DIY lighting for pico

[Maxstar81]

Hi, does anybody know if LED blue &

white are suitable for marine tank lighting ?

My upcoming pico is 1 ft cube.

Intending to keep anemones & softies.

Too much drama from fello reefers

who complain that nano & pico tubes

are diff to replace so decided to try

my hands on DIY.

Hope those experienced can give some

tips. Thanks in advance.

[nakazoru]

Hi, does anybody know if LED blue &

white are suitable for marine tank lighting ?

My upcoming pico is 1 ft cube.

Intending to keep anemones & softies.

Too much drama from fello reefers

who complain that nano & pico tubes

are diff to replace so decided to try

my hands on DIY.

Hope those experienced can give some

tips. Thanks in advance.

No bro. LED can only be use for moon light. The does not have the intensity required for any kinda of reef. IT HAS NO PENETRATING ABILITY.

[mUAr_cHEe]

The does not have the intensity required for any kinda of reef. IT HAS NO PENETRATING ABILITY.

Really?

Even those powerful 5W ones?

Don't mind can link us either an article or thread here for our reference?

Recently discussed with some friends on using it for nano tanks. And these friends are old birds and people who put in alot of effort in researching equipment. (Part of their jobs. )

[May&Bruce]

I would be very worried about intensity/colour/light spectrum. A LED is a totally different lighting technology that incandescent/fluro/MH bulbs.

How about using a small reading lamp with a compact PL?

[Elune]

Maxstar:

I hope the guys above did not overlook that you are only gonna start a 1 feet cube tank. Which I take the liberty to caution u in advance to avoid keeping anemones and softies. Because the water parameters is gonna be very unstable in the beginning.

Nakazoru is right to say LED lights are not suitable for reefs. I agree with him to a certain extend. Becuz sometime back, I chance upon a forum thread where some guy replaced his 2 ft lamp with a huge array of high voltage LED light (about 99 pieces of LED bulbs). The success of it is still questionable. Moreover I do not think a 1 feet tank can house enough LED bulbs above the tank to provide enuf light for more than 1 softie. If the tank is bigger, then can house more LED lights.

I recommend FOWDR (Fish Only with Dead Rocks) for 1 feet Picos. With such, you do not have to bother about intensity / spectrum of your intended DIY LED lights / Moon light, since there ain't gonna be any corals, anemones, etc...

1 feet Picos-FOWDR ( Fish Only with Dead Rocks) are meant more of decorative purposes. Focus on the aesthetics of it. Not the husbandry of it. The fishes do not need specific lightings.

I still newbie, so i dunno much about intensity and spectrum. I just know that LED light bulb has narrow angle and wide angle rays (depending on which type of bulb), produces low (if not no) heat, and is energy efficient.

[nakazoru]

Really?

Even those powerful 5W ones?

Don't mind can link us either an article or thread here for our reference?

Recently discussed with some friends on using it for nano tanks. And these friends are old birds and people who put in alot of effort in researching equipment. (Part of their jobs. )

Oh well;

LED means Light emmiting diodes. In electronics terms, it is a solid state component either P-N or N-P junction.

It generally takes low voltage 5V and draws a current of approx 10mA which comes out to 0.05W single typical LED. Color of of LED is determine by different semi-conductor material used for the diode. The wattage of the LED is calculated base on the voltage/current required to cause this semi-conductor material to emit lights.

Different semiconductor has a diferent rating, but really not much. A higher wattage LED can be brighter but it will still not reach the distance you wants it to reach. Example a laser pen and a similar wattage LED will never have the same performance in terms of reach. They are application specific device.

LED is for decorative/indication bcos of their not glaring properties. Christmas tree lighting, Indicative panel etc. Lately there are torch made of white LED, much better than conventional yellow torch. It looks better, but it will not be able to see far with it as compare with those torch. When I say short, I really meant short.

I hope I have answer the question. I don't really have time for reference, it is just part of my course last time.

[Elune]

Amazing explanation by nakazoru.

Yep, LED's reach is limited. That's why is mainly used for Moonlights in regards to marine reef tanks.

[cdckjn]

In my personal opinion, LED will not be able to make it. LED night light is ok, as it is decorative, the white light I think if you use a normal 1ft FL light is then ok.

Having so many white LED has not the effect of just 1x20W FL light.

[mUAr_cHEe]

Fair enough.

Thanks for taking the time to explain.

[Maxstar81]

Alrighty then.

Next logical step .....

Please advise on lighting for 1 ft square pico tank.

[Maxstar81]

How is this !?

Available in local market ???

Coralife Mini-Aqualight With 1-9W Actinic / 1-9W 10,000K Lamp

Dimensions: 9in x 5in x 2in

[Elune]

You win Kev.

Source pls. I want that!!!!!

[Maxstar81]

I dunno where selling.

Got pic from net only.

Thats why wanna ask if

anybody here knows where

i can get my hands on it.

If dun have will go buy

the dymax me & Hondaker

saw at pasir ris farm loh.

[cci[RR]us]

The key issue with LEDs is that the light is too pure. The wavelengths emitted is very limited because when the electrons are excited by an input energy, they jump up to a higher lower quantum state, but later drop back down to the original state, releasing energy as photons at a particular frequency/wavelength. In other words, the light has a very narrow spectrum. This is a problem as photosynthetic creatures require a wide light spectrum to stay healthy.

To solve this, you may get a wide range or LEDs which emit light of different wavelengths. Then again, you might be better off with a proper FL or PL set of lights.

[cdckjn]

us,Jan 12 2006, 01:28 AM] The key issue with LEDs is that the light is too pure. The wavelengths emitted is very limited because when the electrons are excited by an input energy, they jump up to a higher lower quantum state, but later drop back down to the original state, releasing energy as photons at a particular frequency/wavelength. In other words, the light has a very narrow spectrum. This is a problem as photosynthetic creatures require a wide light spectrum to stay healthy.

To solve this, you may get a wide range or LEDs which emit light of different wavelengths. Then again, you might be better off with a proper FL or PL set of lights.

if you want to cover the whole top surface with LEDs to give that sufficient amount of light, you might as well go for a simple FL or PL lighting - this will not heat up the tank so much.

[Maxstar81]

cci[RR]us,

Thank you.

Thats the type of answer i was looking for.

Ok, given up on LED.

Anybody know where I can find

Coralife Mini-Aqualight With 1-9W Actinic / 1-9W 10,000K Lamp

Dimensions: 9in x 5in x 2in

Or any other suggustions ???

[iantoh]

personally, i think LEDs are the future of reef lightings as they emit narrow wavelengths per bulb and may be mixed to get specific blended wavelengths. Their PAR is superb for the amount of energy they use too. if youre using the larger 5w per bulb LEDs (that is, the pretty big and fat ones), i think youll get enough lumens for penetration to the bottom of a one feet tank sufficient to keep most photosynthetic softcorals and perhaps LPS. i know for one that Aqualux and Coralvue are looking into LED light fixtures with moon cycles.

check out this thread on RC on using LEDs for main lightings.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.p...25&pagenumber=1

and this cool article by Dana riddle on colouration in SPS solely using LEDS.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/nov2003/feature.htm

The experiment was to determine if specific wavelengths are responsible for pigmentation in sps corals. some experts, like calfo, used to advocate the use of non-uv-shielded MH bulbs as they believed it was the UV spectrums which caused the tissue in corals to produce protective pigments, hence the beautiful colours, but this experiment showed that blue light wavelengths are more important to this end.

the experiement involved taking fragments of pocci and letting it brown out in a shaded sun lit tank. these fragments were then placed in a tank with one LED of one colour pointing at it underwater (LEDs waterproofed) from four separate sides to see what happened. The four bulbs used were standard commercial LEDS, in white, green, blue, and UV. only the Blue illuminated area showed recovery and return of colours. the bulbs were placed super close to the frag i guess, but it does prove at least that LEDs produce useful wavelengths. a mix of whites and blues should do well.

i think the cost of wiring up an extensive LED arrangment might favour the one feet PL light fixture mentioned above though, as the biscuit board or panel with resistors will set you back almost $20 if you wish to mount 100 or so bulbs.

cheers,

ian

[nakazoru]

I got this from the RC that Bro IanToh recommended.

******************************************************************

As manufacturer of the MoonScape nightlight (we don't use the term "moonlight), we know the moon's light to be much more complicated than most people understand. For example 475nanometers refers to a small PEAK in the VISIBLE spectrum of light emitted by the moon. The total spectrum is much broader, with many peaks and includes the invisible spectrums as well. So claims of "increased coral growth and spawning" is without substance. There is no objective supportive data. Even the "lunar cycle circuits" are flawed. But these LED's do serve a purpose and are the best lighting bang for the buckout there. They light our tanks for the other 12 hours, we can see nocturnal activity and they DO NOT HARM corals or fish (in the case of our lights). That we have tested.

LED's are the "light of the future" for many applications but it may be quite a while until they can compare with MH's and are suitable for coral growth. I too would not discourage anyone from experimenting. It is worthwhile and has allowed us to accomplish our goals so far.

********************************************************************

Also reading the effect of spectral analysis on the coral, it is very interesting to know that blue LED has healing effect. It also shows that LED does in fact not have the intensity for reef. The experiment was place 6mm from th coral, single LED. Do bear in mind LED cascade together looks brighter and better spread but does not increase its penetrative ability.

The two links does show a good insight of what LED can do and what they are lacking. But still I will advise against using it as main lights, as least for now.

One point that the RC guys misled is that there is no heat. LED do in fact generates heat with proportion to the current passing thru the LED. The LEDs are in fact very intolerant to heat. Therefore if the array constructed cannot regulate the current passing thru, the LED heats up and burn down the semi-conductor of the P-N junction. i.e no more P-N junction. No more lights.

Sorry for bringing in electronics terms, but just so happens to be a micro-electronics guy who likes reefs.

[Maxstar81]

Ok so I'll just diy 1-2 blue LED for nightlight.

Nobody knows where to find good Pico lighting !???