LED Question

[colin779]

Was just browsing around and looking through the tons of options for LED lighting. Everywhere i look i keep seeing these Ecoxotic PAR38 LED screw in lamps. How are these things and what depth of tank would they be good for? I have a 90 gallon tank. I'm mostly looking because my second icecap halide ballast is probably going to fail soon and i'd rather not spend the money keeping MH lighting, even if i only do half the tank to start.

 

[senji]

oceans by design has an afordable 75 led 6 pod 3w. 220 watt total i belive. im getting 2 for my 90g.

 

[josh88]

Any word on the cost of one of these?

HTC EVO

 

[Katchupoy]

Colin, to your original question. I have seen these in action thru Aquanut. She uses two actually and these punch thru the depth of the tank. Since they are using a very narrow reflector/lens. I believe she got it from Barrier Reef. The problem with these, is that they are like spotlights, so you will need a few of these to cover a wider area. They are really plug and play, and if you dont have time to do DIY, this might be an alternative since you just buy it and use it.

Having said that, I just ordered a few 10w leds and drivers. And they are also very powerful and cheaper alternative but you have to do it and wait for the 2 week delivery from Hong Kong.

So like Senji said, there are also ready mades like the PAR38s that you can buy. You should ask mojoreef for the price about these lights. I have seen them in action, and the par is way up there. Actually is a little scary because you have to be careful not to burn your corals with these. Also I have the chance to disect these lights to compare it with my DIY cree leds.... and they are the same HP CREE emitters too, except for some 420nm ones.

Hope this helps.

 

[Katchupoy]

Btw, Colin, WELCOME, WELCOME, WELCOME....

Here is the link for my DIY LED build thread

 

[colin779]

Very helpful! Thanks for the replies. That was my concern with those was they only had a 40 degree lens on them, on a 90 that's probably at a minimum 2 per side, maybe 3 for the right coverage? I was looking at the rapid led sight and looked up a retrofit kit for a 90 gallon tank that they sell. would be just over the cost of buying 4 of those lamps i was looking at, but i can't seem to tell if the kit comes with everything that i would need? I will read your thread in its entirety tonight, just did the skim through so far.

Standard 90g Tank Dimmable Kit - Rapid LED

 

[Katchupoy]

It looks good Colin.

 

[colin779]

That thread was a very good read, thanks for the link and taking the time to post the build =) Hopefully my ballast lasts a while, i would rather not spend the money right now, especially since i just had to buy a new lumatek ballast to replace the other one that failed a few months ago. I guess i cold probably get my money back out of that though, its one of the ones that does 150w, 175w, 250w, and hqi lamps.

 

[Airphotog]

Very helpful! Thanks for the replies. That was my concern with those was they only had a 40 degree lens on them, on a 90 that's probably at a minimum 2 per side, maybe 3 for the right coverage? I was looking at the rapid led sight and looked up a retrofit kit for a 90 gallon tank that they sell. would be just over the cost of buying 4 of those lamps i was looking at, but i can't seem to tell if the kit comes with everything that i would need? I will read your thread in its entirety tonight, just did the skim through so far.

Standard 90g Tank Dimmable Kit - Rapid LED

Colin you will need heatsinks (heatsinksusa) and 2 of these.
DDC-01 PWM Controller - Rapid LED

 

[colin779]

It comes with two 6x20 heat sinks, I looked at that controller but I was thinking of going with a more simple setup with potentiometers. I think it was a $30 addon to get a pre done setup. Is a controller like that better?

 

[Katchupoy]

the potentiometers can be used now and then adapt to controller later. Research on Boostled, Typhon, and Dim4... or mine lol....


Another options is going this way???
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSPnDY557AA

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58065777@N04/6967581359/lightbox/

and

http://www.flickr.com/photos/58065777@N04/6967581835/lightbox/

 

[colin779]

Wow, that's pretty cool. I kind of want to buy one of those heatsinks just to have because it looks so awesome.

 

[senji]

just picked up 2 led units from oceans by design and they will be going over my 90g today. look for the thread verry soon. and they are 369$ + tax. for the 6 pod and they offer a 4 pod for cheaper.

 

[colin779]

That may not be a bad deal, is there a website to look at them. How much less for the 4 pod version? I'm only looking at $500 to light the whole tank from rapid led. That's probably the top of my budget, especially since this wasn't really a planned expense.

 

[Katchupoy]

Senji, congrats, those are really powerful ones... perfect for your 90. Seen them in action.. just need to wear shades when working with them... congrats.

 

[colin779]

Those led's senji got look pretty cool. I think putting together my own lighting would be pretty cool to do also. Looks like I have some thinking to do. Mike with RapidLED was also very helpful in answering some more questions I had.