New Custom LED is KILLER!!! DIYed by local friend (not myself)

[SeaHorse_Fanatic]

So, we just finished testing the PAR on my new LED that a friend of mine is building for me tonight. We're using 26 total emitters of 10w LEDs (12 x 10000k; 8 x 455nm Blues; 3 x 20000k; 3 x 6500k) for 260w max over a 5'8' x 2' x 2' 165g full reef tank.

I used our group buy Apogee PAR meter on the metal halide (Phoenix 14000k 150w) in water at different depths and an inch under the light.

We then fired up the LEDs and at 100% power, the inch under the light reading is 3 times what my metal halide was reading and in water, it was double the PAR readings. The manufacturer lists the lumens as being 700 to 750 for the whites and under 300 for the blues. However, every colour spectrum tested out at about the same PAR. Woohoo.

When we dimmed it down (oh, did I mention he built in individual dimmers), it's about the same PAR at 50% as the metal halide. So, for my 165g, once everything is finished, I'm looking at 130-150 watts for my lighting with no heat issues and near silent operation. Each light spectrum has its own dimmer switch and there are three plugs (10000k; blues; 20000k/6500k) so I can put them on different timers. He was going to build digital timers for each light spectrum but he decided it was too complicated a fix for a simple issue.

The power supply heats up to about the same temp as metal halide ballasts, so he's going to add more heat sinks &/or fans to the power supply in the final prototype version.

I'm freakin impressed with this unit and can't wait for it to be finished completely.

For my fishy friends who want to check out the new LED over my tank before I pull it off to let my buddy finish the build, contact me and come over tomorrow afternoon/evening.

BTW, under 80w of 455nm blues, the corals glow like they're radioactive and the colours are the most spectacular I've seen (particularly the red flowerpot and red brain corals).

I'm in South Burnaby (and yes, though there is already a waiting list, my friend can build more lights as he gets some free time). This is a prototype so we will be doing a lot more testing on it before the next unit is built.

Anthony