DIY Dimmable RapidLED Kit - Converting from MH's

Discussion in 'I made this!' started by evolved, Sep 27, 2010.

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  1. jkat21

    jkat21 Bangghai Cardinal

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    looking forward to seeing the growth..8)
     
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  3. konnan101

    konnan101 Plankton

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    First off, I want to say kudos, this is an awesome build. One of the most complete step by step LED builds I have found...pretty stoked to see the one year growth updates.

    Anyways, I am currently thinking of doing an LED retrofit in my 29g biocube. The HQI setups on BC29's are just a bit too much for me...not really looking for some exposed halide light in the middle of my room...and so I thought LED's would be perfect. I have a couple of questions though, or more would like remarks on the setup I am thinking of doing...

    I want to run two drivers in my setup, both dimmable...one driver with 12 or 14? royal blues and another driver with 10 cool whites and 2 or 4? Warm whites. My depth is only around 14" so I wasn't planning on using any optics.

    My questions then are...should I go to the trouble of including so few warm whites or should I consider a third driver to include the warm whites, and possibly some more blues? Also, would you recommend optics, or am i correct in saying that given my depth they really aren't necessary?

    Not to hijack your thread, but you seem to know what you are talking about, and I would love some input, Thanks.
     
  4. tom.n.day

    tom.n.day Eyelash Blennie

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  5. konnan101

    konnan101 Plankton

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    Why did you include the Warm Whites in you build? I read through this entire thread, I am pretty sure, but you never mention why that is the, "secret Kick.". Is it too compensate for something missing in the spectrum, or is it simply for looks?
     
  6. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Thank you; see responses above.

    Yeah, about that...

    I've got a mysterious nutrient issue right now and my tank isn't nearly as pretty as I'd like it to be. I'm a bit hesitant to take pictures at the moment, but let me see how well I can get things cleaned up this week. I'll try to get something up here on Sunday.

    It was mentioned; you must have missed it. No worries. I did that to help compensate for a lack of the red spectrum with the cool whites. This mostly helps with the color rendition of the reds of the corals/fish, and tends to keep them looking more red as opposed to rust. It's mostly aesthetic.
     
  7. konnan101

    konnan101 Plankton

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    awesome, thank you for the responses...Your build was an inspiration, I got everything to do 24 LEDs in the mail, and it should be operational by next week...i hope. As far as optics go, lenses came with the rapidled kit, so I just asked for them to be 80 degree lenses. Since I have them, should I include them, or is it overkill?
     
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  9. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Play around with them and see what you like. It might look better with them, without them, or with a few.
     
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  10. evolved

    evolved Wrasse Freak

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    Somebody was asking a while back about what type of plastic to use for an array cover, lexan or acrylic.

    Don't use lexan. Let me show you why:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    See the white spots? Those are burned in from the intensity of the diodes.

    I replaced my covers with acrylic a couple months ago.
     
  11. exactlyobp

    exactlyobp Giant Squid

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    Oh wow thats insane..
     
  12. ingtar_shinowa

    ingtar_shinowa Giant Squid

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