LED ?

[Kempker1498]

I have been lurking around for awhile and and debating going to a LED system. I currently have a metal halide system, the humming noise it makes drives my wife nuts! And we all know if mama ain't happy no one is happy! I would be doing it myself, due to the high cost!

I have a 120 gallon corner tank and can fit about a 24 inch heat sink across the top. It is about 25" from the top of the sand bed to the top of the aquarium.

Can anyone point me in the right direction of calculating how many LED's I would need? I would like to keep all kinds of coral, including claims.

Thanks in advance for everyone's help.

Andrew

[FireWater]

I have not seen a dead set recommendation of a number of LED foor a certain size tank. LED'd can be a handful to research. They are still relatively new and have a revolving technology by the day. One thing to keep in mind is the optics you choose will make a huge difference in the par or intensity on the light itself. The higher th degree the lower the intensity as the depth increases, but if you use a narrow degree then you have no spread making a spot light effect. The best light uses a combination of optic degrees. I have searched and found some info on Nanoreef.

With that said I am running 2 AI Sols over my 120 and seem to be doing ok.

[FireWater]

Do you have a canopy? If so you might be able to run some Par38 style lamps in the corners to supplement the main light as well with out worrying about the look of a bunch of lights above the tank.

[Europhyllia]

keep in mind optics will affect spread and intensity.

[Kempker1498]

Thanks guys for your input...I do have a canopy I will be "retro fitting" with the LED system. I am you have previously stated...the research I have seen is kinda all over the place!

[Europhyllia]

I like the way the optics are arranged in my AI: I think it's 40 degree lenses in the center and 70 degree lenses on the ends

[Meslo]

I would contact some of the DIY web sites like rapidled.com and ask them what they recomend for your size tank and go from there.

[Tommy]

For a 120gal i would recommend atlist 48 LED you can def get away with 36 LED if you not doing too much SPS. Heatsink if you can fit a 30 inch long and about 8 -10 inch wide Heatsink that would be great you can do 12 LED on each column. 1;1 ratio blue/white as for optic the new XPG LED will have 40to 80 degree, If you hang your LED atlist 16 inch and up above the water you can get away with 60 degree optic or even 80 degree so you can get the LED to spread out more throughout your tank. Because 40 degree is really focus and it won't look natural like MH. And if you do get your Led from Mike from RapidLED. Just mention to him my name Tommy he will give you discount since we are good friend way back :bigsmile:.



Good luck with the build and please ask question if you can figure it out, and don't guess lol


Tommy

[ErikH]

You shouldn't have any humming coming from your MH lights, FYI. Verify they are screwed in enough.

[Kempker1498]

Thanks again guys for the info...it awesome to know there are so many knowledge people in my backyard. I was wondering the same thing Eric...I wonder if it is fixing to go out on me.

[alton]

The older a magnetic ballast gets the louder, the hotter, and the less efficient it gets. Thats why you buy electric ballast they work at 100% or they do not work at all.

[Kempker1498]

Is there anyway I could switch it out to a electric ballast?

[Kempker1498]

Hey guys do y'all thank I can replace the magnetic ballast with an electric ballast? Don't know enough about them.

[StevenSeas]

Yes you should be able to replace the ballast with an electronic one to make it quieter. That being said I LOVE my LEDs and wouldnt go to MH on my small tank if you paid me. that being said if I could go to MH on my 75 I would get a MH/T5 combo

[Kempker1498]

Unfortunately I talked to Mike with rapid LED, and gave him the dementions of my tank. It's going to cost me over $700.00 to get the LED system I need. On a Police Officers salary and our fist baby on the way...just not possible right now.

I will talk to John at Polly's Pet Shop to see if he can order me an electric ballast for the MH light system I have. Thanks again everyone for there input.

[alton]

What size ballast?

[Kempker1498]

I am not sure how to read all the labeling on the ballast itself...I did take a picture of it. I am guessing a 150W?? Again that's a guess.

[Kempker1498]

After researching the product number is says it's a 220/240V ballast.

[StevenSeas]

Im not sold that thats the ballast. I think it is the igniter and not the ballast itself. If it is a ballast though it would be electronic and not magnetic. And theres the issue of that it says its 220-240 volts. Anyways you can post pictures of the fixture itself? Does it have a box on a cord somewhere between the fixture and the wall?

[alton]

It is an Ignitor not ballast, if your fixture is single ended mogul base (screw in) it would 175w, double ended it would be 150w. The ballast will be fairly heavy.

[alton]

Okay now I am guessing on the lamp size, what is the length of the lamp and is it DE or SE? Your ignitor will light just about any type lamp.

[Kempker1498]

Yes there is a rather large box I keep under the aquarium in the stand. But this is the part that is making the humming noise, and the part I would like to replace.

[Kempker1498]

I just left here house to go work....so these measurements are not exact. The total length of the light fixture is about 24". The MH light is centered and is an estimated 8"....again that is just estimations.

[SoLiD]

Pull the light bulb out please, and post a picture. That might be easier for us.