DIY LED Lights: Can I use any LED's?

alany611 · 07/16/2014, 02:42 PM

So I see a lot of DIY threads about people making their own LED lights and retrofitting them into one thing or another. Where are they getting these LED's? Could I go to Lowe's, take apart an LED Light Bulb and reuse the LED's inside for an aquarium light as long as they are the right specs?

mcgyvr · 07/16/2014, 03:34 PM

well.. yes (but NO since you asked)
anything in the world that "is the right specs" as something else can be used as a replacement.

However.. finding the "proper" specs on most of that stuff is hit or miss..
Not to mention do you know how to "desolder" surface mount components like LED's and get your own circuit boards designed and made..

Also "many" of the household "illumination" products out there tailor to a "warm white" that we all know and love (not me) from the incandescent light days..
In general cooler whites and blues are used in the reef world as thats the color temp needed for growth and its like whats in the ocean.. Its pretty blue down there

but yes.. they don't make LED dies tailored to the "REEF" world.. Its just regular off the shelf LEDs from LED manufacturers.. We just use funky colors like red/green/UV/450nm blah blah blah..

07/16/2014, 03:34 PM	#2
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	well.. yes (but NO since you asked) anything in the world that "is the right specs" as something else can be used as a replacement. However.. finding the "proper" specs on most of that stuff is hit or miss.. Not to mention do you know how to "desolder" surface mount components like LED's and get your own circuit boards designed and made.. Also "many" of the household "illumination" products out there tailor to a "warm white" that we all know and love (not me) from the incandescent light days.. In general cooler whites and blues are used in the reef world as thats the color temp needed for growth and its like whats in the ocean.. Its pretty blue down there but yes.. they don't make LED dies tailored to the "REEF" world.. Its just regular off the shelf LEDs from LED manufacturers.. We just use funky colors like red/green/UV/450nm blah blah blah.. __________________ Who me?