DIY LED redo - Advice Needed

[Jim]

I have a 36" x 24" x 24" 90G SPS tank that is currently lit by 30 CREE XR-E CW and 30 CREE XR-E RB. I have the LEDs divided on two heatsinks, one has 18 RBs and 18 CWs the other has 12 RBs and 12 CWs all on non-dimmable drivers. They are both mounted around 8" - 10" off the water with 60 degree optics. I have never been entirely happy with the spread of light or the actual appearance of the fixtures, but my main complaint is the color of the light and the coral. I have great growth, but I am not entirely satisfied with the CW + RB combo, which seems to be a common complaint. After reading the big LED aesthetics thread I

Edited September 17, 2011 by Jim

[basser9]

Check out the specs on the 2 best mh lights we have and you will see the missing 360 to 445nm area.

The chinese led are around just add some violet/uv inbetween your led plans.

The small red peaks are easy to replicate but not with to much green/yellow light.

Most people dont realize that the 370 to 460nm is where most of your corals get the colors from long term.

Adding a few higher powered white[ran to 3ml] leds that you can adjust to add brightness to the tank are a must.

Edited September 17, 2011 by basser9

[paul b]

I don't think it will work very well without optics. I put mine over the tank without the optics and the light was all over the place but not where I wanted it.

Your design looks similar to mine except I added 2 fans in the midlle of the aluminum tubes. The temperature of the interior of the tubes is only 2 degrees higheer than the surrounding air.

The fans draw air through the 3 tubes. I used 18 white and 18 royal blue 3 watt LEDs.

My reef is 6' long and there is no problem growing SPS

 

 

The fixture is on counterweighted pulleys so it can be raised a foot just by touching it as it is here

Edited September 17, 2011 by paul b

[Guest thefishman65]

I was thinking it sounded good also. If you want to save (hopefully) a few dollars I am starting a group buy.

 

Since most people like a bluer tank consider running each string of blue on its own driver and the whites in parallel.

 

 

[Jim]

I don't think it will work very well without optics. I put mine over the tank without the optics and the light was all over the place but not where I wanted it.

Your design looks similar to mine except I added 2 fans in the midlle of the aluminum tubes. The temperature of the interior of the tubes is only 2 degrees higheer than the surrounding air.

The fans draw air through the 3 tubes. I used 18 white and 18 royal blue 3 watt LEDs.

My reef is 6' long and there is no problem growing SPS

 

The fixture is on counterweighted pulleys so it can be raised a foot just by touching it as it is here

 

Paul, how high above the water do you normally hang your light?

[Jim]

Check out the specs on the 2 best mh lights we have and you will see the missing 360 to 445nm area.

The chinese led are around just add some violet/uv inbetween your led plans.

The small red peaks are easy to replicate but not with to much green/yellow light.

Most people dont realize that the 370 to 460nm is where most of your corals get the colors from long term.

Adding a few higher powered white[ran to 3ml] leds that you can adjust to add brightness to the tank are a must.

 

Basser, do you have a source for the violet LEDs. I've searched a bit, but have been unsuccessful so far.

Edited September 17, 2011 by Jim

[dakotasreef]

Brightledlights.com carries some 1w violet leds.

[basser9]

http://www.satistron...ting_p2773.html

 

This one has a nice purple tint to it.

 

 

http://www.satisled....405nm_p285.html

 

blacklight you wont see this but long term colors from this.

 

 

 

http://www.satisled....60nm_p479.html.

 

some of the 450nm batches are very purple.

 

http://www.diytrade....wer_LED_UV.html

 

 

ask for a sample .....420 and 440 are the areas missing in led setups

there are chinese manufacters that make them you have to check around.

Ask them for samples .

Edited September 19, 2011 by basser9