Project LED

[chromiumlux]

Very good!! Look forward to seeing the results with those fine corals you have.

[aquatic mouse]

Looks a lot brighter to me. Can't wait to see how the corals respond!

[chromiumlux]

The corals in that tank are gonna explode with growth!!!!!

[marinelife]

I think so the par jumped alot, hopefully the color stays the same :) I am really liking it!

[reeffiend]

Hey I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the cree XM-L led's. They are more powerful and efficient than the XP-G, I was wondering if you would get enough spread using that few led's? I have a 5ft 125 gallon mixed reef, and am trying to decide on a diy led upgrade. I found an artice with a diy build over a freshwater tank http://aquariums.seaspraydesigns.biz/my-75-gallon-tank/cree-xm-l-t6-diy-led-aquarium-light/cree-xm-l-diy-high-powered-led-aquarium-light/


(http://aquariums.seaspraydesigns.biz/my-75-gallon-tank/cree-xm-l-t6-diy-led-aquarium-light/cree-xm-l-diy-high-powered-led-aquarium-light/)

[marinelife]

on those you have to be picky, the cool whites have a color range of 8,300 – 5,000, you want closer to 8300 if you can. My XP-Gs are 7300 and they are yellow when on by themselves.

[reeffiend]

According to cree's website their XP-G's have the same 5000-8300 color range, so I'm not sure if that would be any more of an issue over using the xp-g's. I was more concerned with getting an even spread over my 5 foot tank with 15 white xm-l led's rather than the 30 whites that I was planning on using with xp-g's. Is using a wider lens going to provide an intense enough light from half the bulbs or am I wrong in that line of thinking? Right now I have a mixed reef, but plan on moving back into an sps dominated reef in the future. The other plus I was reading about the xm-l's is that you only need one driver where you would need 2 for the xp-g's simply because of the number of bulbs. I am just trying to get the best bang for my buck!
Thanks,
Mike

[marinelife]

Yeah the color temp is the same so you have to watch with both either way.

The more spread the less intense the light it.
On mine I went from 120degree built in reflectors to 60 degree optic and the par reading went up 200. I was growing and had great color on the no optic so you can get away with a wide lens.
I will have to look around and see if I can find some review on the xm-ls and see if anyone has then on their tanks.

[marinelife]

Just an update, The LEDs are still kicking butt. I love them, they have proven to be a great investment.

[marinelife]

in about a month and a half this will be 2 years old. I will update this more as we get closer to it.
:)

[marinelife]

After almost two years the LEDs are still kicking butt!!

http://saltgeek.com/375/images/led/1232012/DSC_0129.jpg

[rayviv]

Hey thats great. questions~

#1. How much do you have invested price wise in lights?

#2. What kind of savings percent wise in electric usage?

#3. And did you notice any creatures that seem to NOT do as well under leds?

Ray

[marinelife]

#1.
3 - 10.080 x 14" Heatsinks from heatsinkusa.com $180.07 shipped
I started with
4 sets of these:
12 x XP-G R5 Cool White LEDs
12 x XR-E Royal Blue LEDs
12 lenses for the XR-E LEDs - 60 degree
1 x LPC-35-700 driver for the XR-E's
1 x LPC-60-1050 driver for the XP-G's
2 Power Cords
4 Wire Nuts

$980 total for 96 LEDs and the drivers to run them.

other parts: about $50

Fans: $40 each

24 LEDs that I added later - $180

So around $1511 total for the 3 fixtures

If I was to purchase them now the price would be lower since LEDs have come way down.

#2.
I went from 1200 watt of MH lights down to 288 Watts then up to 360Watts after adding the last set of 24LEDs
My electric was usually $460 + over the summer. Last summer I never passed $300
Without the MHs I no longer have to run a chiller and I have not replaced a bulb in the almost 2 years. So the bulbs replacement alone I have saved atleast $720. I figure I am in the positive right now as far as cost of build, running them, etc version keeping the MHs

#3
I have not had any issues with any creatures. I did not over do it with LEDs like most people do. I started with a low amount and worked up to what I felt was the needed amount of light. The PAR readings are good and I can run my lights at 100% and not need to turn them down at all.
I was told to get 375-400 LEDs but felt that was nuts as it would not save much. If I would have gotten that many I think I would have killed everything from having to much light.

[Sunshine]

The savings in the electric bill is well worth it. It's just getting past that initial cost of the set up. We are looking at getting into the LED club this year.

[rayviv]

Thanks.

[rayviv]

The savings in the electric bill is well worth it. It's just getting past that initial cost of the set up. We are looking at getting into the LED club this year.

Agreed!!

[marinelife]

I think I may add a 1" bar that runs the length of the tank with 24 LEDs on it.
I may add 2 :) for a total of 48 more LEDs, one in the front and one in the back of the current fixtures.
Why would I do this when I have enough LEDs right now? This option would let me add the new colors.
They now have cyan, green, red and UV.
These bars would also allow me to cover more area front to back than I do now.

If this happens it maybe close to summer before it happens.

In other news we are coming up on 2 years for this project. So far its still going great!!!

[RN.......]

What was the price of the LEDs when you got them?

[marinelife]

my first 4 24 kits were $980 total vs the $720 it would be now!

[Trini 2D Bone]

Hey did you see the site lately?

[marinelife]

Rapid's site?
Yes I did, that is what is making me think to do this new project over the summer

[Trini 2D Bone]

Yeah me maybe 24

[Trini 2D Bone]

Yeah me too my be 24. It have some colors am missing.

[jjoos99]

Eric
I have the original 80deg optics on my setup from way back. After reading back a few pages I was wondering if I would benifit by switching over to the 65 deg's and if so do all of the leds both white and blues or just one color over the other. Right now I have 106 leds over my 180 with a 50/50 mix of whites and blues. I dont even remember which leds I have, when I first followed your lead with them they didnt really have much in the way of different leds available. Also what type of strip material are you thinking of adding? I have been kicking over the idea of increasing the amount of leds I have over my tank.
thanks
Jeff

[marinelife]

The lenses only matter for how much spread you want. I see nothing wrong with 80s
When I add more I will go for a wide spread for more coverage. Having a narrow spread increases your par and light output right under the LED.
If you configure the heatsink correctly you could have 60 in the middle and 80s on the edge.

At this time I am not sure what material I will use or which LEDs I will add. I am only adding more to get other colors to see what they do and get a little more coverage. I am very happy with my LEDs right now which is why the new ones will be an addon and not mounted to the heat sink ( I think, I could change my mind on that :) )

[marinelife]

Also on another note, This month marks 2 years since the purchase and build of my LEDs :) !!!!

[Eshyr]

LOL! So much for LEDS being new and untested :)

[dogfytr]

dont let him fool you his corals are made out of silicone

[marinelife]

That was a secret!!!

[jjoos99]

My led project is about 5 months behind you and I am still very happy with them. My 50/50 mix works good for me I would just like alittle bit more punch. I notice with my current 106 led setup several of my tricolors dont have the white stalks that I have seen on the same coral that is under a 400 watt halide tank. I am probably going to add another 36 and crowd them in with the existing heat sinks. I just need to pick out which ones I would want. What is the deal with the uv leds? pros and cons?
thanks
jeff

[marinelife]

looks like at the 2 year mark I have an issue.
One of the drivers is going crazy. Its causing the 12 leds to flash.
i will order a new driver tomorrow.
$20 and 5 minutes of my time and it will be fixed :)

[ghurlag]

Perfectly acceptable in my opinion.

[marinelife]

I care more about the LEDs then the driver :)
18 month warranty so I can get it fixed since I have a receipt for a few I purchased when I added more blues last year

[marinelife]

Driver came today. I replaced it in a matter of minutes and everything is working great again :)

[dogfytr]

good news

[aquatic mouse]

Glad to hear it was an easy fix!

[jjoos99]

Eric are you using dimmable drivers on a controller?
Jeff

[marinelife]

Nope I have not seen a real reason to go dimmable. I just use a timer.

[jjoos99]

I like it simple also. I dont know if I would be able to program all the controllers features to ramp up and down the strength at different times.
Jeff

[marinelife]

I am 2 years in and I have my first LED out. Its a white LED that I will now be replacing :(