Multichips vs Single Diode

[Dartolution]

Hey guys, I know there is a lot of debate/preference about which LED system and brand to go with. I however am wanting to build my own and customize it.

There are a lot of websites out there that offer DIY kits and some that don't offer kits and just offer the diodes, or ballasts, all separate..

Until recently via a post made in another part of this forum, I had subscribed myself to Rapid LED's 40breeder kit with a customized 6x20" array using various spectrum led's...

Then someone came along and said something about multi chips and now Im on square one again..


Can anyone give me some advise, pros and cons, about using multi chip sets, or should I just worry about what I started with first, the led combo from rapid led.


Also, may now be considering fixtures, instead of a DIY project, but... thats later.

HELP ! Confused...

[Dartolution]

bump for opinions

[carloriv]

well here is my opinion the multichips will have a better blend of color than the other single led that depend on the degree of the lens and the height to blend it. For me i prefer the multichps look the high end of led fixture in the market radion and kessil they use multichips.Rapid led have a good kit of multichip i think you can give a try and let me know im intererest in one or two for myself.

[pwreef]

Except for Kessil most multichips you buy from eBay and the like are not made by a real company with R&D department, quality control etc. They carry no data sheets. So you just have to trust the seller that what they put on their webpage is true. Thing is there are people on here that keep coral with every light you have heard of. YOUR success will depend on many other factors. There are no magic lights.

[pwreef]

Or are you talking about mcpcb boards with various Cree Phillips or Semileds soldered on?

[Gagonzalez]

Kessil and just recently Maxspect are the only name brand commercial Multichips in Reef lighting that I know of.

[Dartolution]

Or are you talking about mcpcb boards with various Cree Phillips or Semileds soldered on?

Yes pretty much.

I plan on using 80* optics and suspending roughly 10" or so over the surface of the 40Breeder.
that in conjuction with (2) T5's

[Fredfish]

The advantage of clusters is that they blend better, particularly the larger multichips with very tight spacing. The other advantage is that there is no or not much soldering involved. Rapid offers a couple of different options there.

The cheap Chinese multichips may or may not work. Some report good results.

There is another reputable supplier that can't be mentioned here but includes the words LED group and buy in the name. Google is your friend.

The downside with these is that the light spread is not as good as MH or T5. Some people report colour and coralite loss on the underside of their SPS corals.

There are a couple of options for smaller multichips so that you can use more chips to get better spread. Reef Labs, a sponsor here offers a couple of options. Nanobox just announced they will sell their 13-up chip, but there is nothing on the site yet. These would be a better option for a shallow tank like a 40 breeder. Where you would use two of the larger multichips on a 40 breeder, you can use 4 or 5 of the smaller chips for better spread.

If you go the single diode route, I would use 3-up stars in a custom configuration. Steve's LEDs sells these.

80 degree optics will probably give you a disco effect (colour banding).

[pwreef]

IMHO Reefll.com or Radion pucks are the two best options for DIY right now. I see no reason to supplement these with T5. I like my fixture a lot, but I think I am going to re-do it because there is not enough spread if you put them on a makers heatsink in a row. You need to two rows. My tank is identical to 40 breeder, just deeper.

[zachts]

On a 40 breeder your really talking about t5 supplemented with a few LEDs not the other way around. two t5 would be just about enough light with good reflectors on that tank............

you could do half LED and half t5 but unless your keeping predominantly SPS it's over kill.

the rapidled kit would be more than enough light all by itself.

[Dartolution]

f you go the single diode route, I would use 3-up stars in a custom configuration. Steve's LEDs sells these.

This is the first I am hearing about this, what is a 3-up stars?

On a 40 breeder your really talking about t5 supplemented with a few LEDs not the other way around. two t5 would be just about enough light with good reflectors on that tank............

you could do half LED and half t5 but unless your keeping predominantly SPS it's over kill.

the rapidled kit would be more than enough light all by itself.

Hey Zachts,

Yes this tank is going to be predominately SPS corals, few zoos, and a few LPS.
I want to "mimic" ATI's hybrid power module. I am not spending 1400 on a light fixture number one, Ive been down that route before, and I also want to custom create my LED spectrum hence the DIY project here.
Not to mention ATI doesn't make a 36 module with only (2) T5's, 4 is overkill for this build because there will only be about 10-12 inches of water depth.

Does anyone also know where I can get aluminum heat sinks? not black ones...

[Dartolution]

Just an initial search for a few of these companies mentioned, Im really liking stevesLEDs....

How about this option:
http://shop.stevesleds.com/SPS-Grade...-Kit-34-48.htm

[zachts]

Heatsink USA

or just go to Metals Depot or the local hardware store and grab some inch and a quarter aluminum C channel.

[Fredfish]

Originally Posted by Dartolution

This is the first I am hearing about this, what is a 3-up stars?

You pick the colours. Steve's makes them.

[zachts]

Originally Posted by Fredfish

You pick the colours. Steve's makes them.

Also has ones that allow each of the three diodes to be wired on a separate string, and a third configuration dubbed "anti disco" which places all three right in the center for better blending.

Great for making "tunable" whites. 2700k, lime, and blue, and you can dial in the exact shade of white that suits your mood.

[animalkingdom]

hey Dartolution, I am in Birmingham and have made a few different types of DIY LED lights including the 3 watters and multichips. If you have any specific questions or want to see some of my builds in person give me a shout. I have a few retired units that I may be able to let you try out to see how you like LEDs.

[Aqualund]

what about the rapidled aurora or the led group buy lumia?

[Dartolution]

Also has ones that allow each of the three diodes to be wired on a separate string, and a third configuration dubbed "anti disco" which places all three right in the center for better blending.

I like this feature a lot...


Has anyone ordered from ledzeal.com?