DIY LED lighting
 

It has been very long since I did any DIY projects. Now for my DIY Aquarium lighting experiment, some Luxeon V and CREE XR-E. They are meant to replace my 2x250W MH. Is it possible? I dont know yet, thats why I started this experiment.

I ordered 8pcs of the Luxeon V, 5W royal blues, 450nm. Each Luxeon V is actually 4 leds in one package, if you look closely you will be able to find 4 dies inside the lens

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...8042008120.jpg

Modified array of 12pcs of CREE XR-E 1.25W 5000K

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...8042008121.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...me/LuxeonV.jpg

Note that the Luxeon royal blue peaks at 450nm useful for photosynthesis but no glow for corals :(. Actinic peaks at 420nm, shorter wavelength for glow but not available for photosynthesis

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...e/CREEXR-E.jpg

Spectrum chart for the CREE XR-E, 5000K was chosen because of the increased yellow/red spectrum needed for photosynthesis. However I tried keeping some purple acros under pure 15watts of CREE XR-E 5000K and failed, the acros bleached and recede slowly over 3 weeks.

I have now increased to 40watts of royal blue and 15watts of white, only 1 side of the tank is lit due to the costs of luxeons USD$23+ each!

These 8 pieces of Luxeon V are driven by 2 of these tiny Luxdrive LED Drivers at 700mA

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...eLEDDriver.jpg

The LEDs are connected to a 4'x1' 3mm aluminum sheet as a heat sink. Effectively, only half of the aluminum is heated. The other side is room temperature.

I have taken temperature readings directly on the heat sink above the LEDs, its around 43-47C, well below the thermal design requirements :D

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...ermocouple.jpg

Received more Luxeon K2, still waiting for the CREE XR-E Q5s and 410nm actinic LEDs :D. These K2 will be driven at 1000mA or 1500mA once the 1500mA drivers are available.

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...5052008154.jpg

Wow very pro leh
 

Hi,
Look cool, this DIY LED light. Good for adding moonlight to marine tank.

If you use these LEDs for moonlight then its way overpowered already. I'm able to keep some acros and clams under them!

is the led complete? how much it cost total? and how much heat is produced compare to MH..

Its only particially completed so I did not show any pics, cost wise also not confirmed as I'm still adding and modifying the arrays.

As for heat, there is almost no heat input from the LEDs. I once ran the LEDs with 1 tunze wavebox with no chiller for about 12hours when I shut the main pump down due to leaks. The water temperature raised from 25C to 26.8C when I came back at night, I'm actually once pleased that the wavebox operates relatively cool! :D

hi boss, keep up posted on the cost and results... looks very intresting... keen to get a set from u....:D

I dont sell them, the workmanship is not sellable anyway :p

I just burned a 100watts powersupply yesterday when I'm only loading it with 70watts... more $$ down the drain :(

Homemade .... :o

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...8052008189.jpg

waiting for updates on your led lighting. anything so far? ;)

I'm thinking of adding another 40watts of royal blue :D

Currently I have 42watts of 5000K & 6500K , 80watts of royal blue(450nm), 18watts of actinic(410nm).

I'm taking pics of acros growing under these LEDs, so far its only 1 month+, I can see the progress but I'm not showing them yet :p

This coral is about 18" away from the LEDs

22/04/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l122042008.jpg

06/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l106052008.jpg

14/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l114052008.jpg

22/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l122052008.jpg

23/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l123052008.jpg

27/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l127052008.jpg

29/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l129052008.jpg

05/06/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l105062008.jpg

This coral is 28" away from the LED

22/04/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l222042008.jpg

06/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l206052008.jpg

14/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l214052008.jpg

22/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l222052008.jpg

29/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l229052008.jpg

05/06/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l205062008.jpg

Look at the top acro, its about 16" away from the LEDs

22/04/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l122042008.jpg

06/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l306052008.jpg

23/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l323052008.jpg

27/05/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l327052008.jpg

05/06/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l305062008.jpg

Additional information.

Nothing much were changed except the changing of 500watts of MH to 150+watts of LEDs

Infact, I bought sun corals and caused a massive algae bloom due to overfeeding. :D

More updates!

26/06/2008
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l126062008.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l326062008.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y27...l226062008.jpg

Verry nice pictures, i just stumbled upon this posting and I am very anxious to build an led lighting system for my 30 gallon tank, i have a very nice hood, with a burnt out ballast that i have been saving for 2 years waiting for prices to become affordable to do this. can you post a list of what you bought, and from where? also how long have you been running the led lighting system, and how are your corals, coralline algae, fish, ect?

thanks
-ash

Thanks for sharing. A very good way in saving the earth by cutting electricity usage.

hey

can you put down the cost of the parts?

am interested to try it out also on a small tank

I ordered most of my supplies at www.ledsupply.com

Hi Barra,

So in your opinion, what's the comparison between using 2x250W MH Vs your 150W LED options in term of overall tank illumination, aesthetics (anymore rippling effect?) and spectrum coverage?

Thanks for the info

Obviously, the 2x250W MH is much brighter than the 150W LED. However, the rippling effect is still there as the LEDs are point source lighting also.

The spectrum covered depends on which LEDs you use. I use heavily on 450nm which is the suitable for photosynthesis and 5000K for the full spectrum lighting.

Save lots of electricity and still achieve the results. This DIY is simply amazing. Two thumbs up.:)

Advice needed
 

Hi BarraCuda,

Are you using silicon/glue to stick the K2 to the Aluminium plate? wouldn't the heat melted the silicon/glue?

btw, I have some doubt and hopefully you can advice me before I jump into DIY my LED lighting.

Questions are as below;

1.What's the best distance/gap between each of the K2?
2.Why do you need 5W K2? 3W not enstuff?
2.How many K2 can one driver connected (in series)?
3.Are you using 24Vdc,1A power supply for K2? or higher voltage?
4.Do you use fan to reduce the heat?
5.Where do you get the Aluminium sheet from? Is it Ex?

Regards.
James

Can K2 star purchase locally :p?

Bro... So the result is with how many of the LEDs on?

Thanks... I am considering to DIY too... Thanks..

1.Depends on the heat sink thickness, typically min distance should be 1" apart.

2.I happened to find a batch of cheaper 5W thats why bought some to try.

2.Depends on the forward voltage of the LED. You add up all the forward voltage and it shall not exceed the max rating of the driver and power supply.

3.I'm using various power supplies from 30V to 24VDC, ranging from 5A to 3A.

4.No fan in used.

5.Aluminium sheet can be found in most aluminium hardware stores, mine cost about $70.

Can, from farnel singapore but be expected to pay many times the US price.

All the LEDs are on, about 50+pcs.

This is very useful.. Thanks... Will update when i DIY.. Haha..

Look into the CREE LEDs, now they have a higher power efficiency than lumileds.

You mean this?
http://www.ledsupply.com/creemce.php

Was thinking of using K2 and Luxeon III with optical lens...

Nope, its the XR-E series.

OK.. Thanks, will look into that... May I know your tank height? Other than the sps, the other corals are doing well also?