Need Help in Selecting Lights !!!!!

[jack]

Greetings of the day

soo here is my scene at the moment...

link to my tank

http://www.aquapetz.com/viewtopic.php?f ... +challenge

hope u liked it its a loong way to goo


basically i have 2 kessils Tuna blue running up in my tank... its pretty cool and have no problems with it but i feel that just 2 kessils is way too low for my 6 feet tank

soo here comes the problem either to upgrade to kessils like buy 2-3 more of them or go for DIY Cree LED setup

pros of kessils
awesome simmer, great penetration, and sexy looks

cons of kessils
too blue for my taste and are not controlled via controller, no sunrise sun set effect... are the only con that i can see as of now

Pros of DIY CREE
can go for full spectrum lights, more control over the unit....

Cons of DIY CREE
its a DIY and m dumb at DIY

soo please guide me what to buy and how to go about....

if i opt for DIY CREE setup here is what i have planned soo far...
please have a look and reply me experts

total unit 3 nos with 2 kessils tune blue on a 6 feet tank with 27 wide and 24 deep 
each unit will be placed alternately ( DIY - Kessil - DIY - Kessil - DIY )
i am not really a great fan of the blue tone and Kessils have good blue color so have totally eliminated blues from this stuff....

plans for LED 

White: 9 Nos Cree XT-E Cool White (total 27 nos) (should we go for XT-E or XP-G is fine ? ) 
UV Violets: 9 Nos from Rapid Led (total 27 nos)
Red: 1 Nos Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Green: 1 Nos XP-E (total 3 nos)
Royal Blue: 2 Cree XP-E (if necessary for moonlight) (total 6 nos)
Amber: 1 Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Lens: 80 degree lens 

1) is it this light good ? or an over kill for the tank ? are warm white necessary ? 
2) again i am bad at the computer soo if you can guide regarding the placement of the LEDs that ll be great i was thinking red, green, amber, and royal blue( if you suggest) will be in midle and rest will be alternate
3) what should be the size of the unit ? i like more compact look 
4) what should be the ideal distance between each LEDs ?? 
5) are combined lens available for crees ? if yes where so can try to replicate ecotech radiations 
6) it will be manually and PWM dimming as experimenting for first time and in case of aurindo failure shouldn't be a problem 
7) friend of mine is making aurindo any special points i need to tell him to take care of ? 
8) what driver you suggest to use ? 
9) i would like to control each color individually is it possible ? and how if yes ? if no what to do ? 
10) any extra points that came to your mind while reading please tell me.... 
 

[SCORPIO]

A very long topic.

I think Sai, Joyce etc. can you guide.

[jack]

M in no hurry waiting for the replies

[mats]

Will watch the topic for learning

[jack]

But let diy and led experts drop in :p

[sumer]

Greetings of the day

soo here is my scene at the moment...

link to my tank

http://www.aquapetz.com/viewtopic.php?f ... +challenge

hope u liked it its a loong way to goo


basically i have 2 kessils Tuna blue running up in my tank... its pretty cool and have no problems with it but i feel that just 2 kessils is way too low for my 6 feet tank

soo here comes the problem either to upgrade to kessils like buy 2-3 more of them or go for DIY Cree LED setup

pros of kessils
awesome simmer, great penetration, and sexy looks

cons of kessils
too blue for my taste and are not controlled via controller, no sunrise sun set effect... are the only con that i can see as of now

Pros of DIY CREE
can go for full spectrum lights, more control over the unit....

Cons of DIY CREE
its a DIY and m dumb at DIY

soo please guide me what to buy and how to go about....

if i opt for DIY CREE setup here is what i have planned soo far...
please have a look and reply me experts

total unit 3 nos with 2 kessils tune blue on a 6 feet tank with 27 wide and 24 deep 
each unit will be placed alternately ( DIY - Kessil - DIY - Kessil - DIY )
i am not really a great fan of the blue tone and Kessils have good blue color so have totally eliminated blues from this stuff....

plans for LED 

White: 9 Nos Cree XT-E Cool White (total 27 nos) (should we go for XT-E or XP-G is fine ? ) 
UV Violets: 9 Nos from Rapid Led (total 27 nos)
Red: 1 Nos Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Green: 1 Nos XP-E (total 3 nos)
Royal Blue: 2 Cree XP-E (if necessary for moonlight) (total 6 nos)
Amber: 1 Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Lens: 80 degree lens 

1) is it this light good ? or an over kill for the tank ? are warm white necessary ? 
2) again i am bad at the computer soo if you can guide regarding the placement of the LEDs that ll be great i was thinking red, green, amber, and royal blue( if you suggest) will be in midle and rest will be alternate
3) what should be the size of the unit ? i like more compact look 
4) what should be the ideal distance between each LEDs ?? 
5) are combined lens available for crees ? if yes where so can try to replicate ecotech radiations 
6) it will be manually and PWM dimming as experimenting for first time and in case of aurindo failure shouldn't be a problem 
7) friend of mine is making aurindo any special points i need to tell him to take care of ? 
8) what driver you suggest to use ? 
9) i would like to control each color individually is it possible ? and how if yes ? if no what to do ? 
10) any extra points that came to your mind while reading please tell me.... 
 

1) No light is more light. And since you will have a controller, you can set the intensity as per your need.
2) You need to google more about this. It depends on personal taste upto some extent. Try to keep it compact to eliminate disco.
3) I think you can fit one set of LEDs in 12" heatsink but you will need good cooling fans over it. May be 2 120mm.
4) You can even place them at .5 cm distance if providing good cooling.
5) Combined lens ? Combined lens will need "combined" LEDs too. Like OCW or 5.1 lumia.
6) Test the controller first on a few LEDs. Arduino failure can blow all your LEDs. Sai knows better about controllers.
7) Sai..
8) Anyday inventronics. Its a personal suggestion.
9) Of course it is possible. I mean I use DIM4 controller and it has 4 channels. I dont know how many channels can you make on 1 arduino controller. Again, Sai would explain it better.
10) I'd say use 60 degree optics. Will let you hang the unit at a higher place.

Start with a diagram of everything. calculate the number of LEDs, total voltage, wattage, number of drivers etc. Send this post to the website from where you'll be buying all the stuff.
I dont know if you know about this or not, google- Lumia 5.1 multichip LED. One small LED chip will cover an area of 24x24 inches. No need to mess with so many LEDs. you can mount it on just 6" of heatsink. Price wise-It'll cost you some extra but I'd say its a good investment if you are serious about your tank.
DIYing is so much fun. Just learn to solder and you are good to go. Use XT-E. Dont go for XP-G.
Instead of using red, green individually, go for OCW (Ocean coral white) Compact yet powerful.
All the very best

[jack]

1) No light is more light. And since you will have a controller, you can set the intensity as per your need.
2) You need to google more about this. It depends on personal taste upto some extent. Try to keep it compact to eliminate disco.
3) I think you can fit one set of LEDs in 12" heatsink but you will need good cooling fans over it. May be 2 120mm.
4) You can even place them at .5 cm distance if providing good cooling.
5) Combined lens ? Combined lens will need "combined" LEDs too. Like OCW or 5.1 lumia.
6) Test the controller first on a few LEDs. Arduino failure can blow all your LEDs. Sai knows better about controllers.
7) Sai..
8) Anyday inventronics. Its a personal suggestion.
9) Of course it is possible. I mean I use DIM4 controller and it has 4 channels. I dont know how many channels can you make on 1 arduino controller. Again, Sai would explain it better.
10) I'd say use 60 degree optics. Will let you hang the unit at a higher place.

Start with a diagram of everything. calculate the number of LEDs, total voltage, wattage, number of drivers etc. Send this post to the website from where you'll be buying all the stuff.
I dont know if you know about this or not, google- Lumia 5.1 multichip LED. One small LED chip will cover an area of 24x24 inches. No need to mess with so many LEDs. you can mount it on just 6" of heatsink. Price wise-It'll cost you some extra but I'd say its a good investment if you are serious about your tank.
DIYing is so much fun. Just learn to solder and you are good to go. Use XT-E. Dont go for XP-G.
Instead of using red, green individually, go for OCW (Ocean coral white) Compact yet powerful.
All the very best

thank you very much summer for taking time and explaining everything in detail appreciate it

1) eliminate disco is right LOL i wanted to avoid that thats why i am asking it will just 1 colored LED will be like disco do i need more LEDs to get better colors ??

2) what if the driver fails ? will the LEDs get affected ?

3) will ask a friend to get the best available fan in the market and make it as compact as possible...

i am planning for 80 lens reason being this is a wide tank soo it will cover more area and no dark spots ....

sai waiting for your reply on many questions here

[saikumar]

M in no hurry waiting for the replies

Never be in hurry, unless its a last chance of something.

I would also not advice xpg, but. Best for big tanks is XML-Sumer ji?
80is good if U have XML, else too less PAR at 2ft depth. If you still go for xte stick to 60-45optics.
Look out around, I haven't seen Many a tall tank getting a hugging carpet, its mostly with nano tanks and leds. REALITY is they seriously are using less light. Or non matching optics combo.

Sumer- is lumia made of cree chips? I wouldn't want to take chance with whites effficasy in such big build.


If driver blows led ll be safe. Some cases of wiring, if single led blows whole string of leds blow. But good ones ll not cause so.
If you get good drivers it shouldn't blow so badly. Umless you throw into aquarium like me .

Spectrum I ll leave it to you as its your eyes. Same with intensity, I know zilch in marine.
But assuming its atleast twice of planted, you ll need close to 200-240w for reef of ur size
And 2:1,blue white. Rest of colour as per your eyes.

Arduino doesn't blow leds, its leds or driver that can blow arduino. AS they have more current through them. Single independent arduino does about 6 channels of dimming.
I we ask your friend to just make the arduino noise proof as drivers cause disturbances. Also more channels the better. Like controlling 7rainbow colours


In case you are not doing on your own, better to get all possibilities in, and dimm down colour you don't need. Right Sumer ji?

[sushant]

plans for LED 

White: 9 Nos Cree XT-E Cool White (total 27 nos) (should we go for XT-E or XP-G is fine ? ) 
UV Violets: 9 Nos from Rapid Led (total 27 nos)
Red: 1 Nos Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Green: 1 Nos XP-E (total 3 nos)
Royal Blue: 2 Cree XP-E (if necessary for moonlight) (total 6 nos)
Amber: 1 Cree XP-E (total 3 nos)
Lens: 80 degree lens 

 

Do you actually require all of them, especially the odd colour ones like UV,green and amber????

[saikumar]

They are colour poppers mate. Like what Hitachi pink lights used for gold fish.