DIY LED Help

[StevenSeas]

Calling all LED gurus. Ok not really but anyways ever since LEDs started getting used as main lighting on a tank I loved the thought of it. So now that everybody else is making theirs instead of buying them I am wanting to know what it would take to make one for the tank that I currently have. So here is my setup. Its a 30 gallon tank 36x12x18. However there are 2 false walls that I put in 6 inches from either side. This makes the display a 24x12x18 (or standard 20 gallon dimensions, all I'm allowed in my dorm is a 20... ) The left side is for my skimmer and other mech and chem filters. The right is for a fuge and mech filter. The fuge dimensions are 6x8x18. I would like this area to be light by the LEDs to replace my PC bulb i have on it. The lighting on the DT that would be being replaced is 4 Hagen Glo bulbs and 2 50/50 current powerbrite strips. (the bulbs are 2 actinic, and two 67000 alternating with the powerbrites down the center. I would like the ability to control the light output either manually or electronically from 6700k to 20000k for a natural daylight cycle. if not electronically well then just for fun I currently have mostly zoas, pulstating xenia, and some lps, one devils hand coral too. Eventually I would like to get only lps. The corals are currently getting good growth (the 7 polyps of AOG that I got from Rob at the frag swap is now 11, Thanks a ton Rob) So I would like to make my lighting a little more powerful and better than currently is. With a little extra strip for the fuge light. Any help would be greatly appreciated. As always thanks so much for yalls help on everything, its a great site/community to be a part of.

[StevenSeas]

ooo and approx price range would be nice, i plan on doing around the time it is ready for new bulbs, also I guess I could just use my 2 powerbrites to power my fuge, so wouldnt have to have a side lighting area, would be nice though for clean look, even though it would be in canopy. O ya the canopy is 4 inches off the surface of the water and the lights would be mounted about 5-6 inches off the surface.

[txg8gxp]

If you wanted to use single emitter stars, the general rule is 2" spacing left to right and 3" spacing front to back. With a 24x12x18 area, I would use a 20-24" long by 8.5" wide heatsink. With a 24x8.5 HS I would start with 3 rows front of 12, for 36 leds. Lenses would depend on how high off the tank the light is. 36 leds would handle LPS/SPS. This would be a pretty powerful light. Rapidled.com has retro kits with dimmable drivers,emitters,lenses for $415.

[txg8gxp]

Go with 60-80 degree lenses. I would go 60, but maybe 80 on blues.

lights would be mounted about 5-6 inches off the surface.

[StevenSeas]

If i used the 24 inch heat sink that would put some LEDs right on the edge and only half the light would it be much diff to use a 20 inch heat sink and save on 6 LEDs or would that be too little LEDs

[txg8gxp]

Alot of it come down to what you wanna keep. If you only want LPS, 24 leds would work fine. That would bring the retro kit cost down to $240. Dimming and non-dimming is a big cost difference aswell. The 36 leds would be alot more like 6 t5's or better. What kind of coral you want to keep? Do you want dimming? You looking for high light or similiar to your 4 bulb t5?

[StevenSeas]

Dimming would be nice. I would like to keep mostly lps and maybe some higher end zoas. With that kit i would still need a heat sink correct? Also which kit would be better the premium or ultra premium?

[txg8gxp]

The Ultra has white XPG's instead of XRE's. The ultra is better. For your setup I think 24 would be great. You would still need a heat sink, www.heatsinkusa.com. You could even build the fixture for less money if no lenses are used, but I would buy them. Ultra kit w/dimmable drivers $285 and 20x8.5 HS $45

Dimming would be nice. I would like to keep mostly lps and maybe some higher end zoas. With that kit i would still need a heat sink correct? Also which kit would be better the premium or ultra premium?

[StevenSeas]

ok sounds good, anyone have a fixture I can check out so I can drool and see why i will be stuffing away some money every paycheck? I will be in SA this weekend from friday till sunday

[StevenSeas]

also are the dimmable drivers something you can put on a control or timer of sorts to control the dim or have to adjust manually?