Pics and video-- comparison shots: Phoenix 250DE combined with 8 Cree XRE Royal Blues

redfishsc · 02/08/2010, 08:13 PM

Here are some comparison shots of a Phoenix 250DE (6 months old, Coralvue electronic ballast) without, and with, the 8 Cree XRE LED's running at 960mA.

The Cree's are a DIY I did a few months ago.

Let's just say they are VERY powerful. If my math is correct, these total out at around 24 watts total output, but the amount of stunning blue they dump into the tank is unreal.

I did my best to use the white balance on the camera to get as natural of a photo as I can.

Both of these pics are with the same white balance.

Tank is a 25g "tall".

Phoenix only:

Phoenix with Cree's:

A pic of Cree's only from a couple months ago (badly overexposed, the camera just can't handle all the blue)

Here is the video done with my camera, sorry for the jerky cinematography. Cut me some slack, I'm a carpenter! Note one thing: the blue is overexposed a lot, both with and WITHOUT the Cree's. The video isn't good for estimating real life color. It IS, however, VERY good for seeing just how powerful these Cree's are even when "competing" with a powerful halide.

Phoenix 250DE with 8 Cree XRE's, dimming the LED's back and forth for comparison

E.intheC · 02/08/2010, 08:39 PM

nice tutorial. The Phoenix isn't as blue as I expected it to be.

redfishsc · 02/08/2010, 09:08 PM

They are bluer in their first few months, so I read. This is my first halide (and phoenix) and it's 6 months old, so it's burned in well. I got this halide from a local friend.

It might not be as blue as I like, but even still, it's quite pretty by itself. The LED's are just gravy

. They really added a punch to my T5 setup before, but now with the Phoenix, the tank REALLY looks nice.

redfishsc · 02/09/2010, 08:26 PM

Anyone else running a similar setup, with some strong LED's as their actinics? I'd love to see some more pics of what everyone else it doing.

E.intheC · 02/09/2010, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfishsc

Anyone else running a similar setup, with some strong LED's as their actinics? I'd love to see some more pics of what everyone else it doing.

bro I just added another bag of sand to my tank (Blue Spot Jawfish addition soon

) and I only have the powerbrites on.. it looks awesome. Slightly clouded water and the blue LED's.. I'm going to try and take a pic but my camera's battery is charging!

redfishsc · 02/09/2010, 09:29 PM

Probably looks like a Windex milkshake!

My trochus snails spawned the other day with the LED's on alone, and the tank looks so weird full of snail man-sauce. Strange. But maybe I'll end up with some trochus babies out of the deal.

E.intheC · 02/09/2010, 09:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redfishsc

Probably looks like a Windex milkshake!

My trochus snails spawned the other day with the LED's on alone, and the tank looks so weird full of snail man-sauce. Strange. But maybe I'll end up with some trochus babies out of the deal.

...lol.

I tried taking a few pics but I just can't capture it. The tank looks awesome right now. Hard to explain, but even more tranquil than normal. It's starting to clear up.

E.intheC · 02/10/2010, 02:46 PM

Here's an attempt. Blurry, but still kind of cool. Definitely didn't capture the look from last night's sand storm though.

redfishsc · 02/17/2010, 08:06 PM

Anyone else with LED actinics, esp. DIY high-power LEDS?

Hemlock71 · 02/17/2010, 10:54 PM

Looks good guys, what are you using exactly? I just installed 2 lumenbrite reflectors and figured I would add some kind of dusk to dawn lighting later. Can I use a few as spots or do I need a bunch of them.
Thanks

redfishsc · 02/18/2010, 09:20 AM

Mine are Cree XRE's in royal blue.

If you keep them up kinda high, you could probably put a strip in between each reflector. Keep them high to spread the light out more.

jaybfresh · 02/18/2010, 09:40 AM

Thinking of doing this as well. Have room for 12" strips between my halide reflectors.

How do the 'premade' LEDs like powerbrite compare to your DIY as far as intensity?

Dyraxe · 02/18/2010, 10:08 AM

I like powerbrites but I think cree xre will pack more punch. Maybe twice as much if not more.

redfishsc · 02/18/2010, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jaybfresh

Thinking of doing this as well. Have room for 12" strips between my halide reflectors.

How do the 'premade' LEDs like powerbrite compare to your DIY as far as intensity?

Dyraxe is right, they aren't even close. My Cree's almost overwhelm the Phoenix when running at full capacity, whereas I'm not even sure you'd notice a Powerbright fixture was on (I can't say that for certainty as I've never owned one, only seen videos of them online when used with T5's).

For dusk/dawn effect, the Powerbrights would be just fine. For true PAR-producing, coral flourescing power, the DIY Cree's are hard to beat.

sahin · 02/27/2010, 04:21 PM

Hey Redfishsc: Many thanks for posting these photos. You beat me to it and built your setup. I am still building mine. I am going to retrofit 12x Cree Royal Blues and run them at 700mA. So that should get out about 25.2 watts (0.7x3=2.1w per LED x 12 = 25.2watts total). Which is about the same watts as yours running 8 LEDs at 0.9A.

Man I am hoping it will give more of a 20K look when running with my Phoenix 14K 150watt halide. At the very least I am hoping for some awesome coral flourescence/pop. I am also going to run 4x Cree Whites in the sides and back to boost the light there.

I'll post some photos when its all done.

redfishsc · 02/27/2010, 07:45 PM

Please do! I'm looking for any and all folks to post comparison shots!

I'm pretty sure you'll turn that tank into something more like a 30K lol. Even though I run mine at almost 1000mA, I only have 8.... so your 12 running at 700 should be blue as heck.

As for the whites for boosting light, just know that the blue Cree's have been tested by EvilC66 (on this site) to put out very similar PAR numbers to the white Cree's, so if you are looking for more blue and more light, just use all blues (if you really want it blue, lol).

jackinfobo · 02/27/2010, 11:12 PM

Hey redfishsc what is the K rating on your MH Phoenix bulb please?

CBehr · 02/28/2010, 06:11 AM

redfishsc: do you have a link to your LED build? I'm running phoenix 14k's and wish they were more blue. The problem is my tank is a 95wave and due to the shape of my reflectors I can't add standard actinics such as T5's or PC's.

redfishsc · 02/28/2010, 06:40 AM

I have a build thread on a local North Carolina reefing forum, I haven't taken the time to do a build thread here.

I would advise you to fabricate a better splash guard than I have, the 2.5" wide piece of acrylic I'm using just isn't enough. If I add more LED's to this, I will probably construct a small plywood "pendant" for them to hang from that is fully enclosed (except for the top, and some vent holes in the side for air movement/minor heat dissipation).

http://www.carolinafishtalk.com/foru...tons-pics.html

redfishsc · 02/28/2010, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jackinfobo

Hey redfishsc what is the K rating on your MH Phoenix bulb please?

14K. It doesn't look very blue to my eyes, but I recieved the bulb (and whole MH kit) when it was 6 months old. I am told that the Phoenix is more blue in the first 6 months.

02/08/2010, 08:13 PM	#1
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Pics and video-- comparison shots: Phoenix 250DE combined with 8 Cree XRE Royal Blues Here are some comparison shots of a Phoenix 250DE (6 months old, Coralvue electronic ballast) without, and with, the 8 Cree XRE LED's running at 960mA. The Cree's are a DIY I did a few months ago. Let's just say they are VERY powerful. If my math is correct, these total out at around 24 watts total output, but the amount of stunning blue they dump into the tank is unreal. I did my best to use the white balance on the camera to get as natural of a photo as I can. Both of these pics are with the same white balance. Tank is a 25g "tall". Phoenix only: Phoenix with Cree's: A pic of Cree's only from a couple months ago (badly overexposed, the camera just can't handle all the blue) Here is the video done with my camera, sorry for the jerky cinematography. Cut me some slack, I'm a carpenter! Note one thing: the blue is overexposed a lot, both with and WITHOUT the Cree's. The video isn't good for estimating real life color. It IS, however, VERY good for seeing just how powerful these Cree's are even when "competing" with a powerful halide. Phoenix 250DE with 8 Cree XRE's, dimming the LED's back and forth for comparison __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/08/2010, 08:39 PM	#2
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	nice tutorial. The Phoenix isn't as blue as I expected it to be. __________________ -Eric

02/08/2010, 09:08 PM	#3
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	They are bluer in their first few months, so I read. This is my first halide (and phoenix) and it's 6 months old, so it's burned in well. I got this halide from a local friend. It might not be as blue as I like, but even still, it's quite pretty by itself. The LED's are just gravy . They really added a punch to my T5 setup before, but now with the Phoenix, the tank REALLY looks nice. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/09/2010, 08:26 PM	#4
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Anyone else running a similar setup, with some strong LED's as their actinics? I'd love to see some more pics of what everyone else it doing. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/09/2010, 09:29 PM	#6
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Probably looks like a Windex milkshake! My trochus snails spawned the other day with the LED's on alone, and the tank looks so weird full of snail man-sauce. Strange. But maybe I'll end up with some trochus babies out of the deal. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/10/2010, 02:46 PM	#8
E.intheC Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 5,373	Here's an attempt. Blurry, but still kind of cool. Definitely didn't capture the look from last night's sand storm though. __________________ -Eric

02/17/2010, 08:06 PM	#9
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Anyone else with LED actinics, esp. DIY high-power LEDS? __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/17/2010, 10:54 PM	#10
Hemlock71 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 147	Looks good guys, what are you using exactly? I just installed 2 lumenbrite reflectors and figured I would add some kind of dusk to dawn lighting later. Can I use a few as spots or do I need a bunch of them. Thanks

02/18/2010, 09:20 AM	#11
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Mine are Cree XRE's in royal blue. If you keep them up kinda high, you could probably put a strip in between each reflector. Keep them high to spread the light out more. __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/18/2010, 09:40 AM	#12
jaybfresh Pitcher Hill Reef Society Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Syracuse, NY Posts: 1,597	Thinking of doing this as well. Have room for 12" strips between my halide reflectors. How do the 'premade' LEDs like powerbrite compare to your DIY as far as intensity? __________________ -J- Current Tank Info: 80g shallow mixed reef

02/18/2010, 10:08 AM	#13
Dyraxe Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,606	I like powerbrites but I think cree xre will pack more punch. Maybe twice as much if not more.

02/27/2010, 04:21 PM	#15
sahin Ultimate Reefer Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: London, UK Posts: 8,540	Hey Redfishsc: Many thanks for posting these photos. You beat me to it and built your setup. I am still building mine. I am going to retrofit 12x Cree Royal Blues and run them at 700mA. So that should get out about 25.2 watts (0.7x3=2.1w per LED x 12 = 25.2watts total). Which is about the same watts as yours running 8 LEDs at 0.9A. Man I am hoping it will give more of a 20K look when running with my Phoenix 14K 150watt halide. At the very least I am hoping for some awesome coral flourescence/pop. I am also going to run 4x Cree Whites in the sides and back to boost the light there. I'll post some photos when its all done.

02/27/2010, 07:45 PM	#16
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	Please do! I'm looking for any and all folks to post comparison shots! I'm pretty sure you'll turn that tank into something more like a 30K lol. Even though I run mine at almost 1000mA, I only have 8.... so your 12 running at 700 should be blue as heck. As for the whites for boosting light, just know that the blue Cree's have been tested by EvilC66 (on this site) to put out very similar PAR numbers to the white Cree's, so if you are looking for more blue and more light, just use all blues (if you really want it blue, lol). __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.

02/27/2010, 11:12 PM	#17
jackinfobo Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 101	Hey redfishsc what is the K rating on your MH Phoenix bulb please?

02/28/2010, 06:11 AM	#18
CBehr Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Ephrata, PA Posts: 588	redfishsc: do you have a link to your LED build? I'm running phoenix 14k's and wish they were more blue. The problem is my tank is a 95wave and due to the shape of my reflectors I can't add standard actinics such as T5's or PC's. __________________ 1st time w/o a tank in 10+ years. Planning 65g..mainly fish, maybe a few LPS/Softies

02/28/2010, 06:40 AM	#19
redfishsc Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Wake Forest, NC Posts: 3,696	I have a build thread on a local North Carolina reefing forum, I haven't taken the time to do a build thread here. I would advise you to fabricate a better splash guard than I have, the 2.5" wide piece of acrylic I'm using just isn't enough. If I add more LED's to this, I will probably construct a small plywood "pendant" for them to hang from that is fully enclosed (except for the top, and some vent holes in the side for air movement/minor heat dissipation). http://www.carolinafishtalk.com/foru...tons-pics.html __________________ "The measure of a life is not its duration but its donation." Corrie Ten Boom “The tyrant dies and his rule is over, the martyr dies and his rule begins” -- Søren Kierkegaard Current Tank Info: ghetto grad school reef.....11g rimless tank, 36X9X9, lit by Cree and Rebels scobbled together. Stocked mostly with free stuff I got from panhandling my fellow reefers.