LED Lights

[35Cents]

Hi all,

Am wondering if anyone here got try to DIY a lighting system using only those super intense LED lights? IMO, I think its economical as each intense LED light cost very little not to mention low wattage consumption and low heat.

The only problem is that can the clustered LEDs able to provide adequate lighting for reefs? Pls look at the link below:

LED Bulb

I dun really know what is the total nm that is suitable for reefs, can anyone kindly advise?

Imagine the cluster bulb only uses 7W and can last for 10 years+! But to DIY one involves a lot of drilling and soldering....need to dig up my soldering iron

[sunny130y]

Ideally you need 420nm, the blue LEDs.

I have made a simple battery-operated one. Just connect Four AA size rechargeable batteries to 2 LEDs. Normally need to limit the current to LED by connecting a resistor in series but mine works fine without it. Put everything into a plastic transparent biz card box.

2 LEDs are not that bright but then, moonlight in nature is also not that bright. I usually charge mine fully and on 15th of each month (lunar calendar) put it on one of the glass brackets of the aquarium and leave it there for couple of days until the batteries drain up.

[AlfaRomeo]

Sunny, does this mean that the light will go dimmer and dimmer as the charge in the batteries goes weak?

[sunny130y]

Sunny, does this mean that the light will go dimmer and dimmer as the charge in the batteries goes weak?

Yes. Just like mother nature

[35Cents]

I dont mean using blue lights for moonlight effect. What I meant is using many White LEDs to light up the aquarium, those super intense ones like the proton keychains.

Refer to the link in my first post....

Many applications are now switching to LED lights due to low heat and electricity consumption ie: traffic lights and car headlights.

Anyone think its possible?

[alanseah]

what coral r looking for is not how bright the light is.. we talking about PAR.. and I dont believe LED can produce the require PAR...

[spring138]

Hi,

I have made one LED panel for my sump. It's been running for around 3 months -- 24 hours a day. It has 24x6 or 192 super bright LEDs. It consumps around 20W of power -- using a 24V dc adaptor. The cost is around 40cents per LED.

[amteo]

Hi,

I have made one LED panel for my sump. It's been running for around 3 months -- 24 hours a day. It has 24x6 or 192 super bright LEDs. It consumps around 20W of power -- using a 24V dc adaptor. The cost is around 40cents per LED.

Congrats! I also though of doing something like this, but the amount of soldering keeps putting me off! How about a review? Can the LEDs replaced conventional light source, at least for the sump?

[Lester]

wa... powerful new age led light...

how long did it take u to solder everything ???

it is a classic man...

can post a pic on the effect of the light on ur tank ??

cheers

[williammuk]

Hi,

I have made one LED panel for my sump. It's been running for around 3 months -- 24 hours a day. It has 24x6 or 192 super bright LEDs. It consumps around 20W of power -- using a 24V dc adaptor. The cost is around 40cents per LED.

Wow! Hats off to you bro.

Can you share the schematic please? Would be great if you could also show a picture of it illuminating your sump.

[Lester]

yap yap

me too veri egar to see

[dt8666]

From the LED spec, I saw the highest K Super Bright LED is 8000K, no higher than that. Not sure if this is enough for a reef tank, may be it is good enough for fish.

For Blue LED, I notice spec show two version:

Blue: 420nm

Moonlight Blue: 470nm.

So, if you want to simulate moonlight, need to get the right LED. Too bad that those from SimLim don't seems to be able to tell you the correct nm!! or if you can trust them. To make it simple, I bought 2 unit of the LED from someone selling it in SRC and it does work. Not too bright or too dim.

If you want to DIY the LED cluster, you can buy the ready stripe from SimLim or People's Park Centre, it cost about few $ for one stripe that house 27 LEDs. The one that stop me to DIY is the spec of the LED here. else it may looks bright but not benefiting the Reef tank will be a problem!!

If any one out there know a reliable shop that can supply the LED and also some can confirm if the LED do supply the same light needed as PL or MH, I will be available to DIY it for you as custom project complete with adapter.

DT

[dt8666]

Refer to attached table. may be can save many hours of work and get the ready make cluster LED of 50 pcs!!! price not cheap - about USD25 /pc.

What you guy thinking?? the 8000K white LED and the moonlight LED cluster.

[sunny03]

how about u guys can diy a lunar LED moonlight

that auto dim or brighten follow the lunar calendar

if you can do that i guess there a market for it

[ReDDeviLs]

it wil be good if i can have 1 for my sump.

[Lester]

hmm.. u mean for aglae in the sump ???

[lightningstrike]

how about u guys can diy a lunar LED moonlight

that auto dim or brighten follow the lunar calendar

if you can do that i guess there a market for it

there is oredi a SLT out in the US market at an affordable price.

[sunny03]

there is oredi a SLT out in the US market at an affordable price.

ya but not in SG market

[weisoon]

Problem is no one interested to make one. You will need to have knowledge of Pulse Width Modulation in order to dim the LEDS. Simply changing the current to the LEDs will not have a linear dimming and will also change the wavelength. One will not get 420nm when dimmed in this way. Further if you want to simulate the lunar cycle, you will also need STOM progamming to flash in the commands/lunar data in BASIC. Quite a bit of work if you ask me, however, once if everything needed to fabricate is available, its a piece of cake.

Maybe someone very good in electronics can shed some light??

[Gouldian]

Very interesting topic. Really hope some guru out there could shed some "lights" on this issue.

And if really can be done, maybe we can have a bulk order.

[XPeriment 626]

yeah woah if LED marine lighting becomes more advanced it will definitely put other forms of lighting out of business due to low heat and low power consumption.

[Lester]

yap i totally agree .....

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