DIY LED Light Questions

[NanoHuman]

I custom built a CREE system like you are describing and although I ordered a whole variety of optics, none of them work on my tank. The water is 14" deep, and I believe you really have to get over 20" to have the 40 degrees as a requirement for deeper penetration.

Since your tank is quite long you may want to utilize some 80 or 60 degree optics for spreading the light out, or use a lot of LEDs.

I would recommend Nano-reef for learning how to build the system. Evil has many posts there and the documentation is excellent.

[Twinn]

Just another thought if you are going to order the LED lights. Both the Vertex LED fixture and the new Aqua Illuminations light are now using a combo of white, royal blue and blue LED's.

[Beanz]

Thanks guys. So do you think that 13 CREE XR-E G5 Cool White and 13 CREE XR-E Royal Blue with 80 degree optics would b enough to keep SPS (More or less of which lights or is having the same amount of each type beneficial for the corals?) Also the light would be more at the back of the tank where the SPS corals would be, so like an 8" area. Cause i wanna have some swimming room for fish at the front of the tank. I don't have a very large budget probably $400-$500 so would more of the whites b better or would this 50% blue 50% whites work well?

Thanks, Ian

[Cal_stir]

i built a led lt for my 90, 2 48in x 6in heat sinks welded together, 36 cree xpg cool white, 27 xpe royal blue ,9 xpe blue, 6 eln-60-48d drivers, diy sunset/sunrise simulator, no optics, lt @ 1 in above tank, glass canopy, tank 48x16x24high, driving the whites @ 1300ma and the blues @ 900ma, the penetration is good, the distribution is good, and it shimmers, it is definately brighter than my Current USA 4xt5 ho 4ft fixture, i am lps dominant with some sps, all are doing well. you definately should use the cree xpg and xpe leds, i got mine from cutter electronics in australia, got free shipping and $30 COD for taxes & brokerage (before HST), got my drivers from rapidled and they do sell xpg but i don't think xpe. i am new to this forum and not sure how to send pictures. all my leds are bin 5. this link has a few pictures, it is post #34
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...r#post17418032

[Beanz]

Ok thanks Cal

[Beanz]

Ok so i was looking on rapid LED and i think that imma just get the 24 LED kit with dimmable drivers i'll order it with 80 dsegree optics, and then i'll get 2 23" heat sinks and 92mm vantec stealth fan kit. while i work more to get money i'll build the fixture, what would be a good design and what is a good material to build it outta? i was thinking of designing the fixture so that it its on the inside rim of the tank so it will have enough weight that my eel won't get out. (atm i'm using ziplocks with sand, not all that attractive of and appearance ) Anyways what r ur guys' opinions on this and also about the fixture?

Thanks, Ian

[Cal_stir]

are u using the fixture as a cover? saltwater and aluminium don't mix to good, you will have a lot of corrosion, aluminum angle or square tubing are good for frame, dissimilar metals will corrode as well so keep it all aluminium.

[Beanz]

This is a little off track but this is my new little zebra eel and thanks for the help, please keep the info coming it is really giving me ideas and an understanding of lighting. O and i need to get some calcium additives and a test, if i get some Kent Marine Liquid Calcium do i need to dose kalkwasser? I am looking to keep SPS near the top of the tank and LPS near the bottom.

Thanks, Ian