plans for DIY LED lighting systems

[buffalo123]

I know these systems are new to the hobby but anyone has any plans to build there own fixtures?
what kind and size is the LEDs

[tprize]

I posted about this in the DIY forum a long time ago, and after a hundred posts we got nothing. Apparently it's very hard to build these because of the heat sink design.

[Frick-n-Frags]

I've been poking around in the LED technology a bit too.
It seems like a DIY'er may be able to get complete lamps made for other things like white LED carlights.

There are lots of perfect spectrum discrete LED's to choose from and various power-LED configurations that probably get pretty bright.
But::::Then you have to play with arraying/mounting/power supply/lenses vs these already made lamps.

I'm seeing lots of white LED lights out there, so I'm sure some of those could be stolen for reeftank purposes

that PFO light really has brought a lot of cool stuff together. they mention it is phillips LED's they use, so I'm sure you could find exactly what LED elements they use.

[rwing]

I recently bought some red led lights from Menards. They sell a 3 pack which consists of 3 2 inch round pucks with 9 led's per puck. I mounted these in my hood and covered them with a small piece of light diffuser that I cut out of an old florescent fixture. The cost of the lights was only $40. Very cool looking at night!

[buffalo123]

OOPS
Actually this post was suppose to be in the DIY section
Diyers has some research to do

[michaeldaly]

I also investigated this but I found that even DIY for my size tank 4foot 65g would have cost more than my halides.

I was looking into 3watt leds, but you would need around 40 - 50 and each one is very expensive.

[barbra]

Originally posted by michaeldaly
I also investigated this but I found that even DIY for my size tank 4foot 65g would have cost more than my halides.

I was looking into 3watt leds, but you would need around 40 - 50 and each one is very expensive.

I can second this experience, it costs less to buy the premade fixtures than to make your own at this point.

[sumpfish]

I'll just point out that if you were to buy the PFO LED hood for a 75 gal tank (48 inch hood), it would set you back over 2 grand...That's too rich for my blood, even if it does last for 10 years.

[buffalo123]

Other than solaris is there another company that makes them, whose the competition ?
They are missing a bonanza of profit if they keep the prices up there.
Its hard to justify the purchase at the current price. Even with electrical cost & bulb changes,
What happens after 5 years ? replacement LEDs , components or replacement fixture

[cdangel0]

Try a rope light - they are leds inside a clear plastic tube. I have a PC fixture with a blue rope light inserted and it does a great job. Would probably sot less then $10 to add to your tank.

[buffalo123]

Good idea but we are referring to LED that replaces Metal Halide lighting.
check them out at
www.solarisled.com

[michaeldaly]

Originally posted by buffalo123
Other than solaris is there another company that makes them, whose the competition ?
They are missing a bonanza of profit if they keep the prices up there.
Its hard to justify the purchase at the current price. Even with electrical cost & bulb changes,
What happens after 5 years ? replacement LEDs , components or replacement fixture

No there is no competition.

Have a look here, these are similar led to what is used inside the solaris. http://www.luxeonstar.com/ (There is quite a range of products and prices)

[buffalo123]

Thats good info
Won't be long before competition comes along.
They have quite the opportunity to get products out before competition come along . Provided they make a good product and back it up.

[mcclandy]

I hear there is a company that is making a LED lights for aquariums that are brighter and than Solaris. I heard that the initial model was being reviewed by the same person that reviewed the solaris model.

[buffalo123]

Solaris review
www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/8/review2
Anyone know the name of the other company?

[michaeldaly]

Have not heard of another company.

Solaris is however going to release a newer model using 5W LED's instead of the 3W LED's in the current unit.

[mcclandy]

I can not remember the name of the company right now... i will find out what it is.

[Frick-n-Frags]

yeah, as soon as china shows up in the ring, things will change

[buffalo123]

They might not want to wait for that. All that work and research and then it only takes one unit and someone copies it and manufactures it for 1/2 the price.
Welcome to our global economy. Where communism is fed with capitalism .

[buffalo123]

Anybody know the name of the other company who is working on LED reef lighting

[buffalo123]

Competition
Seoul semiconductor
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release...ease_id=190153

[steve the plumb]

there is another company making a simalar unit but the price isn't any cheaper than the solaris.I got a price quote from there units.I don't remember the company name.The diff in price was maybe $200 - $300 a unit if that.The unit also has a built in controller wich is extra if you want it.

[steve the plumb]

aquaillumination is the name of the fixture

[jksteele010]

People are mentioning the expense, however there is a way around this. If you have experience in building circuit boards, you can build the piece actually quite cheap. I can't remember where, but just google it, i found a site explaining how to get around the high cost of DIY Leds. The bulbs are cheap, its just the board to run them cost about $20. I'll look again, but I just wanted people to know that it can be done for relatively cheap.

[steve the plumb]

http://www.aquaillumination.com/index.html they are suppose to be about 20% cheaper than pfo