$100 DIY Cree LED XR-E - Actinic Supplement 48" Light Strip

Hi Night-Rida:

I would like to change my two actinics VHO for this led diy priyect. Mi tank is 60x24x24. What would you recommend?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Csalas

 

for that size tank, i would do two strips of 12 leds. so you'll need two drivers, and 24 3w leds. if you on a tight budget you could try 1 strip first then add another down the road if you think more actinic effect is needed.

 

Thanks Night-Rida:

I think I would go with one strip first and see, if more supplement is needed so I will buy the second one.

Thanks again for your advise.

 

not a problem, good luck on your DIY project.

 

any opinions on the solderless connections? I dont have a solder gun. I was thinking about buying each individual piece of the DIY kit so I dont have to purchase the heatsink and can pick something up myself. Basically my 40 gallon 36" long reef already has a 14k 150W MH Phoenix HQI bulb hanging over hte middle of the tank. I was considering buying the 12 (6 royal blue & 6 white LEDS) to run in a strip either the length of the tank in front of the halide, or in two strips along each side of the halide (or center brace).

What ya think?

 

I cant comment on solderless connections.. but I used a cheap hobby soldering pen ($10) for my diy project. I used a aluminum ruler for my heatsink. I would run the length of the tank with 1 strip.. make sure to get the right degree lens with your leds, depending how high your going to mount the strip over tank.

 

what i could do is use attach the heat sink to a sort of hanging kit and have that be adjustable from the top inside of the canopy, just like my halide will be. What do you think the spacing should be for the colors? It seems the best combination and most common coloring is typically 1 royal blue to 1 white? I think this should add enough blue to bring out colors, mixed with my 14k bulb, and the white for the true daylight color. I think I will likely get 60 degree lens. At most i will get the 12 kit, possibly the 9 LED dimming kit. This would make me want to have better spread, ya know?

 

Hi N-R

Do you think I need the heatsink or could I go with an aluminium flat bar? for 12 leds.

 

I spaced 8 leds over a 4' span with a flat bar and havent had any problems. I do have a small fan blowing on them in my canopy though.

 

it is impossible that the Cree light's price is just 100USD .
I can't imagine. Vikey