Thanks again for the kind words everyone
Here's a little tidbit of an update: The prototype model was created with the incorrect depth dimension, so the one pictured is actually 18" deep instead of 12" as it should be. What does this mean? I don't have to order as many LEDs! Two of the 7 "depth" rows will be removed in the shrink to 12".
Also, I will be incorporating a third Potentiometer(dial to control brightness) the tanks moonlighting. Each of the Light types, Daylight/Actinic/moonlight will have individual cords. and i am considering built in digital timers.
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Originally Posted by Witfull  this is looking promising. i bet the housing will cost more than the actual lighting~ |
Thanks Wit
So far, for the prototype it seems quite the opposite, though i won't say much more than that
all I can say is I have some tricks up my sleeve for making a niiice plastic housing
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Originally Posted by BigAl07 How did your small "model" perform against your predictions and estimations? I would think the larger unit would perform similar to that one but on a larger scale.
Being realistic was probably hard. I'm sure you had TONS of ideas you wanted to implement (which may or may not have worked) but keeping it "Real" will keep costs down and make the project more viable. Start "Real" and once you get that working then you can add some bells & whistles if you want to. Stay grounded and it will happen. Good work buddy. VERY good work. |
Well, The bar was a bit too much, and the board was not quite enough. The board did cover the surface area i calculated, and with the light scattering through the water, it did it's job. What's difficult to see in the prototype picture, it will have more than twice the amount of LED's to cover the same area as my test board. So I think the completed prototype will be a nice surprise
Hah, yea i was thinking of all sorts of things, but when it came to it I just told myself, come on how can I honestly make this without farming it out? and those ideas got put on the backburner.. but like i said at the top of the thread.. timers are very likely and the addition of a controllable moonlight should be pretty nice
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Originally Posted by tbittner Fantastic!!!
That last one though, it looks like it needs a couple more LEDs. It was actually creating some shadows between them. |
Like I mentioned to AL, the prototype will have more than twice the LED's of the test board in the same Area, not to mention they will have reflectors, so light is not lost.