Brand Noobie to LED - Page 2

Jack07013 · 02/26/2010, 06:28 PM

beeker - all your info about Pacific Sun is wrong.

few things:

a) modular LED unit

b) LED/T5 combination that comes in 36", 48", 60"

c) full controller that only AI with Profilux can come close to it - just see the controller:

d) their newest lamps offer 1) White leds Cree XP-G 3W - 140lm/W, 2) Blue leds Cree XP-E 3W Royal Blue 500mW@350mA(!) , 3) Blue 475nm 3W

e) warranty in US

anyone who knows how to use google can confirm the info - where did you get your info about PS from?

just curious where do you get your info?

neelix · 02/26/2010, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GovtCheese

what size is your tank?? reef?

120 mixed reef 4x2x2 insane PAR only running at 35% white this gives it a 14k look.

GovtCheese · 02/27/2010, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelix

120 mixed reef 4x2x2 insane PAR only running at 35% white this gives it a 14k look.

sounds excellent

how long have you been running the leds lights on your tank?

any pics by chance?

GovtCheese · 03/04/2010, 03:36 PM

WestTexasReefer · 03/04/2010, 04:28 PM

I have had the AI lights on my 300 gallon tank for a couple of years. I can't imagine using anything else now. The coral growth has been great and I like the ability to ramp my intensity up and down throughout the day. These put zero heat into the tank and I have a chiller that never runs. My tank temp never fluctuates more than 1 degree. The only downside is the startup cost but I feel like over the course of 3 years I am even and running on the plus side. No bulb changes and my electric bill has dropped since I put these in.

neelix · 03/04/2010, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GovtCheese

sounds excellent

how long have you been running the leds lights on your tank?

any pics by chance?

Only a few weeks for me,in the process of switching tanks so no pictures yet.

JMurphy97 · 03/05/2010, 12:07 AM

Would you say the AI lights are better then the ecoxotic? I think for the cost of these lights you should be able to grow everything and that's kinda what I'm having a problem with. I read that these lights can't grow SPS and I know when I get more into picking out corals there will be some SPS I see and will want. After spending $2,500.00 to $3,500.00 on lights you should be able to grow them.

black_ice_pc · 03/05/2010, 12:20 AM

This is the best LED thread on RC:http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587273 Read through this thread and all your questions you've asked will be answered, plus you'll get a very good idea of what's what in LED lighting. Just for reference, if you're gonna do DIY, the best LEDs to do it with are Cree XP-G LEDs and Cree XP-E or XR-E blue LEDs. Now start reading

goober35 · 03/05/2010, 12:53 AM

What is the size of your tank in inches. You will need 1 power supply, 2 buck puck (led drivers) and 12 Led's for every 4X6 inches of coverage. That is 1 led every 2 inches. In my build i have 16 led's in a 6x6 space and i have 3 sections.

This is what i think you will need

Power Supply 14.95 http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16854+PS

Cree Q5 LED's $6.50 each http://www.etgtech.com/
You need to know that the cool white LED's are 1000mA and the Royal blues are 700mA

LED's Drivers http://ledsupply.com/03023-d-e-700p.php
You will need to get the 700's for the blues and the 1000 for the white's

How every much heat sink you need ad you will need a lot of it. I would say you would need 14 10x10 at 3750 each. http://www.heatsinkusa.com/storename...pt-263913.aspx

So i think you would need 21 power supplies, 224 LED's, 38 buck pucks, and 14 heat sinks for a total of $3,053.05 not including tax and shipping.

PM me if you have any wiring or set up questions.

black_ice_pc · 03/05/2010, 12:59 AM

Or you could use Meanwells and save a ton of money..

black_ice_pc · 03/05/2010, 01:11 AM

Heatsink
19 Meanwells @ $40ea., 12 LEDs per Meanwell $760
112 Cree XP-G R5 @ $6.76ea. mounted on 20mm stars - $751.30 (Cutter.com.au)
112 Cree XP-E Royal Blue top bin @$5.89ea. - $654.61(Cutter.com.au)
Total - $2165.91 not including heatsink. These LEDs will outperform XR-E Q5s by about 60% if a recall correctly, due to higher efficiency. Only downside to them is not many optic choices. No power supply needed as Meanwell is AC/DC. Note that I'm not trying to attack Goober35's part breakdown, I'm just suggesting an alternative that I think would possibly be better.

g8gxp · 03/05/2010, 07:03 AM

Govt Cheese. AI modules are an excellent choice for LED lighting. It's a fully integrated system that is pretty much plug and play. However, because LED lighting is still in it's infancy (at least for our hobby) expect to pay a large premium. If you think you have the skills to DIY your own lights you can probably build a fixture equal in performance to the AI module for half the price. Although it sounds daunting it really is not that hard. Careful planning and research and a few weekends of your time are all that is required.

I am building my own fixture for a 125 gallon tank - and i'm about as far away from being an electronics guy as you can be.

An absolutely excellent starter guide can be found by googling Ultimate LED Guide. I don't think i'm allowed to post the actual website here but that will give you a very good idea of what is involved.

cali_reef · 03/05/2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neelix

I am using Aqua Illuminations, so far so good. Just 3 modules.

For a tank as large as yours look in to the Pacifc Sun Fixtures over at Manhatten Reefs, they have a vedor over there that sells them if I was going to do it again i would have went Pacific Sun...

I am pretty sure he is also here "shilling" his LED's in this thread. Do a search for members using "07013" at Manhattan reefs and you'll know what I mean.

GovtCheese · 03/16/2010, 01:24 PM

Many great suggestions!!

I am leaning towards EvilC Par38's, for the simple fact that it is easy to add to my system and I am attracted to the pedant light type of setup

Please, let me know what your thoughts are on this fellow reefers

GovtCheese · 03/16/2010, 09:07 PM

crickets≈

zygote2k · 03/27/2010, 09:59 PM

Here's my tank lit up with 3) PAR 38's w/ 40 degree optics. 20k.
Check out the shimmering light effects. Much better than halides.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU4rAZmkQvI

03/04/2010, 03:36 PM	#29
GovtCheese Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 954	__________________ "Its in the past... It doesn't matter" Current Tank Info: 240ga FOWLR, CS12-2 Euro-reef skimmer, and 150 ga sump.

03/04/2010, 04:28 PM	#30
WestTexasReefer Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Lubbock, Texas Posts: 243	I have had the AI lights on my 300 gallon tank for a couple of years. I can't imagine using anything else now. The coral growth has been great and I like the ability to ramp my intensity up and down throughout the day. These put zero heat into the tank and I have a chiller that never runs. My tank temp never fluctuates more than 1 degree. The only downside is the startup cost but I feel like over the course of 3 years I am even and running on the plus side. No bulb changes and my electric bill has dropped since I put these in. __________________ Jeff Current Tank Info: 180 gallon brick with Aqua Illumination LED lights

03/16/2010, 01:24 PM	#39
GovtCheese Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 954	Many great suggestions!! I am leaning towards EvilC Par38's, for the simple fact that it is easy to add to my system and I am attracted to the pedant light type of setup Please, let me know what your thoughts are on this fellow reefers __________________ "Its in the past... It doesn't matter" Current Tank Info: 240ga FOWLR, CS12-2 Euro-reef skimmer, and 150 ga sump.

03/16/2010, 09:07 PM	#40
GovtCheese Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: San Francisco Posts: 954	crickets≈ __________________ "Its in the past... It doesn't matter" Current Tank Info: 240ga FOWLR, CS12-2 Euro-reef skimmer, and 150 ga sump.

03/27/2010, 09:59 PM	#41
zygote2k Nuisance Algae Join Date: May 2008 Location: Reston,Va Posts: 213	Here's my tank lit up with 3) PAR 38's w/ 40 degree optics. 20k. Check out the shimmering light effects. Much better than halides. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KU4rAZmkQvI __________________ LED powered LPS tank with 100% WAMAS built components. Current Tank Info: LED powered LPS tank.

02/26/2010, 06:28 PM	#26
Jack07013 Registered Member. Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: New Jersey Posts: 142	beeker - all your info about Pacific Sun is wrong. few things: a) modular LED unit b) LED/T5 combination that comes in 36", 48", 60" c) full controller that only AI with Profilux can come close to it - just see the controller: d) their newest lamps offer 1) White leds Cree XP-G 3W - 140lm/W, 2) Blue leds Cree XP-E 3W Royal Blue 500mW@350mA(!) , 3) Blue 475nm 3W e) warranty in US anyone who knows how to use google can confirm the info - where did you get your info about PS from? just curious where do you get your info?

03/05/2010, 12:07 AM	#32
JMurphy97 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 397	Would you say the AI lights are better then the ecoxotic? I think for the cost of these lights you should be able to grow everything and that's kinda what I'm having a problem with. I read that these lights can't grow SPS and I know when I get more into picking out corals there will be some SPS I see and will want. After spending $2,500.00 to $3,500.00 on lights you should be able to grow them.

03/05/2010, 12:20 AM	#33
black_ice_pc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 51	This is the best LED thread on RC:http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1587273 Read through this thread and all your questions you've asked will be answered, plus you'll get a very good idea of what's what in LED lighting. Just for reference, if you're gonna do DIY, the best LEDs to do it with are Cree XP-G LEDs and Cree XP-E or XR-E blue LEDs. Now start reading

03/05/2010, 12:53 AM	#34
goober35 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 167	What is the size of your tank in inches. You will need 1 power supply, 2 buck puck (led drivers) and 12 Led's for every 4X6 inches of coverage. That is 1 led every 2 inches. In my build i have 16 led's in a 6x6 space and i have 3 sections. This is what i think you will need Power Supply 14.95 http://www.mpja.com/prodinfo.asp?number=16854+PS Cree Q5 LED's $6.50 each http://www.etgtech.com/ You need to know that the cool white LED's are 1000mA and the Royal blues are 700mA LED's Drivers http://ledsupply.com/03023-d-e-700p.php You will need to get the 700's for the blues and the 1000 for the white's How every much heat sink you need ad you will need a lot of it. I would say you would need 14 10x10 at 3750 each. http://www.heatsinkusa.com/storename...pt-263913.aspx So i think you would need 21 power supplies, 224 LED's, 38 buck pucks, and 14 heat sinks for a total of $3,053.05 not including tax and shipping. PM me if you have any wiring or set up questions.

03/05/2010, 12:59 AM	#35
black_ice_pc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 51	Or you could use Meanwells and save a ton of money..

03/05/2010, 01:11 AM	#36
black_ice_pc Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 51	Heatsink 19 Meanwells @ $40ea., 12 LEDs per Meanwell $760 112 Cree XP-G R5 @ $6.76ea. mounted on 20mm stars - $751.30 (Cutter.com.au) 112 Cree XP-E Royal Blue top bin @$5.89ea. - $654.61(Cutter.com.au) Total - $2165.91 not including heatsink. These LEDs will outperform XR-E Q5s by about 60% if a recall correctly, due to higher efficiency. Only downside to them is not many optic choices. No power supply needed as Meanwell is AC/DC. Note that I'm not trying to attack Goober35's part breakdown, I'm just suggesting an alternative that I think would possibly be better.

03/05/2010, 07:03 AM	#37
g8gxp Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 685	Govt Cheese. AI modules are an excellent choice for LED lighting. It's a fully integrated system that is pretty much plug and play. However, because LED lighting is still in it's infancy (at least for our hobby) expect to pay a large premium. If you think you have the skills to DIY your own lights you can probably build a fixture equal in performance to the AI module for half the price. Although it sounds daunting it really is not that hard. Careful planning and research and a few weekends of your time are all that is required. I am building my own fixture for a 125 gallon tank - and i'm about as far away from being an electronics guy as you can be. An absolutely excellent starter guide can be found by googling Ultimate LED Guide. I don't think i'm allowed to post the actual website here but that will give you a very good idea of what is involved.