think im finally going LED

[snowmansnow]

ya... I think I'm going to diy a 72 cree led system. I already have 2 drivers and 24 leds so I'll just need another 48 and 4 drivers. I think I can complete the system for under $500. After that I can sale my Constellation (an sps growing machine) for at LEAST $400 I would THINK.

I just need to replace the t5 in a few months, and I hate to throw down another $250. I replace my lamps every 6 months so it adds up. ya i know its frequent, but I dont take chances with lighting or skimming

I want to make 3 bars that will hold 24 leds / bar.

I want to make the sides of the unit so that the bars can just sit down in grooves to be easily removed/ swapped.

I would think that 72 cree lamps would be more than enough for 24" deep tank.

I am also looking into the screw in type bulbs. Any one who has exp with them let me know. I think they are called par30 or something or other.

B

 

[morganatlanta]

You can't control the colors independently with the par38 bulbs.

What are your tank dimensions?

 

[snowmansnow]

MorganAtlanta;641259 wrote: You can't control the colors independently with the par38 bulbs.

What are your tank dimensions?

4x2x2'

 

[morganatlanta]

Inside a canopy or hanging?

 

[nemofish]

hey snowmansnow this is aaron at Nemo Aquarium in Stone Mountain. We have led light at the store on all of our corals tanks. If you have sometime come in and check them out to let me know what you.

 

[snowmansnow]

nemofish;641398 wrote: hey snowmansnow this is aaron at Nemo Aquarium in Stone Mountain. We have led light at the store on all of our corals tanks. If you have sometime come in and check them out to let me know what you.

man i would love too, but i may have to do this remotely.. i live in centre alabama.. .about 30 mins from rome.. so im probably 2.5 hrs from you.

Just for ref this will be over a SPS tank.... an established sps tank..

I'll shoot you a pm later

 

[crewdawg1981]

I really want to hear from someone that has converted to LEDs about their growth.

 

[snowmansnow]

Crewdawg1981;641535 wrote: I really want to hear from someone that has converted to LEDs about their growth.

well i can say that i had my pendant over my frag tank and the growth of my sps corals was exceptional .

B

 

[crewdawg1981]

Hmm... i guess i just need to see some tanks in person. I cant see how a light setup with two colors (white and blue) is able to provide corals the full spectrum. I know that I've heard you cant (or shouldnt) keep clams with LEDs.

 

[liverock27]

I have been running Cree Leds over my 14g BC for the past 3 months. While the growth has been good the big thing I have noticed is the color changes.
I had an extreme strawberry shortcake that had never developed any pink, but had stayed just a light yellow until I put these new Crees over the tank. Now you can really see the pink/red starting to show up. Also, my Blue tort had never really colored up. It had stayed a dark grey color, but over the last month the blue especially in the tips has really started to come back.
The only 2 SPS frags that I am still having trouble coloring up are my Pearlberry and my Aussie Highlighter. Both are just brown.

 

[snowmansnow]

Crewdawg1981;641544 wrote: Hmm... i guess i just need to see some tanks in person. I cant see how a light setup with two colors (white and blue) is able to provide corals the full spectrum. I know that I've heard you cant (or shouldnt) keep clams with LEDs.

well.. there ARE several "white colors" and 3 blues now... a BLUE.. a ROYAL BLUE, and a 460nm BLUE.

 

[liverock27]

Crewdawg1981;641544 wrote: Hmm... i guess i just need to see some tanks in person. I cant see how a light setup with two colors (white and blue) is able to provide corals the full spectrum. I know that I've heard you cant (or shouldnt) keep clams with LEDs.

I have a clam in my tank and it is doing fine and even growing.

 

[crewdawg1981]

From the presentation I saw down in Jacksonville during their RC meeting... It's not good husbandry to put a clam in a tank lit by LEDs.

I saw a small nano at marine designs that was showing great colors under an AI unit. If I had $3k to throw down on 6 units for my tank I'd prolly be all over em.

 

[liverock27]

Crewdawg1981;641615 wrote: From the presentation I saw down in Jacksonville during their RC meeting... It's not good husbandry to put a clam in a tank lit by LEDs.

I saw a small nano at marine designs that was showing great colors under an AI unit. If I had $3k to throw down on 6 units for my tank I'd prolly be all over em.

I will have to do some more research because I definitley don't want to hurt the life span of the clam. It came to me as a rescue and seems to have recovered well, but it was under PCs before I got it.