LED Lighting - DIY vs Premade Fixtures

[Reef-Geek]

Originally Posted by mseepman

This is just my opinion, and some of what I'm saying below is meant to have some humor so please take it that way.

I totally disagree that DIY isn't cheaper than manufactured. The Radions are $825 each the last time I checked and they indicated I would need 6 over my tank when I was at MACNA. $4950 (plus tax) and then I would have to spend the money to figure out how I was going to hang all of those fixtures in an attractive way. If i went with Vertex...one 72" wouldn't light my 32" wide tank so then I'm into the whole thing for $8000 or more. YIKES!!

I'm buying an Aquarium controller for the tank anyways as I'm not going to give up purchasing a controller just because the lights can control themselves. Lightening storms are cool, but like most men, my attention span is pretty short so that will grow boring pretty quick. Maybe my aquarium controller will be able to do it?

I will be into my fixture for just a hair over $2100 and a little elbow grease. This figure includes the extra module that I will have to buy with a controller to do the dimming. I will be using the same (or possibly better) CREE LED's as the Radion. It also includes the equipment I will be using to power lift the light up and down which I couldn't do with 6 Radions for any reasonable amount.
I personally can't work additional hours for my job at night so my time is just my time. Note that there is definitely a lot of time involved in making one of these, but I got more time than money so this works for me.

Lastly, can someone help me understand why anyone would need a PAR meter for a DIY light and not for a manufactured light? Did Ecotech build in a PAR meter and not tell me? Even Sanjay agrees that PAR meters do a poor job of measuring LED. I believe that as with all things in this hobby, you have to start off slow...so dim down the lights and then ramp them up over time.

just read this, how big is your tank? as far as I know for a 4 foot tank you only need 2 radions, and that has the same par as 2 250w mh
http://www.mrsaltwatertank.com/radion/

[mseepman]

Radions do a 24" spread in each direction. Tank is going to be 84" x 32"...so we've got a few issues with achieving the spread.

[Lampshade]

I think with a DIY you will definitely be getting a more custom light for what you need, don't get me wrong. I'm looking at adding supplemental lighting to my halides, and probably going to be going DIY. That's the reason for DIY most of the time, after tools, time etc, you don't save too much money, as much as people think you do anyways.... unless you cheap out on parts, and then you end up with a cheap product.

A well built LED is well worth it in the end I believe, but as for this thread asking about cost, you won't be saving oodles of money.