Just made my first LED retro...

[bdare]

Sooo... I'm switching my tank over from MH and T5's to LED. During full daylight my lights alone were consuming almost 500W on a 36x18x25 70 Gallon tank. I just placed an order last night for the retro for my display tank which will use 48 cree LED's and run ~150W.

Last week the bulb on my fuge over my sump went out. Rather than spend money on another compact florescent bulb I thought "Why not use LED's to light the sump too?" Although probably not the most cost effective solution, I thought it would be cool way to learn what I was doing before trying it for the first time on my large retro. If nothing else maybe I could grow a few frags in my sump now?

I ordered a small heatsink and a 6 bulb retro kit.

Next I drilled 4 holes in the heatsink. These are used to mount the LED's to top of my stand using a couple of "L" brackets.

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I really wasn't too particular about getting an EXACT layout on these since it's just 6 bulbs and lighting my fuge. I simply laid them out where I thought they would work best.

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Next I mixed together the thermal adhesive epoxy which I used to attach the LED's to my heatsink.

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It only takes a LITTLE bit of adhesive to get the LED's to stick. If the layer is too thick it impedes heat transfer.

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Once they were all attached it was time to give my first attempt at soldering! I definitely think this is a job for 2 people. It's TOO hard to hold the wire, soldering iron, and solder at the same time. It ain't pretty, but it is what it is.

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Next it was just a matter of connecting the power supply and plugging it in. Believe me when I say I had my fingers crossed!

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Up close...

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I'm glad it's over. Now I just need to find something else to do so the spots will go out of my eyes.

 

[Heath]

Nice.

I remember in my younger days when I still tinkered small electrical, leds can burn a spot in your eye real quick.

 

[joelq]

Looks great! Where'd you order your retro from?

 

[bdare]

@joelq wrote:

The heatsink came from heatsinkusa.com and the LED retro came from rapidled.com.

 

[coralreefer]

Any pics on tank?

 

[bdare]

@coralreefer wrote:

It's just on the fuge, but I'll get a pic or two up tomorrow.

 

[chrisrush]

Nice work. Saw your post on RC. I have my 3 LED fixtures over the tank temporarily. I'd like to transfer my corals to another holding tank and get the LED fixtures over them, but I've got a few other things to complete first.

 

[bdare]

Picture of LED's mounted under tank as requested:

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Since I sold the lights on my DT, here are the lights I'm using till the new retro gets here. Is this enough to support SPS and clams?

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[C4rN4gE]

Ive been running LED's for about a year now, and I would recommend a mix of LED and T5. Not all of my corals enjoy the LED, and the mixture will hopefully provide some sort of spectrum that is missing from the LED. Thats just my two cents.

Also, look into using the Berquist pads at nanotuners. When you have an LED go out, it will be a much easier replacement if you are not having to chisel off the epoxy.

 

[Capt_krill]

@C4rN4gE wrote:

Definitely agree on this!

Berquist pads saved me multiple times with trial and error LEDs.

Just as a side note, I have been running LEDs for about 6 months now. Originally had a MH fixture, but when i switched, colors popped, skeletons changed colors drastically, but none showed signs of decreased growth rate, quite the opposite to be honest, and non showed signs of not liking it. I couldve just been the corals I had but I have a fair mix of softies, lps and sps and every single coral i have has almost increased in size almost half in the 6 months ive been running them. Straight LEDs.

T-5 however, do add some missing spectrums that LEDs miss. If i were to run T5 and LEDs i would at least look at getting an ATI Bulbs and possibly a ballast from them as well. Friend of mine runs a full ATI T5 on a SPS monster tank and has basketball sized corals with ever tip topped with new growth.

 

[bdare]

Well... I ordered the parts on Friday and they arrived Monday. Spent pretty much all day Tues and Wed building this sucker and now I'm up and running. Here are a few pictures...

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[bdare]

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[coralreefer]

@bdare wrote:

Looks good and you did a good job. I saw that they have some solderless connectors, now that would make it easy.

How do you like them?

Corals react well to the lights?

What combination of white/blue LEDs did you choose?

 

[bdare]

They do have solder-less connectors. Problem is, with those, you can't use lenses. For some applications that might be OK, but I wouldn't want to be without that option.

I'm absolutely IN LOVE with the lights. Not only did I cut my lighting down from ~500 watts to ~150, but I also got rid of a 38W pump and my chiller. Even in the winter months my chiller would come on once or twice a day with the temp set to 78. Now my tank is set to 77 and NEVER moves.

I always loved the shimmer of MH. IMO there is MORE shimmer with the LED's. Pretty cool when you get shimmer with just the blue's on!

My LED's are on 4 separate strings which I use for a dawn / dusk effect.

1 - 12 Blue
2 - 12 Blue
3 - 3 Warm White / 7 Blue
4 - 12 Cool White (XPG)

I've got 46 total. 31 Blue and 15 White. ( I ordered 48. I've got 2 extra blues just because of the way the layout turned out.)

My wiring is a little messy and not the typical X pattern you see on some installs. I was OK with this because A) you don't see the wires unless you're looking for them and B) Because of how I bring the lights on and off I had to get the strings to evenly light the tank so I didn't end up with spotlights.

At first I got a little over anxious and turned the lights up too bright. I've dimmed them down now and turn them up slowly each week.

I LOVE the fact I can pretty much customize the color of my tank. I've got all the blues on one dimmer and the whites on a second dimmer.

 

[coralreefer]

@bdare wrote:

Man i want to build one right now! I wish you werent in Rockwall or I would try to convince you to let me come over and take a look at it in person!

One more quick question - what dimmable drivers are you using - the meanwell ELN-60-48D? What are you dimming them with - a controller like Apex or a knob?

Thanks, TB

 

[bdare]

I build a little box with some stereo knobs. I don't have an APEX
Yes... the Meanwell Dimmable drivers.

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[coralreefer]

@bdare wrote:

Nice! I don't have an apex either, at least yet.

Does the driver have to be somewhere that it can cool (does it produce heat) or can it be put into a box as well?

 

[bdare]

Believe it or not... I put the drivers inside inside my canopy... They are mounted to the inside around the heatsink No moisture will get in there. Not enough to cause problems. A LOT less evaporation without all the heat in there.

 

[Capt_krill]

I know you have them on dimmers, but have you considered doing a controller with Arduino? From everything I have read I am in the process of building a timer based light controller that will simulate dusk, dawn, cloud cover, and all the way in between. Once that puppy is done, I will have to do nothing other than regular maintenance; scraping sides, feeding, top off (I don't know if I trust ATO yet), changing reactor media, and weekly WC.

 

[bdare]

@Capt_krill wrote:

I read about the Audrino, but it seemed a bit more complicated that I'm willing to try. I'm hoping one day to just upgrade my ACjr to the Full blown APEX