48" LED Array - Up and Running...Mostly

[Canadian]

Originally Posted by StirCrazy

Oh Andrew, I never said they are aceptible or not aceptable, if you go back and look at 99% of my posts on the T5/MH issues it was when people were claiming T5's were more powerfull then MH, and you were one. and if you read carfullyI said many a time that you could grow SPS under a NO bulb as it was done before buy a guy on this board.

your Hi quality T5 set up you showed there, is there any distance referances? and whats the point of taking readings int he air 1/2 way between the reflector and the water? so just under the surface it looks like he has a 575 average in the well lit area. at the bottom about 280ish. the hot spot is a little higher than the numbers but the other areas are lower. (I never realized the hot spot on T5s would be that pronounced) at any rate His number were very comparable with your high end T5 with new bulbs. although we would need measurments of all the reading positions to be sure. so what happens if he adds more LEDs.. nothing, bt if he adds more LEDs to reduce his spacing then adds 40 degree optics his numbers should jump by about 50% from what I have been seeing. if he adds more and then goes 20% optics.. problem is the spacing is so tight on 20% or lower optics it would only be a reasonable cost on a 20 gal tank or less, but man would you pack some punch. I know there are some people trying the the newer bulbs that have about 3 times the output as the ones Ron is using but they don't make that strength in a Royal blue yet so it is only good for the white and they are finding it is to powerfull for any other lighting they try to give it a blue look as it just washes it out. now if you like the icewhite look to your tank, which I tend to.... they might be a awsome bulb to try. I am actualy going to buy a handfull of LEDs and build a tiny cylinder that is about 24" tall but small enough aroundI can lighting it with 2 or 3 LEDs so I can try some different combos on my Ardunio and see what kind of color blending, lenses and PAR values I can get a different depths. just have to clean my shop out first.. which at the way I am goiong should be another 6 months

Steve

False. Steve, I never once said that T5 was more powerful than MH. That is patently false. I expect you to go back and provide a quote in context to substantiate that I ever said it was more powerful. All I ever maintained was that T5 was not inferior to MH when you made broad-based statements about inferiority and superiority one way or the other.

The tank pictured above is 5' with a 4' fixture over it. The tank is 60 x 30 x 24. The fixture is roughly 6-7" above the water's surface. The edges of the tank are dim because the fixture does not extend to the edge and because the first 3" or more of a T5 lamp produce significantly less light. Within the 3.5" feet centered below the fixture the PAR is pretty consistent (biased on one side because that's where the fans are).

[Canadian]

And Ron, I apologize for derailing your build thread.

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

I have a 48" 10 bulb ATI Powermodule on my home tank, the 48" Aqua Illumination module I have seen is brighter than my Powermodule. This of course is just my observation.

On a second note, Ron, you are more than welcome to come over and pull some numbers off my tank. Also, it would be nice to see all of this back and forth discussion on the comparatives between LED and conventional lighting moved to a new thread for this purpose. I was actually just enjoying Ron's build thread as it was.

Ian

[OceanicCorals-Ian-]

I have created a thread specifically for this type of conversation, if everyone is interested maybe the MODS can move the latter half of this vs conversation to the thread I have linked below.

I feel this is detracting from this excellent build thread......

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...374#post510374

[Ron99]

Originally Posted by OceanicCorals-Ian-

I have created a thread specifically for this type of conversation, if everyone is interested maybe the MODS can move the latter half of this vs conversation to the thread I have linked below.

I feel this is detracting from this excellent build thread......

http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/sho...374#post510374

Thanks Ian. Good Idea. Let's move the debate over there.

Originally Posted by Canadian

And Ron, I apologize for derailing your build thread.

No Worries, it's good to discuss it and try to develop real information. I agree that there is lots of manufacturer hype and BS. One reason I built my own array, aside from costs, is that most of the commercial LED lights make compromises of some sort unless you spend big dollars on the high end fixtures.

In any case, let's continue in the other thread.

Originally Posted by Dyspnea

Where did you find most of your reading and research?

nano-reef.com seems to have the most active LED community but more is showing up on reef central now too.

[BKTruong]

Hey Ron great thread I've been following since day 1 but I want to know now that you have your new led fixture up for a few days running, how are all the SPS corals doing? Also do you find that your LEDs miss some light in some areas as your LEDs are spreaded out and LED light rays are directed in a straight focused downward "UFO" path and doesn't light its surrounding area like MH or even T5s. As you may have probably already noticed, the solaris's or any professionally made LED fixtures are all built with its LEDs side by side tightly snug. I honestly prefer to spread them out as you did as it covers more area but wasn't sure if it was ideal.

[DiverDude]

Originally Posted by Ron99

<snip>One reason I built my own array, aside from costs, is that most of the commercial LED lights make compromises of some sort unless you spend big dollars on the high end fixtures.
</snip>

Y'know....sometimes, sometimes it's just fun to build your own stuff. You get to make it suit your personal needs exactly and there is a great deal of satisfaction to be had from the design and build process.

After all, this is a DIY forum, is it not ?