DIY LED build

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Here is a pic of my LED set up that I was finally able to complete.

The specs are below:

1. 54 LED total 36RB / 18NW Cree, drilled Al heat sink to run wires to connector for easy take down maintenance.
2. Using two 350W computer power supply as constant current power source (verifed no fluctuation in current with meter), each power source is running white and blue seperately.
3. An array of resistors to limit the current to 750mA for each of the white and blue power strips. I increased to even 1000mA but I saw diminishing return on noticable lumen increase. This I hope will balance max viewable lumen output versus extended life of LED. Verified LED junction temp to be 75F max.
4. Using two dimmers to adjust voltage for each of the white and blue strips.

Actually the custom cabinetry which I did myself took longer and required more tedious attention to detail then the LED setup.

I am anxious to install the 50B and see how the color combo works. So far I like the warmth of the 2RB:1NW ratio. May add the coral white that was recommended by LEDGROUPBUY.

I'll try to post more pics but so far I'm limited to only one upload and I am new to forums so don't know much how to navigate around it.

Laversace

Looks great!

This is my 75 gallon with 2 overdriven T5HOs and 10 3ups (20RB and 10NW).

[laversace]

my cabinetry work

[laversace]

Do you think it will be enough light without using your T5s?

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Do you think it will be enough light without using your T5s?

Holy slow response... sorry laversace. The answer is YES! I've been running just the LEDs (w/o optics) for several months and everything is doing great.

Here's a recent shot of the tank with only 30 3watt LEDs...


My plan is to pick up optics in the next month or two.

Tom

[MizTanks]

Looks awesome Tom!!

[Tankster]

Holy slow response... sorry laversace. The answer is YES! I've been running just the LEDs (w/o optics) for several months and everything is doing great.

Here's a recent shot of the tank with only 30 3watt LEDs...

Where is the BGM?

[jim48442]

man those are some nice big clams my opinion everyone should have some lol wish i had the no how to do my own leds i think optics cause alot of the problems they focus 2 much light in 1 spot and people burn their stuff

[chazde3]

Holy slow response... sorry laversace. The answer is YES! I've been running just the LEDs (w/o optics) for several months and everything is doing great.

Here's a recent shot of the tank with only 30 3watt LEDs...


My plan is to pick up optics in the next month or two.

Tom

You only have 30 LEDs over your 75g? Dang, I'm running 52 over my 75g. I have to get over sometime to see your setup, it looks great.

[Tom@HaslettMI]

Looks awesome Tom!!

Thank you Miz. I finally figured out how to use the manual white balance on my point and shoot camera and that has made all the difference in getting good pix with the LEDs.

Where is the BGM?

Left side above the clownfish and below the fan coral. It bleached out when my nitrates hit 100 ppm, but it's recovering quickly. I'll try to get some close up shots of it and post them in my Members Tank thread.

Tom

[Tom@HaslettMI]

man those are some nice big clams my opinion everyone should have some lol wish i had the no how to do my own leds i think optics cause alot of the problems they focus 2 much light in 1 spot and people burn their stuff

Thanks Jim. Clams are my favorite reef critter. I'm planning to add optics in the near future and will hopefully do so without causing any damage.

You only have 30 LEDs over your 75g? Dang, I'm running 52 over my 75g. I have to get over sometime to see your setup, it looks great.

You definitely need to come over and check it out.

What type of CREEs are you running? The difference may be in the lumen:watt ratio. I run XT-Es at 700mA with out optics.

I'm also a little surprised that this amount of light is sufficient. My original plan was to run this build along with 2 T5HOs to see if I liked LEDs, and later build a second identical array to replace the T5s. But when it came time to replace the T5s I couldn't justify spending the money and decided to see if the LEDs alone would work. Now seeing how everything is happy with so few LEDs I've come up with a new plan. I'd like to add some additional spectrum as well as bump the PAR a little higher... so, I'm thinking I'll add five of THESE to my existing heatsinks for a total of 45 LEDs. But that won't be for another 6 months or so.

Tom