Led questions 60x24x30 -SPS Dominated

Hogester79 · 04/30/2012, 03:06 PM

Hi guys,

I've read a zillion threads on DIY Led set ups and now have a few questions of my own.

My tank will be 5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2.5 feet high (30 inches).

My current thinking is 3 banks of lights each covering around 1/3rd of the tank. I will be building a mainly SPS tank but would like a few softies in to make it look a little more soft and visually appealing.

I am pretty sure I have the electronics side down (what drivers, how to design etc) but what I need help with is getting the right LEDs per bank.

I was thinking of running XM-L's on a meanwell LPF 60-48 (dimmable) @ 1.25a - I know they can take a lot more but seeing as they are going to run a lot brighter then the Xp-G's - is there really a need to crank the stuffing out of them?

What I've been reading is that with the XM-L's being so bright a better mixture of whites to blues / royal blues is 1:3 (white to blue) - Does this still stand?

What would you guys recommend I should run per bank seeing as I will have 3 above the tank. These are going to be controlled by something like profilux/ reef angel etc so height ins't an issue in that I can just run them at much lower levels until I get them right.

I was thinking something like 4 CW (XML), 2 NW (XML) @1.25a, then 8 Royal Blue, 8 Blue and a mix of UV/ Violet @ 650ma in total around 30 Leds per bank which would give me a total of 90 LED's for the whole tank.

I can certainly change the ratio of Royal Blues/ Blues to UV and add more of the former if 4-8 UV's/ Violets are just too many or keep all royal blue, some uv/ violet and the rest a mix of XM-L.

Finally - with 30 inches deep - What sort of Optics should I be looking at?

Sorry for the long post may as well ask everything I want in one go! Appreciate the help everyone ,

Blake

Hogester79 · 05/02/2012, 08:03 PM

Anyone?

Rapid LED · 05/03/2012, 05:47 PM

Sorry for the delay, sometimes we don't check our forum daily (in this case we haven't checked for a few days, again my apologies).

To us the XM-L's are only worth the money (double the XP-G's) if you're going to run them at about 2A and up. Anything less and you might as well stick with the XP-G's, run at 1.3-1.5A. Running an XM-L at 1.25A you don't get too much more output than the XP-G's at 1.25A, so a ratio of 1:3 would get you way into the 20k+ territory. The exact ratio will depend on the color temperature you're looking for.

Running 90 LEDs (including XM-L's) is probably a bit much for the tank. If using XP-G's I'd recommend about 80 (no more than 90), so with XM-L's you may be able to step that down some but again it depends on the current that you plan on running the LEDs at.

As for optics, go with either 40 or 60 degrees on a 30" tall tank (depending on the height of the lights above the water).

Hogester79 · 05/03/2012, 07:01 PM

Thanks for the reply, I don't mind running them higher - if I was closer to the 2A you mentioned - then to get something around the 14K (not too blue) then a 1:3/1:2.5 might be the right amount?

The main reason for looking into the XM-L's was because they are the newer tech and Id rather do it properly the first time rather then coming back and making changes.

thanks for the insight - gives me plenty to think about

Rapid LED · 05/04/2012, 06:32 PM

I'd say for 14k a 1:2.5 ratio might be best

04/30/2012, 03:06 PM	#1
Hogester79 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 6	Led questions 60x24x30 -SPS Dominated Hi guys, I've read a zillion threads on DIY Led set ups and now have a few questions of my own. My tank will be 5 feet long, 2 feet wide and 2.5 feet high (30 inches). My current thinking is 3 banks of lights each covering around 1/3rd of the tank. I will be building a mainly SPS tank but would like a few softies in to make it look a little more soft and visually appealing. I am pretty sure I have the electronics side down (what drivers, how to design etc) but what I need help with is getting the right LEDs per bank. I was thinking of running XM-L's on a meanwell LPF 60-48 (dimmable) @ 1.25a - I know they can take a lot more but seeing as they are going to run a lot brighter then the Xp-G's - is there really a need to crank the stuffing out of them? What I've been reading is that with the XM-L's being so bright a better mixture of whites to blues / royal blues is 1:3 (white to blue) - Does this still stand? What would you guys recommend I should run per bank seeing as I will have 3 above the tank. These are going to be controlled by something like profilux/ reef angel etc so height ins't an issue in that I can just run them at much lower levels until I get them right. I was thinking something like 4 CW (XML), 2 NW (XML) @1.25a, then 8 Royal Blue, 8 Blue and a mix of UV/ Violet @ 650ma in total around 30 Leds per bank which would give me a total of 90 LED's for the whole tank. I can certainly change the ratio of Royal Blues/ Blues to UV and add more of the former if 4-8 UV's/ Violets are just too many or keep all royal blue, some uv/ violet and the rest a mix of XM-L. Finally - with 30 inches deep - What sort of Optics should I be looking at? Sorry for the long post may as well ask everything I want in one go! Appreciate the help everyone , Blake __________________ All Empty So Far - Starting a Whole New Build 5'x2'x2.5'H - That's the starting point Current Tank Info: Starting from Scratch

05/02/2012, 08:03 PM	#2
Hogester79 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 6	Anyone? __________________ All Empty So Far - Starting a Whole New Build 5'x2'x2.5'H - That's the starting point Current Tank Info: Starting from Scratch

05/03/2012, 07:01 PM	#4
Hogester79 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Sydney Posts: 6	Thanks for the reply, I don't mind running them higher - if I was closer to the 2A you mentioned - then to get something around the 14K (not too blue) then a 1:3/1:2.5 might be the right amount? The main reason for looking into the XM-L's was because they are the newer tech and Id rather do it properly the first time rather then coming back and making changes. thanks for the insight - gives me plenty to think about __________________ All Empty So Far - Starting a Whole New Build 5'x2'x2.5'H - That's the starting point Current Tank Info: Starting from Scratch

05/03/2012, 05:47 PM	#3
Rapid LED RC Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,589	Sorry for the delay, sometimes we don't check our forum daily (in this case we haven't checked for a few days, again my apologies). To us the XM-L's are only worth the money (double the XP-G's) if you're going to run them at about 2A and up. Anything less and you might as well stick with the XP-G's, run at 1.3-1.5A. Running an XM-L at 1.25A you don't get too much more output than the XP-G's at 1.25A, so a ratio of 1:3 would get you way into the 20k+ territory. The exact ratio will depend on the color temperature you're looking for. Running 90 LEDs (including XM-L's) is probably a bit much for the tank. If using XP-G's I'd recommend about 80 (no more than 90), so with XM-L's you may be able to step that down some but again it depends on the current that you plan on running the LEDs at. As for optics, go with either 40 or 60 degrees on a 30" tall tank (depending on the height of the lights above the water).

05/04/2012, 06:32 PM	#5
Rapid LED RC Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,589	I'd say for 14k a 1:2.5 ratio might be best