help with ideas for led cluster build

[skanderson]

my much delayed 700 gallon reef will finally be starting to be built this winter. i have 5 400 watt mhs for it but think i will be doing diy led clusters to light it. i have build a cluster led build for my 300 gallon planted african tank and loved the color and efficiency. i also have 250 watt halides that i could use and supplement with leds. i used bxras for my freshwater build. my 700 reef is 36"x36"x 130" with 4 crossbraces. i was looking for ideas on lighting before i start putting things together in here and before i order any bulbs/leds. especially looking for any new ideas on what main leds you would use for clusters. i was considering doing 10 pendant clusters with a 60 degree reflector. i used reflectors in place of lenses for my planted tank build and think that it will help avoid the disco effect, especially when done in clusters. i was hoping to place my rock in november and start the lighting in early december to get the tank up and running. thanks for any advice.

[HM3105]

my much delayed 700 gallon reef will finally be starting to be built this winter. i have 5 400 watt mhs for it but think i will be doing diy led clusters to light it. i have build a cluster led build for my 300 gallon planted african tank and loved the color and efficiency. i also have 250 watt halides that i could use and supplement with leds. i used bxras for my freshwater build. my 700 reef is 36"x36"x 130" with 4 crossbraces. i was looking for ideas on lighting before i start putting things together in here and before i order any bulbs/leds. especially looking for any new ideas on what main leds you would use for clusters. i was considering doing 10 pendant clusters with a 60 degree reflector. i used reflectors in place of lenses for my planted tank build and think that it will help avoid the disco effect, especially when done in clusters. i was hoping to place my rock in november and start the lighting in early december to get the tank up and running. thanks for any advice.

 

This is one of the most original ideas I've seen for a cluster build. This guy is putting them in the ceiling way above the tank. Maybe he can help you out with the place he bought them from as I believe they are custom.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/346217-my-take-on-the-cluster/

 

Check this thread out for help with colors. A lot of people (including me) are using Bridgelux chips, currently I think they are using the Vero10 as the main chip with Luxeon M for the blue.

 

http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/352618-led-colors-and-what-they-are-used-for/

[farkwar]

A lighting system that large would be more manageable if you went with pucks instead of clusters.

 

Whats your motivation for DIY?

 

Youll probably not save any money over buying commercial fixtures.

[skanderson]

hm3105 thanks for the links ive read both of those before but it was months ago and there is some new info on them now. farkwar im not sure i know what you mean by pucks. i diy because i like to tinker around. i also want to be able to tune my spectrum very specifically. i dislike the look of most of the led lit tanks ive seen, i dont like blue tanks and alot seem washed out to me. ive never liked the look of radiums for that matter. really always liked the 10 k coralux bulb look on my old reef. i have a month or 2 before i start building the lights on the tank and even longer if i run the halides as the start up lights. i will probably make 3 test clusters over my 30"x90" frag tank to try out some color combos. that is a shallow tank that will have no lenses over the leds so it will be a bit different but should be able to tell if i like the color. a friend in the area is telling me to stick with MH for better color so im still up in the air about it. really interested in how the clusters from bpaston turned out once the veros were in them.

[farkwar]

A puck is a cluster of LEDs but mounted closer than you can mount separate LEDs.

 

I would consider bpastons cluster a puck of sorts.

 

 

If you got the money to buy and run a 700 gallon tank. And run 2 kilowatts an hour just for lights you could afford 5 Radions or 5 Hydra 52s. Make your life simple.

[skanderson]

the way you are describing them i was planning on a puck build. just ordered an array of bridgelux arrays to try out. i think i will do the mock ups using a 6 inch makers heatsink so i can swap it around easily, but i am concerned running that much power through a 6 inch makers heatsink. my guess is that i will be running somewhere btwn 80 and 100 watts per puck. ive read that the makers are rated for up to 150 watts but i am concerned about fan failure and what that would do to the emitters. ive had 5 makers running for a bit over a year without any problem but that is with much lower wattage over my fw planted tank. im thinking of ordering enough leds to make at least 2 full cannons so i can try them side by side and compare the par and appearance to my 400 watt mh. if the costs get silly or i dont like the way they turn out they can always get demoted to being frag tank lights.

[farkwar]

The makers heatsinks are pretty fuggly.

 

Want a different idea?

[skanderson]

sure but the heatsinks will only be seen by opening the top. so theyre look is not important. what I am concerned about is heat dissipation especially if the fan fails.