I agree with that as well. but you also have to think about other companies making aftermarket products for one fixture. this is a broad (VERY broad) example but look at all of the different MH and T5 bulbs available to the consumer. The quality of the bulbs are all over the map too. I expect as more fixtures are available more companies will come out with fixtures or replacement part which will cater to people different price points.

like you said the fixtures will only change over the next period of time while the people and companies settle on (by sales) a system that works for everyone.

I have been trying to hold out on adopting LED's for that reason but i do like the results i have seen so far with them and i am a sucker for the technology in them. i wish dimmable t5's and Mh made a bigger splash in the market.

Thanks to the people that have showed some photos with LED setups. Great post Lampshade!

Some are Pro LED, Some are Dead against it and some are sitting on the fence.

It reminds me when I had seen tanks 20 years ago with Canister filters like Fluval, Mag Drive and Hot mags for filters... it was skimmer what?? Back then... Granted there were some skimmers out there but it was like finding a hens tooth... kind of like the LED right now.

No one really knows if they are the cats ass yet.

I would just remind some people forget the cost of them... Everyone keeps going back to the 2-$3k LED setups. I said it before Vertex has a setup for about $500 coming out for tanks up too 6'. the 4' bar is the $500 range. Now the lighting cost is coming with-in reason. No fancy controller but nor does a MH of any kind. If you have something that does have this fancy controller can you show me this thing?? I'm sure it would popular.

LED
 

I am just getting my system going and wanted to go with an LED system... this is what i have no water, live rock, ect... yet

they look nice an bright and with the multi controler i have them on for sunrise/sunset and moon light.

Attachment 7228

Attachment 7229

I will hopefully have something to add in about a month or so.....stay tuned will be doing a full review of the setup...

My sediments exactly. I think there is great future for LED but I'll let others be the guinea pigs. When I start seeing TOTMs using LED for years, and the economics make sense....I will make the switch.

BTW....I cant believe I read this whole thread...I was expecting to see way more pictures. Im a picture book kind of guy..haha.

Interesting discussion, not so many photos :cry:

I'm new to this hobby and have just set up my tank using AI LED modules.
My thoughts:
1) the assertion that this technology is unproven for growing coral seems false to me. A little time spent on RC or some European forums will show a number of tanks that have been using LEDs successfully for years. Just because you haven't physically seen one with your own eyes doens't mean they don't exist.
Sanjay Joshi has also published some PAR readings from some fixtures, and the numbers seem comparable to traditional technologies.
2) Economy - yes at this point the quality fixtures are expensive, and as has been discussed here a number of different ways, they may or may not be more economical in the long run. But the reality is that today, cost does not appear to be rational reason to invest in LEDs.
3) Aesthetics - in designing my tank, I was aiming for a sleek, modern look, and MH simply are not a good option for those, without getting into the very expensive European fixtures. At that price point, there is no difference with the cost of quality LED fixtures.
Having said this, I currently have my modules mounted on the AI rails, which are admittedly ugly. I will remedy this at some point.
4)Efficiency - what has not been mentioned in this thread, outside of cost, is that LEDs are more efficient. In short, they are a greener solution, and that matters to me. In this same vein, what has not been mentioned is that LEDs are often run below their maximum capability, so when doing the cost/usage math, this should be factored in.
5) Coverage - my particular system does have a spotlighting effect currently, but that can be dealt with. I am planning on adding a third module, and raising them all higher from the water to give greater spread. The AI units come with 40 degree optics for the middle four pucks, but 70 degree optics are available if I prefer those.

And lastly a photo. Obviously this tank is very new as the bright white rocks will attest, but I'll post updates as the tank matures.

http://i635.photobucket.com/albums/u...221Mar2011.jpg

Brad,

Did you ever figure out how to wire a fan with the driver? I've been trying to figure this out too, as I dont see a point of having a separate power brick just to run the fan.

It would be great to wire it with the driver and LEDs so that the fan comes on when the LEDs come on.

LMK, thanks man.

Gary

he has doors on his stand, what else do you want? this is a huge step for Brad :mrgreen:

I too decided to get on the led band wagon. But I am only upgrading my biocube 29 from PC to led

Here are some pictures

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/300599e5.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/7042b739.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/0ead9a20.jpg

Now.. With just 6 white and 6 blue wire up... And this is bright.

I can't wait to replace 2x36 PC in the bio cube with 72 watts of led.

http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/54615f28.jpg
http://i562.photobucket.com/albums/s...d/c15ed7ae.jpg

What brand???

Helios Crew Corporation (HCC) LED. 3w puts out 170 lumen @ 700ma.

I've been following this thread with interest as I'm still very much on the fence about how to light a 6 foot x 3 foot by 26-30 inch deep (haven't decided how deep yet) tank. After reading the whole thread, I'm still firmly perched on that fence.

i am just doing some finishing touches on one of the led module.
i will post a couple photos later.

Older thread here but wondering if there are some more pictures that people can add to this thread. I am still planning on building my DIY fixture but my house got stalled part way into the build and I've been preoccupied with that, and children and changing jobs...etc.

Any new pics people have of their LED's?

LED + 1
 

I'm upgrading my tank and debating if i should keep my MH or switch to LEDs. My first impression of LED is fairly positive. I hate switching MH lights every year. The heat output is a big minus as well. I've been habituated to the cooling fan noise, but it is loud and annoying for others.
I don't see many commented this setup. I think the setup looks pretty amazing. How is your tank doing, Lampshade?

Attachment 8174

Attachment 8179

Attachment 8176

Attachment 8177



quote=mseepman;627527]Older thread here but wondering if there are some more pictures that people can add to this thread. I am still planning on building my DIY fixture but my house got stalled part way into the build and I've been preoccupied with that, and children and changing jobs...etc.

Any new pics people have of their LED's?[/quote]
Here is my 72 3watt Cree, DIY, 36 XPG cool white, 27 XPE royal blue, 9 XPE blue, no optics, w/meanwell dimmable drivers, controlled with RKE ALC.
The first pic is the LED, the 2nd is a 4x54w T5 HO

Nice...good to see some more setups here.

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/att...achmentid=8189

2x E.shine 60w LED units @ 70% (acclimating)

Excellent value and no heat issues!

I will take a pic of my 20g sps nano with my led fixture for the thread. Smaller, however its the first time in 30yrs. my sps are growing and have good colours. :lol:

I've been tossing around the idea of going L.E.D. for Actinic lighting. My canopy isn't built yet so I havne't put in a ton of reaserch yet.

Check out modularled.ca. They have a lot of knowledge, are out of Red Deer and are a canreef sponsor.

Sorry, wasn't clear enough in the post, that's not my tank, it's the one I linked there from RC, great tank, and the guy has some pretty good info on LED systems. With LED technology going so fast I'm waiting for a little bit. 2 Months ago if you said red LED's you would have been laughed at... and now... well... Ecotech's new system and Vertex upgrades are giving red/green lights.


Some amazing setups in here though, and lots in other forums as well, the whole LED Voodoo "oh no! something new!" Is pretty proven out, and as more people and technology go towards it it can only get better.

Percvisely. Sort of like how Metal halide arent coming down, yet there is competition for cheaper chinese products like odyssea.

People tend to forget the prices are set to tollerances created by the consumer. Not by competition. It is the consumer that decides that the prices are too high from company A, and decides to go to company B. Just Because company B is cheaper, doesnt mean company A through Z is going to lower prices.

There is also a matter of technology and patents. High power LEDs cost a lot of money per unit. Cicuitry, drivers and power supplies from respectible manufactureres cost money as well. When you are buying a system like Vertex and the late PFO Solaris, you are paying for the materials, and a niche-market adjusted margin. Yes, let's not forget that the aquarium market is a niche, in a niche-market companies have to increase their margines to adjust for the fact their market is small, and volume sales are low.

Besides, there ARE cheap LED fixtures out there, but they are made with substandard materials.

Expect their pricing to stay relatively the same for a very long time.

You sure? The price of each of my metal halide pendants has dropped $50 in the last 3 years.


... So does anyone have any LED tank pictures to show off?

what about colour in SPS with LED? Everyone I know who tried LED with SPS changed that after a year or two because they did not like how the color in their SPS turned out.

What about a hot pink birdnest under LED? what about those crazy color we seen in SPS? can it be done with LED and if so, where are the pics?

From where? I bet you, that manufactuer wholesale prices didnt go down. Perhaps the company adjusted it's price integrity and allowed retailers to sell for less. Perhaps the company outsourced to China and it temporarily beinifting from lower production costs. There are a lot of variables. Regardless, inflation and volume usually effects the cost of goods. If these products are made in China, guaranteed that prices are going up, not down.

If they are made in the US and Canada, where inflation is a bit more under control you wont see a significant price drop but not a price increase either. People have to understand. LED lights are not PCs or cars. They arent purchased by everybody on the planet. There arent investors chucking billions at Vertex, building up their infrastructure. It just simply isnt economically plausable.

Not to mention, the patents that need to be paid to manufacture these things. When you consider base cost for material, a limited consumer base and inflation, prices will not drop and if they do, I would not invest money into those companies that are desperately dropping prices to save themselves...they are going under.

Sorry it was $40 not $50. I found my old receipt which says $169.95, currently on their website they are $129.95. They are Lumenmax 3s that I bought at J&L.

Everyone in the developed world is using LEDs now. They're in consumer goods, homes, office buildings and industrial plants. They're also in PCs and cars.

+1 for modular LED, quick easy helpful, i put my leds heatsink and fan right inside the canopy for my JBJ 28g, with a little help from the grizz of course, works great and still looks sexy

90 gallon
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e4...e/IMG_1194.jpg

Where is this developed world?? I've never seen an office building or industrial plant that uses LEDs for lighting and I'm a contractor that works in different offices and manufacturing plants all the time. Also I just got a new house, no LEDs anywhere and there really wasn't much available for fixtures with the exception of a few over priced dim bulbs and under cabinet lighting. Even new street lights still use HPS even though new LED streetlights exist cities are just not buying into them.

LED technology is great but it's still developing and has a long way to go before it's as popular as you seem to think it is. Will LED prices go down, yes but not in the way you think off. New LEDs with higher efficiency are released every damn day, the LEDs I purchased a few months back are now cheaper and obs. They've been replaced with a new model which is better but also more expensive... Quite simply prices will remain the same for the latest and greatest but cheaper options will always exist but nobody wants those :razz:

In this LED game plan on spending a decent amount with no chance of being able to recover your costs in resale as your fixture will be obs in as little as a few months. Plan to keep it long enough to cover your costs in efficiency savings alone or better yet buy it for other reasons all together.

Also keep in mind your halides don't become obs, they have been consistently the latest and greatest MHs for years and many years to come. Oh and you over paid for your reflectors, I purchased my luminarc 3 several years ago for $130. Hence the price drop really has nothing to do the technology fading.

Sorta like buying a computer and all the chip upgrades. I never buy the very highest end model and you save a lot and get very close to the same performance. Sure your LEDs are obs now but another person I guess can come alone and buy a bunch of them for much less and still have a great light (like you will) when all's said and done.

It's due to things changing so fast that you can to some degree see savings by going a step down. I may be wrong but I don't think with previous lighting options we saw that same opportunity to save?

I suppose a major part of all this is the need to purchase many LEDs vs buying a lamp or two or a reflector or two so buying a slightly older LED x many saves you a lot.

I sold a few of these 2 years ago to an industrial plant :biggrin:

http://www1.crouse-hinds.com/crouseh...on=view&id=308

But I do agree with you that there is lots of product out there in the LED world but very little is "main stream" as of right now. There was LED A19's and MR16's several years ago for the resi market, but I have yet to sell them on any sort of regulaur basis if at all.

On topic....

MOAR PICS PLZ

This was my LED fluval edge

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...e/DSC_6423.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...e/DSC_6426.jpg

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...e/DSC_6429.jpg

Yes potential for savings in the DIY area but not so much in the fixture area, well at least not anymore compared to other lighting fixtures. Also when buying OBS LED components you'll have to be good with timing as sales are really only significant once inventory stops being replenished.

I don't really agree Vancouver is replacing alot of lamps for led lions gate bridge for example is all LED, u carry LEDs in ur pocket everyday cells, iPods, tablets, gaming systems, computers, even tvs are LED nowadays. I was helping to install LED fixtures in houses in west van expensive or not they do exist IMHO we use LEDs in more applications then u make it sound like

Oh and I almost forgot neon signs are a thing o the past there all LED signs now most malls u go into that have an electric sign board are LED don't forget flashlights and the new LED bulbs that u can use in any old fixture

While most of those applications aren't really the same LED technology (lighting applications), essentially all that is related to the computer industry where LED technology has almost always been, it's improving but so is everything in the electronic industry but the point is LEDs are not new in those applications nor are they used for lighting purposes. Now the one good example is the LED retrofit on the lions gate bridge where someone is replacing so called old technology with new. However how many other bridges in the world are following the same path? How many houses are now using LEDs instead of other technology? How many plants, factories, office buildings are using LEDs for lighting purposes? What percentage would you guess? Realistically we have a long way to go before claiming LEDs are now in everything. This was my point not that you can find LEDs in your cell phone or TV.

Sphelps that fluval edge you had is nothing short of out of this world.