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Post by gotareef on Feb 4, 2014 11:05:57 GMT -5
Hi all, It's been a while...I recognize some of the names on the forum so some of you may remember me. I haven't had a tank set up for about two years but I have the itch so I'm going to get back into the hobby. I pulled out some of the boxes and I still have enough equipment to set up a tank which is a bit surprising because I sold a TON of stuff. It's good to see that there is a forum kicking around. Anyway, I'm going to start small and set up a ten gallon SPS tank with a ten gallon sump. I also plan on building my own DIY LED fixture and I'm going to make an attempt at a DIY controller. Looking forward to sharing the build with everyone. welcome! its been a wile... glad you found the site. I am also in the process of setting up an sps tank, if there is anything I can help with let me know. what are you going to use for led? for a 10g tank 1w should be more than enough also I have a couple small about 4" square heatsinks, if you can use them you can have them. |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 4, 2014 12:10:19 GMT -5
How many watts are you thinking about going for?
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Post by jess on Feb 4, 2014 12:16:51 GMT -5
Ecoxotic.com I have their eco pico reef set up, and the other is just a rim less 5gln also with their light. Very affordable Sent from my HTC ONE Attachments:
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 4, 2014 12:45:57 GMT -5
Do they have stronger lights? Because his is going to be sps dominant at the least so he may need a bit more wattage then you? Like between 30-40 watts? Maybe even 50 watts if you were going to put a dinner on it I believe? Could be way off to though happens allot to me!  |
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Post by gotareef on Feb 4, 2014 12:48:11 GMT -5
with led 15-20w should be more then enough
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 4, 2014 14:36:39 GMT -5
Hi all, It's been a while...I recognize some of the names on the forum so some of you may remember me. I haven't had a tank set up for about two years but I have the itch so I'm going to get back into the hobby. I pulled out some of the boxes and I still have enough equipment to set up a tank which is a bit surprising because I sold a TON of stuff. It's good to see that there is a forum kicking around. Anyway, I'm going to start small and set up a ten gallon SPS tank with a ten gallon sump. I also plan on building my own DIY LED fixture and I'm going to make an attempt at a DIY controller. Looking forward to sharing the build with everyone. Welcome! Can't wait to see the DIY stuff. I have done some DIY LED fixtures and controllers in the past and currently working on a modification for one of my two channel full spectrum fixtures to make it fully programmable along with a remote control option to change your intensities rather than the knobs. I might be able to provide some help here ahd there if you need it. Let me know. Thanks, good to hear some of you have experience. I'm flying blind here. You may be able to answer one question. If I want to set up a DIY controller using the Adruino open source hardware can I still go with the dimmable driver or will it cause a problem? Oh and not only have I never built a LED fixture but I've also never even dabbled with the Adruino hardware....that is going to be a challenge! But another reason I'm only doing a 10 gallon. |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 4, 2014 14:54:45 GMT -5
Hi all, It's been a while...I recognize some of the names on the forum so some of you may remember me. I haven't had a tank set up for about two years but I have the itch so I'm going to get back into the hobby. I pulled out some of the boxes and I still have enough equipment to set up a tank which is a bit surprising because I sold a TON of stuff. It's good to see that there is a forum kicking around. Anyway, I'm going to start small and set up a ten gallon SPS tank with a ten gallon sump. I also plan on building my own DIY LED fixture and I'm going to make an attempt at a DIY controller. Looking forward to sharing the build with everyone. welcome! its been a wile... glad you found the site. I am also in the process of setting up an sps tank, if there is anything I can help with let me know. what are you going to use for led? for a 10g tank 1w should be more than enough also I have a couple small about 4" square heatsinks, if you can use them you can have them. Thanks friend, it's Rob correct? I keep flip-flopping on what to use but I'm going to make my mind up right now....I'm going with 1w. What do you think of this? www.satistronics.com/1w-high-power-led-royal-blue-2030lm-455460nm-for-reef-aquarium_p3186.htmlThanks for the offer on the heatsinks, lets say I take you up on that...I would only be able to mount one LED on a 4" heatsink, I've read that anything further than 3" apart will not blend together fully and create a rainbow. My thought is I could make a large 8"x8" square by butting the heatsinks right up against eachother. Do you think that would work? And if yes would that be enough coverage for the tank so I dont get a spotlight effect? Or do you think it would be better to butt them up to make a long fixture 16"x4"? |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 4, 2014 15:05:35 GMT -5
Jess, thanks for the suggestion. I've come to the conclusion that I want to build a fixture. Personally half the fun for me is 'the build' of having a tank so I've decided to stretch that part of the process out by doing as much DIY stuff as I can. I was actually going to do a DIY acrylic tank but couldn't justify spending $100 on the materials when I can buy a 10 gallon tank for $14.99
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Post by gotareef on Feb 4, 2014 23:20:09 GMT -5
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 5, 2014 7:09:02 GMT -5
I know you want to build a diy led fixture but I was looking on eBay and found this light!! It looks just like the lights allot of us on the forum have but it's smaller.... mini me light!! 50 watt witch is to much I know but it's fully dimmable so perfect and it leaves you room for an upgrade (witch should always be an option!) And it's not much more in money then your gonna pay just for materials. m.ebay.com/itm/151225775351?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 Even if you don't like this light I'm sure others will. I know I do I'm thinking about a Frag tank right now just because I saw this light!! Maybe it's just because it's so small that it makes it so cool?? Idk? |
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Post by jasonandsarah on Feb 5, 2014 7:11:33 GMT -5
Downside is there's no purple or uv but there's always a good chance that the seller will customize your layout to what you want if you ask them to? Plus uv led's are not that bright imo
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 5, 2014 9:53:21 GMT -5
I know you want to build a diy led fixture but I was looking on eBay and found this light!! It looks just like the lights allot of us on the forum have but it's smaller.... mini me light!! 50 watt witch is to much I know but it's fully dimmable so perfect and it leaves you room for an upgrade (witch should always be an option!) And it's not much more in money then your gonna pay just for materials. m.ebay.com/itm/151225775351?nav=SEARCH&sbk=1 Even if you don't like this light I'm sure others will. I know I do I'm thinking about a Frag tank right now just because I saw this light!! Maybe it's just because it's so small that it makes it so cool?? Idk? This is a good find but fixture I'm going to make will be fully programmable. It will fade on and off over a period of time to mimic sunrise and sunset and I'll be able to change/control color patterns through a touch screen. There are even programming abilities that mimic clouds passing. In order to do this you need a fixture that uses a PWM dimming function rather than analog. I'd need to change the drivers in this fixture which is going to be the largest cost of the fixture. I'm going to build a controller using open source hardware...the capabilities of these controllers are limitless and they only cost about $40 to get started but you're talking about starting with a blank motherboard. I realize this all sounds a bit overkill for a 10 gallon but I want to start small to keep my costs under control in case I end up scrapping the entire light and controller....it's all new to me. The benefit is that I'll be able to use everything I've bought and built if I decide to go larger down the road. |
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Post by Pokahpolice on Feb 5, 2014 10:02:07 GMT -5
Thanks, I ordered all of the LEDs thru them. Now I just have to wait a month to get them. I ordered the drivers from another vendor because I need PWM compatible...see above |
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Post by jess on Feb 5, 2014 11:52:50 GMT -5
I watch animal planet and even tho I hate tanked, they programmed a real reef tank with lights that mimics clouds, thunderstorms with lightning, all kinds natural light patterns. Was pretty neat
Sent from my HTC ONE
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Post by gotareef on Feb 5, 2014 12:07:36 GMT -5
I dont agree with lightning storms on a tank! have ever seen how the fish react, I see allot of stress being caused by this....
but I do like the sun rize/ sunset feature
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