Lighting

Jason25 · 09-20-2007, 02:33 PM

OK let me first start off by saying I have a good idea that I want to be able to keep a wide variety of corals and maybe nems. I have researched building an all LED lighting system myself and spoke with some engineers here at work, I work for an electronics company, and I have decided to go with a total of 430 watts worth of LED's 300 to produce the spectrum of 10000k 60 420nm LED'S and 70 460nm LED's to produce the actinics lighting. I am at work and do not know what the depth of tank is but it is a 55gal. corner tank. I will also be using 4 470nm LED's for lunar lights which I already have working. I just thought I would ask to make sure that is enough wattage. There are a few very good advantages of using LED's, live span, cost and most importantly heat. I am new to Reef keeping but I know heat is not good and the down side to MH is the heat they produce. So I will be starting this experiment shortly and will keep you all updated.

BigAl07 · 09-20-2007, 02:39 PM

I'm following closely as LED's are something I am VERY interested in.

Allen

aquaman_06 · 09-20-2007, 03:25 PM

I know the LED systems that are sold for aquariums carry a price tag that is totally outrageous. I have seen the Solaris system in action as various pet stores and honestly wasn't that impressed. I have heard that using the right LED combo can give a metal halide like expierence, though I didn't see that with the Solaris unit.

Jason25 · 09-20-2007, 03:34 PM

When using LED's it comes to selecting the right nanometer of the LED and the degree at which the light is focused. Nanometers in LED's pretty much equate to what color they are, of course there are other things that come into play but the color is important.

BigAl07 · 09-20-2007, 03:42 PM

the "Solaris" unit (G4) is your 400w MH equivalent in many respects. A large portion of the price comes from the added "features" that are part of it and I am sure they have invested a HUGE amount in R&D in order to mimic sun light as accurately as possible.

Search these boards on the name "Solaris" and I think you'll find some very interesting and informative articles.

Allen

AQTCJAK · 09-20-2007, 07:29 PM

Here is my take on the Solaris LED there are currently 3 models available the G Series 250 Watt in the 6,500K-13,000K & then the 6,500K to 20,000K Model. This model operartes like this ever 2 panels of Leds so 50 total produce the light equivanat of a 250 Watt MH on a 72" the are 3 sets of these for a total of 750 Watts of light & less energy consumption by 40% over the single 250 Watt MH. The there is the H4 Series 400Watt. This model operartes like this ever 2 panels of Leds so 50 total produce the light equivanat of a 400 Watt MH on a 72" the are 3 sets of these for a total of 1200 Watts of light & less energy consumption by 30% over the single 400 Watt MH.

kyrie_eleison · 09-27-2007, 05:05 PM

You know...I'm going to piggyback this thread. I didn't know that putting enough small LED bulbs together can simulate the intensity of the sun. But, can they simulate the same light spectrum with the number of lumines they produce? Because it seems like a great deal of work trying to place that many LEDs together to get an equivalent output of a single MH lamp. Unless, the number of LEDs in series require less energy to fire and produce far less heat.

Isn't that the big concern? Cost of running that many LED bulbs as opposed to 1 or 2 single bulbs along with the lesser amount of heat being generated by the LEDs?

BEELZEBOB · 09-27-2007, 05:10 PM

i think you can run hundreds of LEDs with the same energy as one MH, right?

BigAl07 · 09-27-2007, 05:12 PM

I think it comes to about 40% of the energy used and a LOT less heat given off... add the extremely long bulb life of LEDs and it's a GREAT advantage

kyrie_eleison · 09-27-2007, 05:59 PM

I just got done reading up on Solaris 400 Watt LED lights. You guys should check it out! It is MOST impressive. The pros definitely outweight the cons. The average life span for those things is 11 YEARS! You have to replace a MH light bulb at least once every 2 years in order to maintain the intensity.

The cost is definitely a red flag here. However, if you plan to stay in the hobby for a long time, it may be well worth it.

BigAl07 · 09-27-2007, 06:02 PM

I think you'll want to replace most MH bulbs sooner than 24 months... much sooner..

but YES LED's are the way to go

AQTCJAK · 09-27-2007, 08:11 PM

MH & HQI should be changed @ a miniumum every 12 months & Al is correct & I am abit ok alot bias on the LED's they by far are the best bang for the buck

kyrie_eleison · 09-27-2007, 09:16 PM

Jak,

I'm already looking into it. Perhaps by the middle of next year, I'll be keeping SPS corals! YEEEEEEAH!

09-20-2007, 02:33 PM	#1 (permalink)
Jason25 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Lighting OK let me first start off by saying I have a good idea that I want to be able to keep a wide variety of corals and maybe nems. I have researched building an all LED lighting system myself and spoke with some engineers here at work, I work for an electronics company, and I have decided to go with a total of 430 watts worth of LED's 300 to produce the spectrum of 10000k 60 420nm LED'S and 70 460nm LED's to produce the actinics lighting. I am at work and do not know what the depth of tank is but it is a 55gal. corner tank. I will also be using 4 470nm LED's for lunar lights which I already have working. I just thought I would ask to make sure that is enough wattage. There are a few very good advantages of using LED's, live span, cost and most importantly heat. I am new to Reef keeping but I know heat is not good and the down side to MH is the heat they produce. So I will be starting this experiment shortly and will keep you all updated.

09-20-2007, 02:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting I'm following closely as LED's are something I am VERY interested in. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-20-2007, 03:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
aquaman_06 Tubeworm Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: MD Posts: 29 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting I know the LED systems that are sold for aquariums carry a price tag that is totally outrageous. I have seen the Solaris system in action as various pet stores and honestly wasn't that impressed. I have heard that using the right LED combo can give a metal halide like expierence, though I didn't see that with the Solaris unit. __________________ "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by how their animals are treated." -Ghandi

09-20-2007, 03:34 PM	#4 (permalink)
Jason25 Harlequin Tuskfish Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Lancaster,PA Posts: 991 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting When using LED's it comes to selecting the right nanometer of the LED and the degree at which the light is focused. Nanometers in LED's pretty much equate to what color they are, of course there are other things that come into play but the color is important.

09-20-2007, 03:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting the "Solaris" unit (G4) is your 400w MH equivalent in many respects. A large portion of the price comes from the added "features" that are part of it and I am sure they have invested a HUGE amount in R&D in order to mimic sun light as accurately as possible. Search these boards on the name "Solaris" and I think you'll find some very interesting and informative articles. Allen __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-20-2007, 07:29 PM	#6 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting Here is my take on the Solaris LED there are currently 3 models available the G Series 250 Watt in the 6,500K-13,000K & then the 6,500K to 20,000K Model. This model operartes like this ever 2 panels of Leds so 50 total produce the light equivanat of a 250 Watt MH on a 72" the are 3 sets of these for a total of 750 Watts of light & less energy consumption by 40% over the single 250 Watt MH. The there is the H4 Series 400Watt. This model operartes like this ever 2 panels of Leds so 50 total produce the light equivanat of a 400 Watt MH on a 72" the are 3 sets of these for a total of 1200 Watts of light & less energy consumption by 30% over the single 400 Watt MH. __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-27-2007, 05:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
kyrie_eleison Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 273 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting You know...I'm going to piggyback this thread. I didn't know that putting enough small LED bulbs together can simulate the intensity of the sun. But, can they simulate the same light spectrum with the number of lumines they produce? Because it seems like a great deal of work trying to place that many LEDs together to get an equivalent output of a single MH lamp. Unless, the number of LEDs in series require less energy to fire and produce far less heat. Isn't that the big concern? Cost of running that many LED bulbs as opposed to 1 or 2 single bulbs along with the lesser amount of heat being generated by the LEDs?

09-27-2007, 05:12 PM	#9 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting I think it comes to about 40% of the energy used and a LOT less heat given off... add the extremely long bulb life of LEDs and it's a GREAT advantage __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-27-2007, 05:59 PM	#10 (permalink)
kyrie_eleison Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 273 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting I just got done reading up on Solaris 400 Watt LED lights. You guys should check it out! It is MOST impressive. The pros definitely outweight the cons. The average life span for those things is 11 YEARS! You have to replace a MH light bulb at least once every 2 years in order to maintain the intensity. The cost is definitely a red flag here. However, if you plan to stay in the hobby for a long time, it may be well worth it.

09-27-2007, 06:02 PM	#11 (permalink)
BigAl07 Reef Addict (hopeless) Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Waynesville, North Carolina Posts: 10,619 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting I think you'll want to replace most MH bulbs sooner than 24 months... much sooner.. but YES LED's are the way to go __________________ Allen Allen's testimonial . . ."Let Me help you help YOURSELF" (Click Here) with a SW set up there is one basic fundamental rule that we ALL should follow *When in doubt... wait it out. This means take it slow and let the tank "develop" and don't rush it. Time is your friend Ask me about how to increase your REEF budget without going without FOOD!!* Big Al's 10g Julie's (BigAl's Gal) 6g NanoCube BigAl's Slow 90g Tank Chronicle Allens OFFICE 12g Nano-Reef Reef Balls & Cakes Debt Free & Change your Family Tree!!

09-27-2007, 08:11 PM	#12 (permalink)
AQTCJAK Tiger Shark Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,937 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: Lighting MH & HQI should be changed @ a miniumum every 12 months & Al is correct & I am abit ok alot bias on the LED's they by far are the best bang for the buck __________________ A Wiseman once said build a stage add a pole & they will dance - Jack 2007 www.aquaticaggression.com Projects & Chronicels http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...car-buffs.html http://www.reefsanctuary.com/forums/...nts-tanks.html

09-27-2007, 09:16 PM	#13 (permalink)
kyrie_eleison Has been struck by the ban stick Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 273 View Gallery Karma Komment	Re: Lighting Jak, I'm already looking into it. Perhaps by the middle of next year, I'll be keeping SPS corals! YEEEEEEAH!

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