DIY Dimmable RapidLED Kit - Converting from MH's

*Thread Updates*

• Completion pictures begin on page 4, post #38
• Instructional post is on page 6, post #53 (Price breakdown included at beginning of this post)
• 5 1/2 Month Growth Update on page 10, post #96

Alright, so the time has come for me to jump on this wagon. The benefits outweigh any perceived negative impacts at this point for me. Also, the cost will just about be a wash considering it's about time for MH bulb replacement anyway. Once I have the new LED array over the tank, I can sell my current fixture, and recoup some cost. The bill this will leave me will be little more than if I had just replaced my MH & actinic bulbs. But I digress...

My DT is a 125g deep tank (60"x20"x24")

Current lighting set-up:
3 250W DE MH's
4 65W PC 420 actinics

Here's my LED plan:
60 LED's total, 3W CREE's for all
24 XR-E Royal Blues on 2 dimmable drivers, under one POT
24 XP-G Cool Whites on 2 dimmable drivers, under one POT
8 XR-E Warm Whites + 4 additional XR-E Royal Blues on 1 dimmable drivers, under one POT (this will provide the 'secret kick' in this build)

XR-E's will run 60deg optics; XP-G's will run 65deg optics.

I will be building 2 array, each with 30 LEDs, on two separate 24"x5.9" heat sinks (heatsinkusa.com).

I've decided to hang my array's from the ceiling to provide some additional adjustability.

A couple CPU fans will be used over the heat sinks to aid in cooling.

Most likely, I will be try to incorporate some moonlights into the arrays, as I have moonlights on my current fixture and I'd hate to lose the night-time viewing.

I have a clever way to cover the finished array with a piece of glass or plexiglas to protect the array from my rowdy, splashing fish.

To make the finished product look a little better and blend with the room and tank a bit more, I will be having my aluminum components anodized black at a local shop.

I have already ordered my heat sinks and a piece of aluminum channel I will need, just waiting on the heat sinks to show up so I can get started.

I will do my best to keep a picture blog/build going here, and feel free to ask questions along the way.

Stay tuned!

 

Interested in selling 2 of the 250 halides? I would love to do an led setup but the cost is a little prohibitive. I will definitely be following along though either way.

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk

 

Current fixture is one continuous fixture, not 3 separate pendants. And nothing is for sale until I'm done.

 

I'll be following this thread. I planned on making one myself, but never got around to it. Nice tank too, I really like the anthias.

 

Sounds great, just subscribed to this thread....

 

x2 , cant wait to see the finished product. good luck!

 

Im with you both. will defiantly be following this. looking forward to seeing the out come...
try to document as much as you can (with pics of course);D

 

Thanks everybody for the encouragement!

I will be doing periodic updates and plan to document with pics as well. Also plan on "borrowing" some info from a local reefer who has blazed this trail ahead of me. I am building off his advice/experience.

 

I am totally looking over your shoulders on this thread too...
LED is fascinating in its potential...
Good luck on build, sounds like you have a great plan so far on the build
I am looking forward to this and m excited for ya.

 

I like it evolved! glad you came to 3reef!