Led's vs led's

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 06:37 PM

I am looking at replacing all my lighting on my tanks with LED's and if i buy fixtures it would cost several thousand dollars. So I am considering building my own setups but i have no experience with LED's at all. What is the difference from one type vs another. I see led lighting all over the place now and I am wondering what the difference is? Such as the led's on stars from bulk led stores and led's in light bulbs, flash lights, rope lighting, xmas lighting....and so on....???
thanks for the info.

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 06:57 PM

also what the diff. between the stars with one led and three??? How about different wattage of LED's. Which one is the best for out hobby?

nikon187 · 04/17/2010, 07:12 PM

The ones you are looking for are cree LED bulbs. It will be cheaper but will still cost about 30-40% of what you would have spent for a commercial fixture.

JTL · 04/17/2010, 07:16 PM

Check out the PAR 38 forum for a little different way to use LED's.

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 07:46 PM

I am starting to wonder if its even worth building my own??? So many variables in building your own fixture and not having much experience with doing this I would hate to waist half of what it would cost to buy a the fixtures i want!

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 07:47 PM

still wondering what the diff. is between LED's

JTL · 04/17/2010, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EleganceMan

still wondering what the diff. is between LED's

It is all about intensity. The flashlights are low voltage, bright but not on the scale of Crees or what we need. Look at the pics on the Par 38 thread. I was going to build my own and added up the parts. It would have been more than the Par 38 lamps. Granted there are pros and cons. The lamps cannot be dimmed, but for me that was not an issue. I personally like the look and did not want a canopy.

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 08:19 PM

so which is better a 3watt led or same kind in a 30watt??? If the 30 then why are all these fixtures using smaller???

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 08:26 PM

do i want a lux meter or par meter......whats the diff. and do they measure under water?where do you buy one?

celamb89 · 04/17/2010, 09:28 PM

If ur up to it you should try to build your LED fixture or buy one. They consume way less electricity than a regular T5 or MH fixture. I was planning on one but they're way out of my price range so went with T5, I guess when the prices are right Ill go for it.
Cant really answer your questions but I believe 5watt and 30 watt LED's are both used in fixtures.

EleganceMan · 04/17/2010, 09:52 PM

the two i am looking at buying have either 1watt or 3watt led's.....but i have no clue which would be better.....im sure one would be better for growth, one better for longevity and energy costs but with these things being so new who really knows????

nikon187 · 04/17/2010, 10:03 PM

the 1w ones are usually used as moonlights, not for growing coral

Anemonebuff · 04/18/2010, 06:39 AM

Ecoxotic uses 1 watt leds in the retrofits. They are strong enough to maintain lower light SPS, LPS, and softies. If only they used optics to make them stronger.

ForSaleByAndy · 04/18/2010, 07:25 AM

Do a forum search on this -- there are TONS of really good build threads that will save you a ton of time

unttrmptplyr · 04/18/2010, 11:44 AM

http://www.StevesLEDs.com

wld1783 · 04/18/2010, 02:20 PM

+1 on Cree LEDs.

Their XRE Cool White and Royal Blue make the perfect combination.

I just ditched all my MH lighting and replaced them with DIY LEDs.

The payback is 3-5 years depending on if you run a chiller.

The rule of thumb is 48 Cree XRE LEDs is equal to a 400 watt MH. The cavaet is the spread. I really like the 70-80 degree optics designed for the Cree XRE on a star. As far as heatsinks the bigger the better. Another rule of thumb is if you cant hold the fixture tight its too hot.

A lot of online vendors are popping up as this is the future of reef lights.

Google or Bing Reef LED Lights and you will get a bunch

Here is a pic of my 144 LED fixture that replaced 5 MH bulbs the LEDs are the 3W Cree XRE.

I added the T5s to tweak the colour

Bill

04/17/2010, 06:37 PM	#1
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	Led's vs led's I am looking at replacing all my lighting on my tanks with LED's and if i buy fixtures it would cost several thousand dollars. So I am considering building my own setups but i have no experience with LED's at all. What is the difference from one type vs another. I see led lighting all over the place now and I am wondering what the difference is? Such as the led's on stars from bulk led stores and led's in light bulbs, flash lights, rope lighting, xmas lighting....and so on....??? thanks for the info. __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 06:57 PM	#2
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	also what the diff. between the stars with one led and three??? How about different wattage of LED's. Which one is the best for out hobby? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 07:12 PM	#3
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	The ones you are looking for are cree LED bulbs. It will be cheaper but will still cost about 30-40% of what you would have spent for a commercial fixture. __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

04/17/2010, 07:16 PM	#4
JTL Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Venice Island, FL Posts: 2,532	Check out the PAR 38 forum for a little different way to use LED's. __________________ John 100 gallon DT and 50 gallon sump with refugium. Reefbreeders Photon V2+.

04/17/2010, 07:46 PM	#5
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	I am starting to wonder if its even worth building my own??? So many variables in building your own fixture and not having much experience with doing this I would hate to waist half of what it would cost to buy a the fixtures i want! __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 07:47 PM	#6
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	still wondering what the diff. is between LED's __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 08:19 PM	#8
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	so which is better a 3watt led or same kind in a 30watt??? If the 30 then why are all these fixtures using smaller??? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 08:26 PM	#9
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	do i want a lux meter or par meter......whats the diff. and do they measure under water?where do you buy one? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 09:28 PM	#10
celamb89 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Live in Mexico, from AustinTX Posts: 869	If ur up to it you should try to build your LED fixture or buy one. They consume way less electricity than a regular T5 or MH fixture. I was planning on one but they're way out of my price range so went with T5, I guess when the prices are right Ill go for it. Cant really answer your questions but I believe 5watt and 30 watt LED's are both used in fixtures.

04/17/2010, 09:52 PM	#11
EleganceMan Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fargo, North Dakota Posts: 1,611	the two i am looking at buying have either 1watt or 3watt led's.....but i have no clue which would be better.....im sure one would be better for growth, one better for longevity and energy costs but with these things being so new who really knows???? __________________ Trade Corals!!!!!! Current Tank Info: 160 gallon reef

04/17/2010, 10:03 PM	#12
nikon187 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Edmonton Alberta Posts: 4,717	the 1w ones are usually used as moonlights, not for growing coral __________________ ----------------- Current Tanks: New 210 custom 84 x 24 x 24, 60g sump, SWC 250 extreme with bubble blaster 5000, 2 vortech mp40, 2 vortech mp10, 12 T5, Water blaster 5000, warner marine bio pellets, 60g clownfish cube, red carpet anemone with a 25g sump,SRO octopus 1000sss, 250w radium, lumenarc large.

04/18/2010, 06:39 AM	#13
Anemonebuff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: LI,NY Posts: 3,877	Ecoxotic uses 1 watt leds in the retrofits. They are strong enough to maintain lower light SPS, LPS, and softies. If only they used optics to make them stronger.

04/18/2010, 07:25 AM	#14
ForSaleByAndy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Livonia, MI Posts: 128	Do a forum search on this -- there are TONS of really good build threads that will save you a ton of time

04/18/2010, 11:44 AM	#15
unttrmptplyr Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Agyle, Texas Posts: 9	http://www.StevesLEDs.com

04/18/2010, 02:20 PM	#16
wld1783 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Park Ridge Posts: 2,232	+1 on Cree LEDs. Their XRE Cool White and Royal Blue make the perfect combination. I just ditched all my MH lighting and replaced them with DIY LEDs. The payback is 3-5 years depending on if you run a chiller. The rule of thumb is 48 Cree XRE LEDs is equal to a 400 watt MH. The cavaet is the spread. I really like the 70-80 degree optics designed for the Cree XRE on a star. As far as heatsinks the bigger the better. Another rule of thumb is if you cant hold the fixture tight its too hot. A lot of online vendors are popping up as this is the future of reef lights. Google or Bing Reef LED Lights and you will get a bunch Here is a pic of my 144 LED fixture that replaced 5 MH bulbs the LEDs are the 3W Cree XRE. I added the T5s to tweak the colour Bill __________________ NKAWTG Current Tank Info: 570 Soft/LPS, 330SPS & 440 refug