So I really needed to replace 10 t-5 bulbs and I decided to look for other options because of cost…I was going to go with MH lighting until I read more into the hidden cost of halides…electric bill, chiller, quality ballast & reflectors, ect. Then there were LEDs…I knew of their use in the reef hobby, but it was still new to me (a lot still is)…
The fixtures I saw were way out of the price range I had in mind…but the technology had me hooked…I read everything I could about LEDs from the RC forums, reefgeeks, how LEDs are grown, cree data sheets blah blah…youtube was the best asset for me…All of the DIY videos allowed me to see progress for about 1 1/2 now and there have been a lot of positive results. There are all different kinds of LEDs on the market as far as wattage, but -may are having success with the 3w’s…so i searched and found rapidled.com and from the AI fixture I knew I wanted to replicate the white, blue, royal blue set up…
Back to Youtube…Youtube made me realize I didnt want to buy a multi meter, a solder gun, and other components necessary for the DIY build. I began to contact ponies & logandaddys with questions for about 3 weeks when I knew I wanted them to make the light and save myself a lot of time and money.
The current set up is 48 LEDs…24 luxeon rebel whites, 12 cree blues , and 12 cree xr-e royal blues…driven by 4 meanwell dimmable drivers. They are on two heat sinks located directly over my two live rock structures…I plan on thinning out the live rock even more to allow more light and water to get through…If necessary ill get 2 more sinks built into the hood…they designed the hood so the lights are on trays that you can slide back and forth.
The front
Three Potentiometers to control the w,b, and rb…
Heat Sinks
Fans to keep heat sinks cool
24 LEDs per heat sink, I will have to come up with a pic of the layout of the LED’s
The heat sinks are able to slide back and forth
Case to hold drivers
LEDs on
LEDs over the tank
Ill have to post the par readings tomorrow I am spent right now…
