DIY LED Lighting Project (1 Viewer)

[MCasonJr]

Hi all,

I've had tanks all my life, but have always done plain box store route. Looking to start taking my tank to the next level and want to start with proper lighting. I'm handy and was thinking of building my own LED array, but not entirely sure where to start. I'm in school and don't want to spend a ton, but also don't want to buy something just to replace it again in a few years when I have a larger budget and a larger tank. Right now I have a 55gal tank with a snowflake moray, a few damsels, a manderian goby, a starfish, an urchin, and a few soft corals.

Right now what I've been looking at is a kit from RapidLED and a manual dimmer. This will allow me to add an Apex controller later for automation.

I've seen some cheaper pre-built LED sets, but the dimming controls are built in and can't be controlled by the Apex.

Has anyone had any experience with RapidLED's products? Does anyone have any better ideas?

Thanks in advance for the input!!!

 

[rparker2112]

Rapid led is good

Sent with the power of children's screams!!

 

[steveb]

I would also look at

http://coralux.net/
http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/
http://www.stevesleds.com/


I wouldn't get hung up on having it controlled (or not) by the APEX. Lots of options.

 

[rparker2112]

Heres the breakdown on mine..

Rapid led cree royal blues
Steves luexon neutral white
Led group buy OCW (imho a must have)
Rapid Cree true violet
All ran off meanwell drivers.


Sent with the power of children's screams!!

 

[steveb]

Heres the breakdown on mine..
All ran off meanwell drivers.
Sent with the power of children's screams!!

Do you have to actually kill the power to the meanwells to get them to go completely out?

 

[rparker2112]

Do you have to actually kill the power to the meanwells to get them to go completely out?

Yeah I cut the 10v power to the drivers and they dont do the flash. Then a min later the power gets cut to the drivers. I havent seen if they flash lately. I heard you can put a resistor between the led wires and it will turn them off completely.

I really dont like the flash thing. But I got a killer deal on the meanwells so im not complaining much.

Sent with the power of children's screams!!

 

[steveb]

Here's another option http://www.buildmyled.com/saltwater/

 

[Wbattles]

I have a 180 gallon softie / LPS tank and I am running a DIY LED kit from aquastyle. They are really cheap kits and lights and relatively easy to put together.
I couldnt tell you how the growth is because I just switched over from softies to LPS and my growth, while there, isnt enough to say anything about yet. Softies are doing really well though and the LPS right now are doing great as well. Hope you found something you like.

 

[inigomontoya]

Check out the reefbreeders as well. They have the value and the photon series - really like my photons. Not much more than the diy kits.