10G LED hood retro fit

adrian64 · 02/07/2011, 08:36 PM

hey all.

Im trying to figure out my current project of retro fitting a LED kit with cree leds. So far i have everything i need including 6 CREE XP-G R5 cool white with 65 degree lens and 6 CREE XR-E royal blue with 60 degree lens.

I must admit that i purchased the kit before thinking it all out so i have a few questions. So first, would 12 leds(50/50) be enough to light my 10G standard tank with the possibility of supporting some sps coral? second, i have a 1"x 18" heatsink so i can run them in a line, would two "clusters" on both sides of the tank be better perhaps for light distrubution or would the linear model work? and lastly, the leds are going to be around 4" from the water surface, would i require the use of my lenses?

sorry for the flood of questions and thx for any help!

NanoReefWanabe · 02/07/2011, 09:10 PM

more then enough light for SPS, you will likely want dimmable drivers...i assume you mean 10x18 heatsink? for even coverage i would just alternate the LED's in a linear fashion down the heat sink...your optics will be fine but at 4" you might get some spot lighting effect...if you are going to retro them into a hood i would go without the optics...

adrian64 · 02/07/2011, 09:43 PM

thanks for the reply! the heat sink is a 1"x 18", looks a bit like a piece of square tube but with the cooling fins attached and all.. I was thinking of having the leds arranged in a straight line down the centerline of the tank as you said.

alexwbush · 02/08/2011, 01:35 AM

getting along for the build... any dangers in running LEDs without optics? I'm thinking about retroing some into a 12g nanocube hood.

adrian64 · 02/08/2011, 11:27 AM

Hey, thanks for posting.

As far as I know the only dangers with not running any optics is the exposure to the saltwater and such.

I am currently contemplating just building a new hood with the LEDs 6-8 inches above the water. Just wondering about light distribution.. 6-8" and I can run the 60 and 65 degree optics.

NanoReefWanabe · 02/08/2011, 06:05 PM

even with optics they will still get exposed to saltspray...they is no danger running the LED's without optics..the light just isnt as focused...now that i think about it 80* or nothing would likely be suitable for your tank...i dont think a single line of leds would work well...you should have two rows...to better disperse the light...

02/07/2011, 08:36 PM	#1
adrian64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5	10G LED hood retro fit hey all. Im trying to figure out my current project of retro fitting a LED kit with cree leds. So far i have everything i need including 6 CREE XP-G R5 cool white with 65 degree lens and 6 CREE XR-E royal blue with 60 degree lens. I must admit that i purchased the kit before thinking it all out so i have a few questions. So first, would 12 leds(50/50) be enough to light my 10G standard tank with the possibility of supporting some sps coral? second, i have a 1"x 18" heatsink so i can run them in a line, would two "clusters" on both sides of the tank be better perhaps for light distrubution or would the linear model work? and lastly, the leds are going to be around 4" from the water surface, would i require the use of my lenses? sorry for the flood of questions and thx for any help!

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02/07/2011, 09:10 PM	#2
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	more then enough light for SPS, you will likely want dimmable drivers...i assume you mean 10x18 heatsink? for even coverage i would just alternate the LED's in a linear fashion down the heat sink...your optics will be fine but at 4" you might get some spot lighting effect...if you are going to retro them into a hood i would go without the optics...

02/07/2011, 09:43 PM	#3
adrian64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5	thanks for the reply! the heat sink is a 1"x 18", looks a bit like a piece of square tube but with the cooling fins attached and all.. I was thinking of having the leds arranged in a straight line down the centerline of the tank as you said.

02/08/2011, 01:35 AM	#4
alexwbush Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 453	getting along for the build... any dangers in running LEDs without optics? I'm thinking about retroing some into a 12g nanocube hood.

02/08/2011, 11:27 AM	#5
adrian64 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Posts: 5	Hey, thanks for posting. As far as I know the only dangers with not running any optics is the exposure to the saltwater and such. I am currently contemplating just building a new hood with the LEDs 6-8 inches above the water. Just wondering about light distribution.. 6-8" and I can run the 60 and 65 degree optics.

02/08/2011, 06:05 PM	#6
NanoReefWanabe Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Barrie, Ontario, Canada Posts: 6,639	even with optics they will still get exposed to saltspray...they is no danger running the LED's without optics..the light just isnt as focused...now that i think about it 80* or nothing would likely be suitable for your tank...i dont think a single line of leds would work well...you should have two rows...to better disperse the light...