DIY LED Build

[lpsouth1978@msn.com]

I know I am a little late since I already have this light done and did not take pics while working on it, but I just finished another LED build. This one was just a test to see if this would be an affordable and effective way of lighting our 300G tank. I used a 24" Odyssea halide/t5 fixture and guted everything out except the nighttime blue LED's. I then bought all of my LED's drivers, heatsinks (for the T5 replacement), and lenses from RapidLED. I ordered a larger heatsink from heatsinkusa.com for the multichip LED.

I chose to get the Storm X LED controller so that I could controll the LED's. This allows me to control sunrise/sunset, clouds, lightning, even Lunar cycles without having a reef controller. I have 6 different channels that can be dimmed and controlled individually. They include, Royal Blue actinics x 2, Whites, Blues, UV, and colors. I also bought temperature controlled fans to replace the stock fan that came with the fixture. Here is a list and links to everything I used:

1.4" anodized heatsink, 18", drilled/tapped x 2
http://www.rapidled.com/drilled-tapped-1-4-x-18-aluminum-heatsink/

Aurora Multichip LED - Red, green, red-orange, UV, Blue, and Royal chips
http://www.rapidled.com/aurora-puck/

Cree XT-E Royal Blue solderless LED's x 20
http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-cree-xt-e-royal-blue-led/

Cree XP-E Blue solderless LED's x 2
http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-cree-xp-e-blue-led/

Cree XP-G2 Cool White solderless LED's x 4
http://www.rapidled.com/solderless-cree-xp-g2-cool-white-led/

Meanwell LDD-700HW Drivers x 2
http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-ldd-700hw-dimmable-driver/

Meanwell LDD-1000HW Drivers x 4
http://www.rapidled.com/mean-well-ldd-1000hw-dimmable-driver/

Coralux Storm X LED Controller
http://www.rapidled.com/coralux-storm-x-led-controller/

Odyssea Halide/T5 fixture
http://www.aquatraders.com/24in-Metal-Halide-HQI-T5-Aquarium-Light-p/54261.htm

4.9"x10" heatsink
http://www.heatsinkusa.com/4-900-wide-extruded-aluminum-heatsink/

Temperature Controlled fans
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835426009&cm_re=gelid-_-35-426-009-_-Product

I got all of the other wires and cables from RapidLED. I also got a couple of 24V AC adapters and 2.1mmx5.5mm panel mount plugs and attached them to the fixture where the power cables for the halide and T5 used to be. In the end this build ended up costing me about $650 to build. Not bad for a quality, dimmable and controllable fixture with 47 Cree 3W LED's and controller, but not economical enough to use over the 300G. Still looking at other options.

Here is the completed fixture (The lights are on in a couple of pictures, but they are turned way down so you can kind of see the LED's):

 

[SynDen]

OOO that is sexy lookin, looks store bought, very nice. I been thinkin of doing my own leds for my big tank too, but been a bit intimidated by it. Thanks for the supply list, thats very helpful. What makes it not work for the 300?

 

[lpsouth1978@msn.com]

OOO that is sexy lookin, looks store bought, very nice. I been thinkin of doing my own leds for my big tank too, but been a bit intimidated by it. Thanks for the supply list, thats very helpful. What makes it not work for the 300?

The cost. We are now looking at getting 6 Onyx fixtures from RapidLED. They are only $300/ea so about $1800 total. It would cost me nearly double that to build these for the tank.

 

[SynDen]

ya Im thinking of doing 4 onyx and some t12s over my 300+ tank once i get it built, those fixture pretty awesome from what i seen and priced right

 

[lpsouth1978@msn.com]

Agreed, they seem to be the best bang for your buck.

 

[zombie]

The cost. We are now looking at getting 6 Onyx fixtures from RapidLED. They are only $300/ea so about $1800 total. It would cost me nearly double that to build these for the tank.

Youre forgetting the discount. 1440 plus the cost of any controller for them.

 

[lpsouth1978@msn.com]

Youre forgetting the discount. 1440 plus the cost of any controller for them.

I am going to call them tomorrow. We are considering doing 9 Onyx to get better coverage, we will likely not run them at full power,but will cover more area. They only offered me 10% off for 6 of them. Now I am hearing people got 20% off for fewer. I am going to see if they will give me a bigger discount on 9. If they will give me 20% we will likely go that route.