school me in led

[Fenker]

Ive been out of the hobby for a bit and just recently got back in.
I got out when LEDs just got big but still cost thousands.
I got a new tank with an odd shape, I have a 150w mh 14k Phoenix, but my tank is pretty wide. About 24".
Im not looking to replace my light, but looking to add for some more blue and to give tge coral some extra pop.
but I dont even know where to start! I can build about anything but i refuse to do electrical.
but at the same time I dont even know what to look for online. I see companies that were cheap products selling good looking led lights. But Idk if they will add any actual growth.
and drivers? Do I need to buy one for each led?
School me please

[350gt]

How deep is the tank? If not to deep you can get away with 1 watt LEDs.

If you are keeping your 150 mh as your primary lighting you just need a couple of strips to add supplemental lighting...

Are you using a canopy?

[Fenker]

This is my tank.
http://www.maast.org/showthread.php?71843-New-to-area-and-setting-g-up-a-nano
like I said in the op I will NOT be changing lights, just adding.

[350gt]

Then this will be plenty imo

http://www.ecoxotic.com/panorama-pro-module.html

one might even be enough, you can add up to 3 .

there is now a optional controller that always you to dim them for sunrise and sunset effects I believe..


ive had plenty of them to recommend them, there CS is also top notch.

[SABOB]

Ha ha, didn't have my glasses on and thought this topic was "school me in bed"
Good to see its a Family Friendly topic instead


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[Mr Cob]

from my experience with using led as supplemental such as the led strips...it doesn't do much of anything. I run MH on all of my systems and led actinic strips as well, but my only purpose for the led strips was to be able to view the tank before and after the MH cycle. If you need to add lighting during your cycle to get the colors you are looking for then you would need to add much more than a couple of actinic led strips and I would just go with a T5 light for that purpose.

But if you are just trying to extend viewing times on the tank..I'm all about the led strips!

[allan]

What rob said... I've headed a lot of led supplemental and the only time I enjoy them is when the MHs are off.


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[350gt]

The strips you all are using has alot do do with it......

[350gt]

This is a old pic of just one of the panorama pros (magenta/blue)on my tank..... Pic is deceiving but its pretty bright..

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_0723.jpg

on a smaller tank those things rock.... I had 3 on my aqua pod and I was getting good growth from all my softies and LPS.... didnt have no sps at the time.

Here is the one strip with the T5s and MH on

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_0716.jpg

[350gt]

3 panorama pros, 2 blue on the ends and one magenta blue in the middle

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_1293.jpg

[350gt]

my old aqua pod lit by 2 of the older 8K panoramas and 1 PRO.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_1955.jpg

[Mr Cob]

The strips you all are using has alot do do with it......

I also used ecoxotic..Stunner Strips, TrueLumens strips and PowerBrite modules. They all gave me the same result when coupled with 250w MH. Perhaps coupled with 150w MH the results would be better. I agree the LED strips rock alone...which is why I use them, I was just making a statement that they didn't do much when my blazing MH was on...they were pretty washed out in fact. Also worth mentioning that I use 20k MH bulbs so I'm already getting a blue spectrum. I guess if you had 10k bulbs the blue from the LED might actually be noticeable...in my scenario it was not. I also had 4 strips with 2 x 250w MH.

[350gt]

Stunners were nothing but a waste of money, barely even noticed them on my 20 gallon frag tank.... And I had 2 of the 24" strips on it.......

true lumens should never be used for supplemental.... those are 4 leds. IMO should be considered moon lights

[Mr Cob]

my old aqua pod lit by 2 of the older 8K panoramas and 1 PRO.

http://i712.photobucket.com/albums/ww125/gsrt5/IMG_1955.jpg

that's great but said that he does not want to replace his MH...he said he only wants to add more light to get some more blues. My 29g BioCube has a 150w MH with 2 PowerBrite LED modules and I also had 2 stunner strips but the sticky kept coming off the fixture so I went back to the PowerBrite modules which I mounted to the canopy... the blue did not make much of a difference when the 20k MH was on.

[Mr Cob]

Stunners were nothing but a waste of money, barely even noticed them on my 20 gallon frag tank....

true lumens should never be used for supplemental.... those are 4 leds. IMO should be considered moon lights

ahh ok...so I see your point..the Panoramas are significantly different. THX.

[350gt]

Now the tru lumen pro strips might be a better choice instead of the true lumen 4 led strips.....

http://www.current-usa.com/aquarium-led-lights/truelumen-pro-led-striplights

[Mr Cob]

that's funny too because the darn stunners aren't cheap for such a little strip!

[350gt]

they are not.... and I really like ecoxotic, I just will never buy another stunner again....


the panoramas I would love to light another tank with them, I was pleased..... and there new controller has me wishing I didnt sell off the 6 strips I had at one time......

[350gt]

If I had a strip still rob I would let you try it out, Im not saying it would over take your 250 but would enhance it some.....

[Mr Cob]

see, and that's what I wanted with my last couple of tanks.. the 20k MH was still not blue enough for me and I didn't want T5's due to having to mess with replacing bulbs and limited space and the LED strips I used never really added anything while the MH was on...I still kept them though because of the extended viewing hours on the tanks.

[350gt]

Rob a DIY 3 watt led strip will blow away any of the strips that we both have ever tried......


I just liked the panoramas cause they were in stock and plug in and play..... and were way brighter than the stunners.

[reefreak]

Yes mine is bright ill show ya tomorrow rob

[Mr Cob]

Cool Jeremy.

Tony, I'm all about plug and play..not much of a DIYer.

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[350gt]

I'm the same way, which is why I have never attempted it..

Rapid led has kits, to leave out some of the guess work..... They also have some solder less kits....

I might try one, one of these days.

[Flyride95]

I have been viewing those DIY kits and they look awesome. But honestly I don't know how to pick out the driver. Can someone catch me up on that part?

[Mr Cob]

lol, still too much DIY for me, even in the kits.. should have seen me wiring an icecap ballast before. lol

Anyways, thx for the info on the strips, I started feeling like I started this thread. haha. Sorry OP.

[350gt]

I have been viewing those DIY kits and they look awesome. But honestly I don't know how to pick out the driver. Can someone catch me up on that part?

There is a few DIY ppl on here.... If not email rapid led.. They respond fast.