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Cultivated Reef

20g High DIY LED Options


MGP

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I've been searching around for some 20 high builds but can't seem to find anything. I am going for a full spectrum look and want to have well dispersed light with good color blending. I've been playing around with a supplies list from Rapid and Steves and have come up with similar builds that are about 200 dollars with shipping.

 

The light will be housed in a canopy, so it will only be about 5'' over the water surface. I have mainly LPS coral

 

Here is my list from Rapid first:

 

post-84284-0-16859600-1410103927_thumb.png

 

I plan on running

Driver 1: 5 NW, 1 Red, 2 Lime, 2 Violet

Driver 2: 5 RB, 1 Cyan, 3 Blue

 

 

And here is Steves:

 

post-84284-0-75364300-1410103991_thumb.png

 

post-84284-0-84905000-1410104027_thumb.png

 

I plan on running

Driver 1 (Single driver): 2x Tri-Star (NW, RB, Lime) , 1 x Violet

Driver 2 (Double Driver): 2x Tri-Star(NW, blue, RB), Tri-Star(RB, Blue, Amber), Tri-Star(NW, Cyan, RB), 1 Violet

 

 

So, what do you recommend? I think 200 dollars is a little pricey, and I'm not too sure about the heatsinks from Steves, but I do like the tri-star LEDs. I also do not know if this will be the right combination of colors. Any and all advice is welcome

 

I plan on updating this thread as I go, so once I get the parts figured out I will then decide on orientation of the stars and other aspects of the build

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I've been searching around for some 20 high builds but can't seem to find anything. I am going for a full spectrum look and want to have well dispersed light with good color blending. I've been playing around with a supplies list from Rapid and Steves and have come up with similar builds that are about 200 dollars with shipping.

 

The light will be housed in a canopy, so it will only be about 5'' over the water surface. I have mainly LPS coral

 

Here is my list from Rapid first:

 

attachicon.gifhttp://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=142759'>photo 1.PNG

 

I plan on running

Driver 1: 5 NW, 1 Red, 2 Lime, 2 Violet

Driver 2: 5 RB, 1 Cyan, 3 Blue

 

 

And here is Steves:

 

attachicon.gifhttp://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=142760'>photo 2.PNG

 

attachicon.gifhttp://www.nano-reef.com/index.php?app=core&module=attach&section=attach&attach_rel_module=post&attach_id=142761'>photo 3.PNG

 

I plan on running

Driver 1 (Single driver): 2x Tri-Star (NW, RB, Lime) , 1 x Violet

Driver 2 (Double Driver): 2x Tri-Star(NW, blue, RB), Tri-Star(RB, Blue, Amber), Tri-Star(NW, Cyan, RB), 1 Violet

 

 

So, what do you recommend? I think 200 dollars is a little pricey, and I'm not too sure about the heatsinks from Steves, but I do like the tri-star LEDs. I also do not know if this will be the right combination of colors. Any and all advice is welcome

 

I plan on updating this thread as I go, so once I get the parts figured out I will then decide on orientation of the stars and other aspects of the build

 

That price point is pretty good for LEDs,unless you really like DIY and soldering though have you considered a ReefBreeders or even the Nano Box 13up arrays? The Nano box are suppose to be really nice and at only $59 each. I think you only need 2 of the 13ups.

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I'd much rather build it myself with the soldering and whatnot. The nano box 13 up are basically just the lights? I was reading through the thread and it seems you still need to buy all the drivers, heatsinks, power supplies, etc..

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I'd much rather build it myself with the soldering and whatnot. The nano box 13 up are basically just the lights? I was reading through the thread and it seems you still need to buy all the drivers, heatsinks, power supplies, etc..

 

Yeah just the lights. You'd need the same supplies if you bought the individual stars or 3ups. The biggest difference might be better blending since the LEDs are closer together. It would be less soldering though so that's another plus.

 

Do you plan to just use a timer to turn the lights on and off, no sunrise/set option?

 

As far as what colors to use you might look at Jedimasterben's build. Here is the link. http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/323517-ct-7567-the-ledt5-nanobox-hybrid-evil-cluster/. I'm sure he'll be along soon enough though.

 

Also what are you planning to keep?

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Yeah I don't plan on using a controller just yet. My Sunrise will probably be the dominant white LED driver coming on first followed by the blue dominated driver, the other way around for night.

 

I have some simple stuff like ricordea, hammer, frog spawn, GSP, duncans, and one birds nest that I keep top and center right now, that wont change with the new light.

 

I'm running a Par 38 bulb with two hybrid 10 watt chips over my 20 long now, everything seems to be doing ok.

 

The more I think about it the more 200 seems reasonable for a good set up. I think I might do 2 single drivers instead of 1 double, if I order from Steves, that way I'll have more control with 3 separate drives. Unfortunately with his power supply I wont be able to turn on specific drives individually without a controller

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jedimasterben

I'd use LDD drivers and 48v power supply if you're planning DC to DC anyway. They're more efficient than Steve's drivers by a large margin and much cheaper.

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Now I'm confused, the 13 ups are pucks? Is it like the tri LEDs from Steve's but 13 instead of three? I read a thread on the 13 ups but I didn't see any pictures

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  • 5 weeks later...

New couple of questions - doesn't really have to do with this light at all.

 

Does anyone know of small drivers for running 6 (3watt) LEDs in series? The more compact the better, looking for AC to DC driver. Just something simple, doesn't have to dim. Cheaper the better also, but looking for something reliable

 

Also was wondering if violet LEDs will have any effect on a piece of acrylic placed directly below them? I know people were having problems with their lens under violets a while ago..

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Thank you for the suggestion. For some reason I am having trouble figuring out how to dim the driver you suggested. Do you just run the wires from the output end to a potentiometer? I think I also read somewhere the potentiometer needs current running to it

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There should be a set if marked dim+, dim gnd, and 10v or something similar. The 10v is reference voltage connected to the pots center pole thing. The others go on one of the outer pole things. The driver reads the given voltage and dims accordingly.

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