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Coral Vue Hydros

Steve's LEDs in a RSM 130


Natterjak

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After reading a bit on this board and getting some suggestions, I decided to get the Steve's LED retrofit for my RSM 130. I got the 95% complete kit, and hooked it up to a Typhon controller. Altogether the install took me about 4 hours - 3 for the LED kit, and an hour for the Typhon.

 

I took a bunch of pictures - I should've taken more towards the end, but I had a 2-month old that needed feeding and it was getting late, so I had to wrap things up. :)

 

Here's all the tools I ended up needing (yes, that's a Martha Stewart craft heat gun :)):

 

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Everything out of the box (the box was beat to hell, but luckily nothing was damaged):

 

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The underside of the hood, with the T5 PC bulbs removed:

 

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Top cover of the hood removed. I removed all 6 screws, and couldn't get the cover off, until I realized that I needed to unscrew and remove the two bulb clips in the reflector. That part was missing in the instructions!

 

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The instructions said there would be 1-3 ballasts in the hood. Mine only had 1, and only 1 relay. I numbered all the wires connected to the ballast before removing them on the off-chance I ever have to put it back together:

 

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Anyone know what the yellow/green wire is? This was running to the ballast. I removed the other two wires as per the instructions, but this one was still there. I probably should have taped it up, but forgot about it. Is it a ground? Hopefully it's not a safety hazard:

 

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The instructions mentioned 4 fans, but mine only had 2 (maybe because it's a 130 and not a 130D?). I pulled this one up and out, and reversed it. The one next to it was removed entirely:

 

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Pulled out the reflector and cut off about 5" with tin snips (this was tricky to do when trying not to wake the baby!):

 

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The LED assembly in the reflector:

 

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Driver/heatsink assembly bolted in:

 

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LED and drivers all wired up, with extension wires from the drivers out to the Typhon:

 

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Lights on:

 

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Potentiometers installed next to the timer. I drilled 1/4" holes and couldn't fit the threads through, so these are kind of just sitting in there. It's a snug fit, so they don't really move, and it was getting late and I didn't feel like messing with them more to get the threads to go through. Maybe later:

 

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Lights on the tank! (About 20%)

 

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Silly me, I forgot to take a "before" picture, but I definitely like the extra blue I get from these. I also like that I can tweak the intensity of the two channels to fine-tune the color.

 

All in all, it took some effort, but I'm very happy with how it turned out! The install looks clean, and it runs nice and quiet. I was also very happy with the customer service at Steve's LEDs - they had my kit shipped out two days after I ordered it, and they responded very quickly to all my questions.

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We need a sticky to put all these build threads in.

Not bad at all! Looks much cleaner than my builds. How long did it take?

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Excellent work Bonnie :) I'm impressed and you did all that with your "young-in" hanging around.

 

The install looks top notch!! I think you've done this before :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Did you change any of the colors of the leds? Also did you get the full spectrum led combination? And whats the typhone controller for? I plan on getting this for my tank as well.

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I went with the stock configuration they had, which was 14 royal blues, 4 cool blues, and 10 neutral whites. I see now they have a full spectrum upgrade - not sure what that is exactly, but it wasn't an option when I bought mine. :( looks like they also have an option now to have it prewired to use the stock moonlights - wish they'd had that when I bought mine as well!

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  • 8 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...
  • 1 year later...

I purchased the 99% finished retro fit kit for my rsm 130,install was smooth and i'm very happy with the upgrade.I had a couple of questions during the process though and due to fact that the typhon was not shipped along with led kit (due to unforeseen demand)I chose to wait until i had received everything to begin teardown(nearly 30 days later)response to my submitted emails have been a bit slow,but when answered very helpful,until now.....The cooling fan has been running 24/7 since everything has been up and running ,and after many attempts to get a response to weather or not this is normal I've got no response,So could anyone that has an answer for me help a man out PLEASE.

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jedimasterben

The fans are powered by the main power supply unless you have it hooked up to a separate one, so unless you cut power to the supply, it will stay on.

 

Also, thread necro much? lol :)

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