DIY LED SETUPS

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Any evals on the Bridgelux LED? pros and cons

Which diy complete LED are best for 30 inch tall tanks and why? links would help

[rrasco]

Lots of people have had success with the Bridgelux LEDs. RC has tons of threads of people using them without issue. Some people will tell you to get the Cree because they are name brand and are slightly more efficient, but at the 3x price it's simply not worth it in my opinion. The most important aspect is getting the right color mix, an appropriate number of LEDs, and positioning them correctly with optics to get effective coverage. It also depends on what you plan to keep, LPS is a definite, SPS could prove a little more difficult but I have seen some great PAR readings from bridgelux, just not sure for 30" depth, that's what I plan to find out soon.

[BBQHILLBILLY]

Ill be ready to take the diy LED plunge in a couple of weeks. I like the idea that if an LED goes out I can just solder in a new one or bypass it with a wire.

I have a 1WATT LED fixture and it looks great. But Im not in control of the fixture and if anything goes out the whole fixture is bad. yuk

The controllers for the AI seem to be really kool too from watching the videos. Looking for that kool diy controller.

[rrasco]

Most DIY kits have dimmable features via a potentiometer or via a PWM signal from a controller. My DIY controller will have sunrise/sunset and moonlighting...as well as any other feature I program it to have. I don't know specifically what the AI controller has, but anything can be recreated! It's really up to you though to take the plunge and create the features you want.

[Regric25]

Whats really cool is the owner at Reef2U sells the COMPLETE DIY kits with Bridgelux led lights. I almost got a DIY kit from him with 18 bulbs at $150. He says the only thing that I need to get is adhesive to mount the led lights to the heat sinks. The bulbs are already soddered to the wires and everything. You should check him out.

[Zack]

Is the heat sink included?

[rrasco]

That's sweet, I didn't know that Rick. I have never done business with Paul...but I think I need to. Good to know I have a source for some Bridgelux stuff. I ordered all my components for my DIY setup with Bridgelux LEDs...my cost was right under $500 for LEDs, custom drivers, heatsinks, and materials. However, I will be running 108 LEDs.

[Regric25]

Is the heat sink included?

Yup heat sink is included! Everything included!

[Regric25]

WOW thats a lot of LEDs!!! I have only been in there a few times since he bought it. He is making slow progress with the tanks. He is slowly converting all lights to LED lights and tanks are in decent shape. Unlike the previous owners. He is pretty friendly and will greet you at the door. <--- important to me!... My only complaint is the store is a little cluttered. Lots of used fish tanks for sale and desk area is kinda messy but the livestock tanks are all in good shape and healthy. I bought a RBTA about 3" across for $45 recently. It was all red with no greem. I thought that was a decent deal. Thats my review of that store LOL back to subject

The way he has it set up with the LEDs seems very simple to build. He told me how to do it while I was there. Seems very simple. The heat sinks are actual heat sinks and they are squares made to fit 1 led each.

[rrasco]

I've talked to Paul on a few occasions and he's a friend of a friend, just never made it over that way yet.

BOT --> I'm not sure I'd want a heatsink per LED, although it would work, it would be cluttered IMO. You can get heatsinks relatively cheap depending on what you need. I picked up 5.9x16" heatsinks from LED Group Buy for about $25/ea...they will host 36 LEDs each for me. What sounds most attractive in his kits to me is the wiring is already connected. Soldering is a trade I have yet to master.