Rosco's Reefs March 21, 2012 Share March 21, 2012 Found a link on another list and wondered if anyone here has any experience with them. I would appreciate if somebody with experience building these things would take alook and let us know. They look inexpensive but must be something I'm missing. Thx in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dakotasreef March 21, 2012 Share March 21, 2012 I have a friend who purchased them and had someone build him a fixture. I have heard mixed reviews on build quality and output quality. I believe they have their place in the hobby, depending on your application. Personally having used Crees, I don't know of I would use them. But there are people who have used them with great success. Just do a google search on reviews of them and you could get a better spread of reviews. Project Phoenix in progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.eclipse March 21, 2012 Share March 21, 2012 this should help http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=289940 i plan to place an order with them with weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Weaver March 22, 2012 Share March 22, 2012 I bought the $99 36-LED kit for my frag tank and am very satisfied so far, but it's only been 2 weeks... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oprah Wrangler March 22, 2012 Share March 22, 2012 The reviews I have read about these leds are astounding. I think I might give them a try as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smallreef March 23, 2012 Share March 23, 2012 and it was a complete kit? heatsinks, silicone grease and wiring?? hhrrmmm might be a good option for my cube... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Weaver March 23, 2012 Share March 23, 2012 (edited) The kit I bought included everything but the heat sinks, but I had one already. I think their 24 LED kit for the same price includes heat sinks. The drivers that come with the dimmable kit are not controllable, only dimmable with a potentiometer, which is included as well, but you can opt for the Mean Well drivers at an added cost. By the way, the kit comes with "heatsink plaster" which is a thermal glue. If you want to screw the LED's to the heat sink, you will have to get thermal compound from radio shack to make the LED's removable. Edited March 23, 2012 by Marc Weaver Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Puckstable March 26, 2012 Share March 26, 2012 Hey Marc, what ratio of blue:white did you use for your application? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Weaver March 26, 2012 Share March 26, 2012 I used 15 white and 14 blue. After these pictures were taken, I also added in 3 Cree violet UV to see what they do. The coral coloration I am getting is similar to my 20k reeflux halides on my main tank, but there are tons of ratios available because the whites and blues are independently dimmable. I'm not sure about SPS growth yet, I filled it with frags last weekend but the colonies were only in there temporarily and I already transferred them to the display tank. The pink paly's in the right corner are growing like mad though. I have seen some growth on the largest brown stag(I guess that's what it is) on the top shelf already, but it did not go through shipping as it was a transplant from the main tank. I'll keep this thread updated when I see some growth as I am tracking it for myself. Marc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonbro6956 March 31, 2012 Share March 31, 2012 I bought their 24 LED kit a month ago for my 25 gallon and it came with everything. I wouldn't waste the money on dimmable drivers as I run them both at 100% (50/50 white and blue). Also, the included fan is very weak. I ended up using an extra PC case fan I had around. So far everything in the tank loves the extra light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Puckstable June 20, 2012 Share June 20, 2012 I just purchased the 36 dimmable kit. I'm suppose to get it tomorrow, which means shipping only took 4 days. I plan on making a thread on the build. Coming soon... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco's Reefs June 21, 2012 Author Share June 21, 2012 I continue to hear good things since asking this question. My current worry is "how much is enough?" I have a 75g and want a fixture that will fully cover it. Is that the 36 bulb? The 72? Thx in advance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Puckstable June 21, 2012 Share June 21, 2012 Yeah, I got the 36 led kit. I paid $127 shipped. No heat sinks, I'm making my own. I'm putting this on top if my 55g L (18 per side, 50/50 RB/10k). You can come check it out once it's up and running. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marc Weaver June 21, 2012 Share June 21, 2012 I'd definitely go 72. I upgraded my frag tank since I originally installed 30 of these LED's from a 20 long to a 40 breeder, and the lighting does not cover the whole tank. It's good enough for a frag tank, but not for a display. I don't think 36 will be enough for a 75 gallon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Origami June 21, 2012 Share June 21, 2012 I bought a 24-LED and 12-LED, non-dimmable kits to give them a try. Definitely go with the Meanwell drivers. The Maxwellen's are unreliable. Of the three that I received, one died within two or three weeks. China's too far to go for a replacement, so I ordered a Meanwell replacement from another source. Great kits, though. Everything you need for an easy build is included. An easy way to get familiar with DIY LED building. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linkfalcon August 5, 2012 Share August 5, 2012 what should i order for my 120 tall 60 in long tank thanks wanna grow soft corals Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny August 5, 2012 Share August 5, 2012 I got the 75 kit six months ago. Its bright, and the dimmer/resistor is not very linear. Optics are plastic/kinda ugly (but then again the whole DIY is rarely good looking). I bought a few other ones to test out and in terms of price/performance/ease I would go with the multichip approach if you still want to do the Diy. However considering it costs only 175 bucks for a 140w commercial one, I wouldn't do it again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosco's Reefs August 6, 2012 Author Share August 6, 2012 the multichip approach What does this mean? Anyone know? Thx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manny August 7, 2012 Share August 7, 2012 i mean its one big SMD chip about 2 inch square with a bunch of integrated 1 or 3 w ones in a matrix. You can get cw/rb combos and the amount of wiring is much less and not as messy. There is a thread here a month or two back I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donnievaz August 7, 2012 Share August 7, 2012 By the way, the kit comes with "heatsink plaster" which is a thermal glue. If you want to screw the LED's to the heat sink, you will have to get thermal compound from radio shack to make the LED's removable. I bought a 90 LED kit that a guy started messing with and gave up. I easily removed and reused the LEDs from the heat sink. Just get under there with a putty knife and they pop right off. I re-"plastered" them with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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