Nickeleye's 12g LED Nanocube DX, First Nanocustoms LED System - Pics Updated 10/10/09 Options

[Nickeleye]

Well we finally came up with an LED upgrade that looks like it'll pave the way for many of the all-in-one nano systems out there. I set up a JBJ 12g Nanocube DX that is running 54w of Edison LED emitters. Each Strip of LEDs consists of 6 x 3w.

The system is set up as follows:

Lighting -
2x Strips white daylight LEDs
1x Strip royal blue LEDs

Cooling -
2x 60x60x25mm SilenX 16db fans

Pumps -
1x MiniJet 404 @ max power
1x Hydor Koralia Nano

~23 lbs of LR and 6-7 lbs of sand

The LEDs appear to be putting out minimal heat. Over the last week the system seems to be running approximately 2 degrees over ambient with the lights off and the lighting appears to add 0.5 to 1 degree.

And now for the pictures. I may try to see if I can get a youtube video uploaded as well to show realtime PAR measurements and shimmer.



Egg crate for bottom support




Stripped the backing off the back for easy visual access in case livestock gets trapped in back or I add a Sapphire skimmer to check functionality.




This is the LED setup from the bottom with 50 deg. emitter lenses to attempt wide coverage in the tank.




System set up with all LEDs on waiting to be filled.







Tank filled. Visible spotlight effect coming from each strip of LEDs.




Side view also shows spotlighting to some extent as well.




LED emitter lenses were removed and the light spread became much more even and natural looking. The PAR levels dropped dramatically as expected, but still very impressive. PAR at the sandbed was in the 130-140 range.




Side view without emitter lenses




Bottom view




Light penetration through the sandbed.







This post has been edited by Nickeleye: Oct 10 2009, 02:13 PM

[evilc66]

Nice start Nick

[TheStar]

Nice start Nick

Yeah, that looks nice.

[Nickeleye]

Just added a couple of frags to the tank and more or less finished off setting up the ReefKeeper Elite. Shot some video with the par meter so everybody can see the PAR ratings in realtime depending on the location in the tank. PAR tends to range from about 130 at the bottom to 550 at the top, but the video will show more. The video will also just give a brief overview of the system. I will probably end up doing a second short video showing more of the technical parts (i.e. heasink, external ballast box, etc.) once the lights go out so I don't disturb the system while I tear components apart.

[Needreefunds]

Following along Nick.

Cool stuff. Looking forward to the vid.

[Nickeleye]

Here's the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLcCFXMJiU4

[Nickeleye]

I just realized people couldn't view the video. Didn't realize there was a privacy setting Fixed.

[SPerry]

Looks cool, I like the light spread without the emitter lenses better. How do the PAR readings compare to your 1.70 + 2.18 kits? It looks like there is room for another 2 LED strips, if you're gonna go GO BIG.

PS Turn the AC on your house is way too hot.

[Nickeleye]

Looks cool, I like the light spread without the emitter lenses better. How do the PAR readings compare to your 1.70 + 2.18 kits? It looks like there is room for another 2 LED strips, if you're gonna go GO BIG.

PS Turn the AC on your house is way too hot.

Scott,
Believe it or not we haven't actually had the opportunity to take PAR measurements on our 1.70 kits in a 12g yet. That being said, I do know that we've recorded the stock JBJ 28g 150w at ~120 PAR and I'm getting equal or greater than that at the bottom of my 12 as can be seen in the youtube video.

As far as AC goes, I'm not lucky enough to own a house yet and my apartment doesn't have AC. Typically Ventura, CA doesn't get that hot and my apartment gets a cool ocean breeze often times. Unfortunately we actually have had hot weather the last few days (hot for us anyway).

[dja1980]

Nice work... I might actually consider upgrading my 2.70 + 2.18 24g Nano Cube once things start rolling with your LED kits.

[opy01]

Nice setup. Your coral will enjoy the LEDs, mine love the LEDs. I had the same problem with spotlighting in my 10G setup and I had to take the optics off the back row of my system since my rocks are higher against the back wall.

[skimmerdude]

Nice setup. Your coral will enjoy the LEDs, mine love the LEDs. I had the same problem with spotlighting in my 10G setup and I had to take the optics off the back row of my system since my rocks are higher against the back wall.

I can't wait for this to come out! When will they be on the web site?

[opy01]

I can't wait for this to come out! When will they be on the web site?

huh?

[skimmerdude]

huh?

I thought the thread was stating that Nanocustoms/Nanotuners would be releasing LED AIO tanks on their website sometime in the near future.

I did work last night, I'm post call, and have not slept in over 36+ hours . . . did I post something stupid?



This post has been edited by skimmerdude: Sep 1 2009, 03:25 PM

[dja1980]

I thought the thread was stating that Nanocustoms/Nanotuners would be releasing LED AIO tanks on their website sometime in the near future.

I did work last night, I'm post call, and have not slept in over 36+ hours . . . did I post something stupid?

Nah, there will be a lot of people inquiring about these kits since the link to this thread was recently included in a Nanotuners newsletter.

[opy01]

lol been there done that... 2 weeks ago in fact. I was just trying to figure out why you quoted my message. Mine was a home made system.

[Nickeleye]

So far the frags are liking the light fine. Now I have some cyano cropping up, which isn't thrilling me much. Yay... get to deal with that now.

Hmm. Nitrates seem to be between 0-5ppm. Maybe I don't have enough flow... although I'm running a Koralia Nano and Minijet 404.

As a side note, although this is a thread that is concerning the LED lighting it's also the system as a whole so feel free to chime in everybody.

Oh, and yes, we're working out details to be bringing the LED units to the masses shortly.

This post has been edited by Nickeleye: Sep 1 2009, 09:34 PM

[Nickeleye]

Well, switched to 2x daylight LED strips and 1x 50/50 strip. I actually like the look of the single 50/50 for a dusk/dawn effect since you get a little daylight mixed in with the blue on the same strip. It's not as florescent as it was with an all royal blue strip, but I'm not complaining. When the 2x daylight strips are on it reminds me of something like a 14k halide.

In other news, coral frags are looking good and copepods are seriously everywhere. I keep thinking there's a bunch of junk on the glass and floating around in the water, but on closer inspection it's mostly copepods. Hmm... wonder if a Mandarin is in my future. We'll see.

Cyano is still there, but appears to be pretty minimal. On closer inspection is also looks like some of what I thought was cyano is actually purple coraline starting to color up the rock (crossing fingers).

[Nickeleye]

Here are some pics I took a few days ago. This setup is actually running one 50/50 strip down the center and 1x daylight strip on either side of the 50/50.

[Nickeleye]

Here are the latest pictures. I took them today after adding another Zoo frag rock as well as two new sets of Ricordea frags. I also changed up the lighting to 3x 50/50 strips instead of 1x 50/50 and 2x daylight. I think this setup gives the system much more of a traditional blue 20k look. I think 2x 50/50's and 1x 10k may give it more of a 14k look. I'm trying to decide which I like best.