24 Inch ReefLed Build

[Daniel716]

This will be a slow build.. But its started!!! Still waiting for a few more leds and drivers.. Also waiting for the new carbon fiber canopy... What you see is just playin around,,, I am not set on how to layout the leds yet OR what drivers I will use. I am currently playing with drivers from Steve, reefled and luxdrive. I need to make some aluminum sinks for the Steve drivers before I can really crank them though...

It will be heavy. mounting will be a problem I need some ideas there for sure...

This will be the first of 2.. Its for a in wall 120 replacing 2 400watt XM's
all at this time is I will have a minimum of 32-36 blues..

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/2012-12-14_22-39-54_809.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/2012-12-14_22-40-14_704.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/2012-12-14_22-40-34_330.jpg

[Daniel716]

So I received the rest of the drivers and LED's for the test fixture. here are the specs.. What do you guys think? It seems brighter than my 400W XM BUT I need to get some par reading as soon as I can (No meter yet).

I will use 2 fixtures (one on each side of a standard 120) with the following

20 cool white 5w crees
20 RB cree 3w
8 Blue cree 3w
16 Violet 3w
Per fixture


You will see an extra 2 blue on one side as I am still deciding if I should use that space for some reds/greens for fun.. Thoughts on that?
Overall It matches the XM well as it sits right now so... not sure what to do with the red and green..

I will control with an apex when I received the rest of the fixture parts from reef optics..

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130102_023457.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130102_023726.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130102_213831.jpg

[Daniel716]

Getting closer!
Received the enclosure today and built it for a test fit.

Left to do:
1 determine use of red/green led still...
2 do final wiring
3 determine method of hanging (they need to slide out of the way like my old ones) they are heavy!
4 test PAR and take comparison shots next to the 400w xm20k
5 build the second one :hmm1:

I will say the enclosure fits together nice!

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130111_230050.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130111_232459.jpg

http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130111_233924.jpg
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/ff144/MADMAN770/20130111_234051.jpg

[dmcrete]

great looking led set up,, looks like you have been shopping at rapid led's,, im thinkin i am going to start me a led system pretty soon, Great job man !!!

[ghellin]

Looks good. What 5 watt Cree are you using I was not aware of a 5 watt Cree white led? I would assume its a typical 3 watt Cree that you are pushing it to 5 watts by driving it at 1.5A.

[Daniel716]

Looks good. What 5 watt Cree are you using I was not aware of a 5 watt Cree white led? I would assume its a typical 3 watt Cree that you are pushing it to 5 watts by driving it at 1.5A.
I use this one.. CREE XP-G R5 5W Cool White LE

So yes it needs to be @ 1.5 to be 5w
No matter I am not over driving as I cannot run more than 60% because of the brightness!!

[chark]

Where did you get the heat sink and carbon fiber canopy? It looks great. Your build is something like I would like to make.

[Daniel716]

They are from reefledlights

[HectorT]

Would 1" spacing between leds be to close to each other?

[phnxfrfx1776]

so far what is the cost of your build?
And what is a good web site to learn about led lighting

[ghellin]

so far what is the cost of your build?
And what is a good web site to learn about led lighting

Reef central is a great place to learn about LEDs. Try a few of the massive LED threads. :beer:

[Daniel716]

so far what is the cost of your build?
And what is a good web site to learn about led lighting
Hehe not cheap! (but I knew that before the start!)

Total so far is about 700 for the first fixture..

Once complete I will take down one of the halides and
do a side by side for a few months... if its sliced bread ill build the other.

that will bring the total to 1400.00

I have decided to add 3 red and 3 green.. if that's not enough ill need to rethink the layout...

[Daniel716]

So here's the back story..
I have an inwall 120 that's I just restarted..
I had to set it aside for a couple years as I had zero time for it.
long story short its almost ready (it was never completely shut down just overgrown with HA and fish only.. over the time I sold all the corals and lost 2 fish (jumpers)
I cleaned it all up and now am ready to do sps again..
It will be a perfect time see the affects of the different lighting ..
I WILL NOT sell my halide setup though as I am not 100% sold yet..
Its a dual 400w mag ballast with luminarc reflectors. (I run XM 20k's)
other changes are ditching my RKE for an APEX (why did I wait????)
As soon as I am done with the aqua scaping I'll post a few pics for timeline ref.

[Daniel716]

Double Post! :(

[phnxfrfx1776]

Pretty impressive build I cant wait to see your lights in action.

[zachts]

I'd suggest adding the red and green in the form of 3Ups such as Red, Green, Blue or Red Green, Cyan. and use 6 of them to better blend and spread out the colors. if you can put each color on it's own channel then even better! just using 3 and 3 you'll probably see shadows from them.

[zachts]

Glad I stummbled onto this thread, those enclosures from Reefoptics are amazing! I may have to get me some.