LED Recommendation Thread

[wrxreefer823]

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/245887/product.web

36 inch kit for $120... not too bad. So I'll be spending around $1100 for the Sol package plus the t5 kit (I'd use the existing blue bulbs I already have, as they're only a month old or so). Didn't want to spend QUITE that much, but I'm sure I'd kick myself in the arse for not taking the plunge when I had the chance to as well.

I COULD go for the 24 inch kit, but the tank is 30" wide, and for the sake of tank upgrading, I don't mind the 3" overhang (I'm already dealing it now anyways!).

[SPotter]

i would get the 24" but get the fiji purple bulbs. using the blue will be redundant.

Steve

[wrxreefer823]

Thanks a lot for the advice. I'm going to bed as my brain is fried from researching reefing related junk all evening. :P

Thanks again!

[wrxreefer823]

So I've scrapped the idea of the AI Sols. I was doing more research and the Ecotech Radio can do with one unit, what the Sol can do with two. No brainer. Oh, and I made a booboo. My tank is only 22 inches deep... Silly me.

[SPotter]

The radions are nice and I believe the coverage on them is 30x30. What kind of canopy do you have? If its not enclosed and you end up having to hang it higher for better spread you find a lot of light spill into the rest of the room. I'm not sure what your budget is but you might want to check out the sfiligoi geneis led fixture. You can find it at aquaticselite.com. They are pricey but very good. They are making a custom unit for my new tank. Tim is great and very knowledgeable.

[wrxreefer823]

Thanks for the input... No I don't have a canopy, an I am aware of the light spill though...
I'm looking at the genesis, and it's certainly something to think about. Do they have the features of a radion? How about coverage?

[SPotter]

You can add the rgb but the don't offer storm simulation which is a waste imo. They make a t5/led fixture if you want to fo that route too. As far as coverage goes....you can customize the optics to play around with that. If you cut and paste the thread in my signature there's a link to a youtube video of one of their fixtures in demo mode.

My tank is going to be 72x36x28 and I went with a 10 module 60" unit. Call or email Tim with questions. The service he provided was part of the reason I went with that fixture.

[wrxreefer823]

So I've got my lighting narrowed down to two choices. I want to go with either the AI Sol Super Blue, or the Ecotech Radion (I'm definitely on the fence here... lol) If I go with the Sol, I'll need two, but if I decide on the Radion, I could get away with one. Once I factor in the costs for the mounting kit, controller (for the Sol), and other junk I'd need, the cost will be about the same. I'm leaning towards the Radion for the simple fact that it, in my opinion, has more features, and I wouldn't need to supplement with T5's for a complete spectrum. Any thoughts/personal experience with these models?

[fns]

Has anyone seen the XT-E blues? They have them on LED group buy. I might use those instead of the XP-E's. They seem a little better. I have also decided on a 180 rather than a 210, so it will be a 24" tall tank.

Also, I wanted to do a parallel set up. Are there any good tips or drawings on how to balance the strings? I want to make sure all my ducks are in a row before I decide to do it.

One more question. When i move, i plan on setting up my 40br in the new house with LED's that I can later use on my frag tank thats a 24X24X10H. What size heatsink would be ideal for this, and how man LED's would make SPS thrive?

Thanks guys!

[TheFishMan65]

Checkout (Another) LED Build or something like that. I think it has some good parallel diagrams.

I would use 1 inch strips like Rapid sells and then you can move them for the new tank.

[fns]

I am planning a 40br. I have 2 ELN-60-48D's, and was thinking of doing one with 12 XP-G whites in a series run at the max mA the driver can put out, and 24 XT-E royal blues in a parallel with 2 strings. Would this be sufficient light spread over the tank? The dimensions of the tank are 36" X 18" X 16" tall. I wanted to have 80 degree optics on them, and mounted about 12" off the surface. Would that be too blue or not enough light?

My other option would be doing a total of 48 LEDs running both drivers parallel. I wanted 28 blues, and 20 whites. One driver would have 24 blues, and the other I would do 16 whites, and have 2 XT-E's on each string on the prodominantly white driver. Is there anything wrong with having the 4 blues on the white driver as long as I had an equal amount on each parallel string? They won't exceed their max amperage either.

Thanks!

[Guillaume]

Good Thread!
Searching for a good unit too, at a good price and upgradable. But I think there is unclear information here about Radion doing with one unit what AI Sol Blue does with two. Let's keep appart the spectrum which is clear that the Radion having more LED types seams better.

But PAR and coverage wise, this is what I see:
- PAR: AI Sol over 24 inches is more powerfull
- Coverage: taking 50 PAR in consideration, both unit cover about 30X30.

I'm taking my information from Sanjay Joshi's latest tests here:
Radion:http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012/1/aafeature or
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2012...jpg/image_full
AI Sol:http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010/5/aafeature2 or
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2010.../image_preview

wrxreefer823 could you explain how you think AI needs two to equal one Radion. Maybe it could help my choice.
Thanks !!

[gmate]

I've got a 55g corner bowfront tank. The footprint is small (30x30) and I believe that I could get away with a 24inch fixture with a good amount of LEDs. I'd like to replace my 36" t5 fixture (which is bigger than the tank and hangs over it).

Any suggestions on a DIY build? I've been thumbing over the chinese LED lights thread, and there are some nice options there. I do want 2w or 3w LEDs with the availability to DIM (maybe I don't need a driver just yet but would like expansion options if needed). My budget is in the 200 dollar range.

[RCERNA280]

Hello LED guru. I'm in the process of upgrading to an LED setup from my 36" T5 x6 bulbs. My tank is the 57 illuminata, with the l36 x w18 x h21 dimension. any suggestions on color combinations? I'm planning on ordering from rapid led and can't decide which iodized heatsink to use, either (2)6"x9" that can hold 24 LEDs each or will I be ok with just (1)9"x20" that can hold up to 36 LEDs. My set up has most rocks are stacked in the middle which is where the corals are gonna go. I don't mind having a little shade on each side of the tank but will it be enough? Thanks!

[oldpunk]

Please forgive my crude diagram

RB - royal blue (3w)
B - blue (3w)
CW - cool white (5w)
NW - neutral white (5w)
Osram 660nm - red (3w)

All LEDs are crees with the exception of the osrams.

The whites will be on one driver (@ 1750mA max - dimmable)

The blues and reds on another (@ 900mA max - dimmable)

How should this work out for a 23x9x13 foot print?

[DaveMorris]

Interesting thread for sure...

I am trying to figure out how to light a tank that is 96"L x 24"W x 30"T. I currently use four 250w Halides augmented by two 48" T5 actinics. I am simply looking to reduce the heat in the tank and the electric bill. Any suggestions? I am certainly open to DIY ideas, but it is somewhat confusing to me at all of the different options, kits, etc.

[reefermad619]

I would say start with a DIY kit and replace 2 halides at a time. With the right bins of crees, 24, 3 watt LEDs should be about equal to a 250 watt halid. DIY is always the cheapest bet. I know lots of folks are going nuts for the chinesse box LEDs where we're from
(I'm unbereefable on sdreefs), but you can easily blow their par #s out of the water (haha!) with a DIY 24 led fixture. And will probably use less wattage too. I personally like rapidled. But there are other companies out there. I like rapid because I scored big time on their black Friday sale. Probably won't be a good sale like that til next black Friday.

[oldpunk]

Originally Posted by oldpunk

Please forgive my crude diagram

RB - royal blue (3w)
B - blue (3w)
CW - cool white (5w)
NW - neutral white (5w)
Osram 660nm - red (3w)

All LEDs are crees with the exception of the osrams.

The whites will be on one driver (@ 1750mA max - dimmable)

The blues and reds on another (@ 900mA max - dimmable)

How should this work out for a 23x9x13 foot print?

Bump!

[reefermad619]

For above... I know most like to run a 2:1 of RB:W, but I've seen some builds where the went 4:1 RB:W using the xmls. They few builds I've seen with XML, the builders thought the XML were way brighter than regular xpgs. Which is what most folks use when running 2:1.

[squbg]

i have a 90 bow and desperately need new lights.....
I just about convinced myself to spend the $900 for 2 AIs with controller
but now i see all these new Chinese 3w set ups? is it just all hype?
any other suggestions that compete with the AI but for less $$

[reefermad619]

Can you DIY?

[squbg]

i can but prefer not to
also looking at 2 eshines 3x48 or 1 3x60

[orionsmamma]

I want to pick up a rapid led diy 12 kit to put over a 10 gal nano with plans to keep lps and possibly a clam down the road. What colors should I choose!? The more I read the more confused I am. I do like some blue in my tank, but i dont want a blue tank. Seems like most reccomend a great deal of blue bulbs, and I probably am not understanding something but I dont want a gowing blue tank. Any help is appreciated!

[nanoreefer1000]

3 NW
5 RB
1 DR
1 CB
1 TV
Usually you want a 2:1 ratio of RB to NW or a 2:3 ratio. DR, CB, and TV add to the spectrum, par amount, and PUR amount