x 18" x 20h"

so yeh.. lol.

Any way.. I was thinking about purchasing

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-24/36-Premium-LED-Do-dsh-It-dsh-Yourself/Detail

for my "55"g or w/e it is lol.

Will this be sufficient to keep clams? This kit does come with lenses i just need to specify which lenses I want.. so which lenses do you guys think I should use?

Also..as I've been told.. using these meanwell drivers means that I do not have to use a PSU. The meanwell acts as a PSU and a buckpack stabilizer correct?

This is copy and pasted for those who are lazy and dont wanna click the link..

lol


18 Cool White Cree Q5 XR-E LEDs
18 Royal Blue Cree XR-E LEDs
36 Cree XR-E Lenses (Choose from either 40, 60 or 80 degree white or black lenses!)
3 Mean Well LPC-35-700W drivers
1 Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive
6 water resistant wire nuts
3 power cords to attach to the drivers


All I would need to buy ontop of this package is

2 heat sinks.. dimensions I need to figure out.

and computer fans or something with a PSU to power them.

And I'm planning on drilling the leds down on to the heatsink..

the only other question I have.. what do I use the thermal glue for since I'll be drilling the LEDs down?

 

[krzysiek]

my diy LED for 75 gallon tank
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum/diy-do-yourself/68317-diy-led-lights-my-75-gallon-aquarium.html

 

[Staaan]

Thanks Krzysiek..

looking for some more feedback though.. :bump:

*ooooh and.. I was trying to figure out the lighting scheme. Not in terms of the layout exactly, because I know I'm going to do blue white blue white.. but what I'm referring to is..
Well

3 Meanwell Drivers

Since there are 3 .. I'll have to have 2 that control the blue and white regime.

And 1 mean well will support just blue, and be the "actinic only driver".

However will those 12 Blue LEDs be enough to give me that (yes I know due to the polls a lot of people are against) Blue Lagoon.. cool radioactive or "damn that color pops" look.

*This is for a 55g btw just in case you get lost reading the rest of the posts.

 

[AriMiko43]

You just added "36" x 8.46" Heatsink" to your cart.

Number of items: 5 Product Qty Price 48 Cree XR-E Kit w Non Dimmable Driver (24 XRE Q5 cool white / 24 royal blue w 70 degree lens) 1 $410.00 Driver Box 2 $43.90 Two fan kit w powersupply 1 $18.95 36" x 8.46" Heatsink 1 $81.00 $553.85 Total:

Should I do one big heat sink or should I get two 16" x 8.46"?
Or better yet maybe four 12" x 8.46 so I could have the fixture go 12" deep being the tank is 18" deep?