going 100% led

[motorcityreefs]

After hearing about every one going with leds i finaly went and got some my self. I have three 100watt 6700k led chips and 24 10watt blue leds.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Sounds cool. Lets see some pics!

Tom

[Sir Patrick]

Cant wait to see an update!

[Mr. Microscope]

That's some serious light. I'm just using the 3 watts and trying not to bleach stuff. How big, deep is your tank? BTW, what's the wavelength on the blues?

[motorcityreefs]

Its a 180gallon and it is 24" deep the blues peak wave length is 467 to 470 (nm). I had bought some lens reflectors/collimators but when i used them the light was to intens so i'm not useing them. I will try to post some pics but i'm haveing some problems posting them. Every time i try to post pics it says your submission could not be processed becouse a security token was missing what ever that is?:crying:

[Mr. Microscope]

Just use photobucket or something like that for uploading images. It's a bit easier.

That wavelength of blue is what they call Cool Blue or just Blue. It'll give your tank a listerine feel (not what you are going for). The blues you want should be in the 450-460 range. They are called Royal Blue. It's good to use cool blue too, but on a much lower level. Also, at 6500K, your white LEDs are going to have an overlap in the blue part of the spectrum. This will leave you tank looking kind of icey. I perfer the "neutral white' range of of about 4300k. By itself the whites are very yellow. So, you need to balance them out with about twice as many royal blues, but they bring out the warmer colors (reds, yellows, etc.) of your corals much better.

My setup is very small compared to what you're doing, but I think the ratios are good. My LEDs are 2 Neutral Whites, 4 Royal Blues, and 1 Cool Blue. I have 1000mA drivers on the NW's and RB's, and a 500mA driver on the Cool Blue. They are all at about the same levels and the color is comparable to to crisp 14-20K MH. I also have every channel on dimmers. So, I can dial in whatever color I want. In a larger setup, you could probably get away with less Cool Blue. Perhaps NW:RB:CB = 3:6:1.

[motorcityreefs]

thanks for the info here are some more pics.

[Heidi]

Hey, how much area does each of the squares there cover? And how high are you hanging them over your water?

[motorcityreefs]

Each pod will cover a 24" by 24" space and i am hanging them about 10" over the water.:thumbsup:

[Mr. Microscope]

Looks nice! Can we see the FTS? What do you think of the color?

[motorcityreefs]

I love the color the tank looks sweet here are some pics.:hypnotized:

[motorcityreefs]

more pics

[Heidi]

Now thats a bar that would be easy to frequent often :)

[cephalotus]

I would love to stop by for a Guiness.

[Mr. Microscope]

Wow! Is that a little shark in there?

[Heidi]

Wow! Is that a little shark in there?

+1 I swore I saw a shark too!! Is is??

[2pairs]

WOW! That is quite a LED set up and the tank is sweet.

[motorcityreefs]

thanks guys for the compliment, the fish in the pic is not a shark but a fresh water cat fish that i converted to salt.:big_grin:

[binford4000]

looks awsome Brandon,lets get together and do some par readings Sunday !! I got a sweet huge yellow milli frag with your name on it bud :oldman:

[motorcityreefs]

Sure we can do that just let me know what time is good for you.

[AJ :)]

Very cool build! I need to get on the LED wagon!

[motorcityreefs]

Chuck aka binford4000 came over on sunday and helped me get some readings of the light out put of these led and everything is up to par. lol

the top of the tank is at about 500, the mibble is at about 200, and the bottom is about 90.:thumbsup:


some pics of the corals with just the blues on.:hypnotized:

[motorcityreefs]

more pics.:hypnotized:

[pjr]

Motor City Reefs: The tank looks really great!

I have a friend expirementing with the 50 watt LED chips (4300k) and yes they are very yellow, but I like what you did to get the right balance. But for him, even more problematic with the beaming. These things were like a beam! Very directional. What did you do to get some spread? IS the PAR readings the same across the tank, or do they vary by whether the reading it taken from directly under the chip?

Chuck: would love to borrow your light meter some time! Got plenty of LEDs to test!



- PJR

Mixed reef: 6' wide 130g, driven by 100% LEDs by Sunbrite, and stuffed with SPS, chalices, other LPS, and a few softies.
Blog: PJR's Reef (http://pjr-reef.blogspot.com/)

[motorcityreefs]

All leds are directional by them self but if you place them in groups thay seam to balance out, plus no lenses are on my setup, lenses made my setup worse. Maybe if i add more leds to my setup i will try to add the lenses back to see if thay will work but for know i am leaving the off.:thumbsup:

[Corvette Reefer]

wow those are awesome!!!!!! what power supply are u using for it all?

[motorcityreefs]

wow those are awesome!!!!!! what power supply are u using for it all?
For the 10 watt blues the driver specifications are, input voltage ac 85-265v, output voltage 10-12v, output current 1000ma-1500ma. For the 100 watt 6500k driver specifications, input voltage 110-265v ac, output voltage 30-36v and current is 2500-2800ma.

[binford4000]

For the 10 watt blues the driver specifications are, input voltage ac 85-265v, output voltage 10-12v, output current 1000ma-1500ma. For the 100 watt 6500k driver specifications, input voltage 110-265v ac, output voltage 30-36v and current is 2500-2800ma.

you really need to show that monster box you built for all the power supply.Nothing wrong with showing off a first class job. Still waiting over here for my Led's if your wondering.Did you get the UV's yet.I'm thinking about trying the stunner uv's with the AI's. What's your take on those?

[AChambers5]

Hey i am still in the gathering stages, havent even set up my first salt water tank yet. I was just wondering where you purchased the raw materials for this project. I am hoping to run as efficient as possible and as far as i know LED is the way to go. Just wanted to do a little homework on it.

I know its probaly not recommended for a newbie but thought its worth learning more about.
Your tanks very impressive i would like to visit your bar.
-Andrew

[CalmSeasQuest]

Beautiful build Motorcity! What species of Cat is that? Can you share your acclimation process?

[motorcityreefs]

you really need to show that monster box you built for all the power supply.Nothing wrong with showing off a first class job. Still waiting over here for my Led's if your wondering.Did you get the UV's yet.I'm thinking about trying the stunner uv's with the AI's. What's your take on those?
No not yet i have been working alot lately but deffinetly goig to get them, just going to have to wait a bit the 10 watters are pretty expensive and i need like 12 of them, thay are deffinetly going to bring out the fluorescents in the corals alot more then just blues or royal blues.

[motorcityreefs]

Hey i am still in the gathering stages, havent even set up my first salt water tank yet. I was just wondering where you purchased the raw materials for this project. I am hoping to run as efficient as possible and as far as i know LED is the way to go. Just wanted to do a little homework on it.

I know its probaly not recommended for a newbie but thought its worth learning more about.
Your tanks very impressive i would like to visit your bar.
-Andrew
got everything off ebay:)

[lexi21]

great job, can seat for meal in front of tank hour all day long, awesome :thumbsup::thumbsup:
http://freeimagestocks.com/content/20/grey.png

[motorcityreefs]

Just got 6 green 10 watt leds and put them in hopefully this will help me get more growth out of my acros not like i need more growth everything is growing crazy fast but the more the better. Will post some pics soon. Also put my 10 watt greens and 100watt whites on dimmers so i can get the color i want out of them.:big_grin: