shmoopy Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Here are a few pics of my LED build. Thanks to everyone at nano-reef, I just followed in your footsteps. I apologize up front for the lackluster pictures ive never used anything but the auto mode on my camera and im still experimenting. FTS 9/29/10 FTS pic 12/09 Stock PCs LED retro, poor photos Wish i could do my zoas and ricordias justice but my photo skills are not even close components from ledsupply Power Supplies Heatsink usa 7.3X11, fits into hood with minor cutting. Lots of holes for repositioning and future addon of 6 more LEDS, RB W and UV Brackets i made from scrap sheet metal, crude but effective PS to Bucks improvised Test Run Switch assembly, bucks on the main heatsink All wired It all fits but it is snug to say the least, notice the stock moonlights Blinding, i saw green spots for hours, wear sunglasses imo I am very pleased with the result and owe it 100% to all the posts here on nano-reef, 10-15 hours mostly spent drilling, $200-$250 dollars but i had all the components except the leds, heatsinks and buckpucks. I am planning to add 6 more LEDs in time and plan to make this a zoa and sps show tank. The tank is 3 weeks along in the latest photo and i am haveing alot of fun having been out of the hobby for about 6 years. My last tank was a 250g natural reef and i had to give it up because of having to move so much. My wife got me this for my birthday at the first of september and i am excited to fine tune it and make it a piece of art. I have a ton more photos if anyone is interested and it looks like taking pics is almost as fun as watching the tank. Thanks to evilc66, deepdvnarq, crs2k, Maddevil1, dhraakoxr, Waterproof, Crazy Tiki and bpkenn Link to comment
Neto Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 why 2 psu??? isnt one enough? Link to comment
schgr.cube Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 why 2 psu??? isnt one enough? Dawn to dusk effects, I assume. PS, very nice! Link to comment
shmoopy Posted September 24, 2009 Author Share Posted September 24, 2009 I have the royal blues on an hour before and after the whites, the moonlites are on 24/7 Plus why have one when you can have two for double the price Link to comment
Bamato Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Plus why have one when you can have two for double the price "Touche salesman...." Link to comment
evilc66 Posted September 24, 2009 Share Posted September 24, 2009 Nicely done. I don't think your wires were big enough though Time to add it to the list if you would. Link to comment
shmoopy Posted September 25, 2009 Author Share Posted September 25, 2009 Im not really familiar with doing forums and im not sure how to add it to your thread evilc66, either let me know how or send it over, it will be and honor to be added Link to comment
evilc66 Posted September 26, 2009 Share Posted September 26, 2009 Just add the images the same way you did in the first post to the thread. Add a link back to this thread if you like also. Link to comment
Maddevil1 Posted October 22, 2009 Share Posted October 22, 2009 Looking good. Quick question for you, what % (best guess) are you running your pots at? My corals seemed to have lightened up from when I brought them home from the stores and they were under T5s. Link to comment
shmoopy Posted December 3, 2009 Author Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have been running the whites and blues at about 60%, above that i cant see a whole lot of difference except for the heat, im looking at a reefkeeper light to do some fade in and out. All my corals are doing great, everything from chalices and acans to torts and bonsais... everybody is happy! Link to comment
NightAtTheOpera Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 I have been running the whites and blues at about 60%, above that i cant see a whole lot of difference except for the heat, im looking at a reefkeeper light to do some fade in and out. All my corals are doing great, everything from chalices and acans to torts and bonsais... everybody is happy! I think a microcontroller would give alot more flexability than a reefkeeper light. If you remove the pots and attach instead to an Arduino you can program the lights any way you want to. You could have sunrise, sunset, simulated cloud coverage, storms, etc. You could even remove the stock moonlights and use your LED's for moonlights by having the Arduino dim them down to a suitable level at night and reflect the actual phases of the moon so the moonlight isn't always at constant full moon. PS (Forgot to mention: Great looking DIY!) Link to comment
Maddevil1 Posted December 3, 2009 Share Posted December 3, 2009 What did you use to stick the stock moonlights on the heatsink? I am think about doing the same thing since my R2 burned out. Link to comment
shmoopy Posted December 10, 2009 Author Share Posted December 10, 2009 I have been researching schematics for an arduino controller, I am just having trouble with finding a code to control it... as far as the moonlights, they are held with thermal compound and super glue. It is working well so far except for one led lens that fell off. I reset it with superglue and it has been holding well. Will update with pics of coral growth soon. Link to comment
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