Arcadia Leds's

[divegirl]

Hi, has any one got/used these and are they worth the money?

I was at my LFS this morning [went for frozen food and came home with 8 fish ] and the guy was telling me about them. I had seen them before up there and the effect on the tank is amazing! But at a cost!
I would be using them on my brackish tank with my GSP's and only use light for aesthetic purposes.

Any opinions?

Lisa x

 

[StandbySetting]

The cost for what they are is a joke, if you want LED's building your own is simple enough, all you need are high power LED's, drivers, transformers, wire and be able to solder it all together.

 

[divegirl]

Well I know they're not cheap.....found these though [far less than what the LFS wanted].......

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Arcadia-ECO-LED-Daylight-Trop-aquarium-light-23W-997MM-/330496083061?pt=UK_Pet_Supplies_Fish&hash=item4cf31a0475

I can change a plug and a light bulb but that's about as far as my DIY knowledge goes and even if I got all the bits together I lack the motivation and time to build it.... Would be far easier [for me] to plug and play....or watch....lol

Lisa x

 

[StandbySetting]

You could build one to the same spec for about £25, and it really is easy, it takes about 30 minutes to solder everything up and 15-30 minutes to mount the LED's.

 

[divegirl]

Fairy nuff....but....what would I do then? Just fix it all to the inside of my lid [which is wood]? Do they then work through the plastic condensation traps? All sound a bit complicated for me [female lol] + I don't have a soldering iron!

Lisa x

 

[StandbySetting]

Soldering irons are cheap, you can pick one up for about £5, you'll need to fix them to heat sinks with self adhesive thermal tape, fix the heat sinks to something like an aluminium bar so that it will fit into the T8 bulb holders, just ensure there is space for heat expansion. They're incredibly bright, they'll shine through condensation traps.

 

[divegirl]

O..kayyyyy and could you point me in the direction as to where I might buy all of these magical components from please....I have had a looky at you journal btw

Lisa x

Would something like this do?

http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOLDERING-IRON-KIT-STAND-AND-ACCESSORIES-SOLDER-UK-/200639279872?pt=UK_Home_Garden_PowerTools_SM&hash=item2eb7087300

 

[minnnt]

Mattlee has these in his oscar tank. Take a look in his journal 'keiths new tank' in the new world cichlid section. They look pretty d@mn good to me!

 

[StandbySetting]

That'd be fine, but if you go to Maplin you can get them a little cheaper, just not with all the spares.

LEDs:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10pcs-High-Power-3w-white-LED-Lamp-bright-3watt-Light-/280676738369?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4159a32541
Heat sinks:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/15pcs-Aluminium-Heat-Sinks-1W-3W-High-Power-LED-DIY-/360388636043?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item53e8d62d8b#ht_2793wt_905
Driver:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3w-LED-Driver-MBI6651-Constant-Current-700mA-Light-Lamp-/350483444139?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item519a70f1ab
Transformer suitable for 6 LED's
Power supply:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AC-100-240V-Converter-Adapter-DC-24V-1A-Power-Supply-UK-/220820854326?pt=UK_ConsumerElectronics_PowerAdaptors_SM&hash=item3369f2d636

You can use mains cable to connect it up to save on money.

 

[divegirl]

Mattlee has these in his oscar tank. Take a look in his journal 'keiths new tank' in the new world cichlid section. They look pretty d@mn good to me!

I've seen them in action and the colours they bring out are beyond belief....saw then on a tank of Red Belly Piranha, lights on.... and woo hoo, lights off...oh look at the pretty grey fish! They had them on a Malawi set up before and they just look so cool.

I do love the idea of building my own but time is not something I have right now, but I do have the money . I may look in to building my own for one of my smaller tanks in the future.

Lisa x

 

[minnnt]

I've ordered some cheapo ones from ebay, should get them tomorrow. Wanting some low light and I'm hoping they do the job. Will be going on a 4ft tank with some 30w t8's so I have the option of either then. They were only a tenner so its no biggie if they don't work.

 

[divegirl]

I've ordered some cheapo ones from ebay, should get them tomorrow. Wanting some low light and I'm hoping they do the job. Will be going on a 4ft tank with some 30w t8's so I have the option of either then. They were only a tenner so its no biggie if they don't work.

Oooo....could you let me know what you think of them when they arrive....I know there are cheaper options but you get a 2 year warranty with the the Arcadia ones....just want new lights now....so impatient me!!!!

Lisa x

Edit to add....I only want the lights to look nice....I currently run a marine blue t8 [I think] just to make the tank look nice at night...it's high end brackish so I can't grow anything in there but not up to coral levels just yet!

 

[minnnt]

Sounds great lisa, any pics? The ones I have bought were 2x48 leds so I will be having 1 at the front and 1 at the back. I'm not planted in that tank as its currently housing an oscar and wanted a bit of crisp white light to try and enhance his appearance. Should look good with black sand.

 

[divegirl]

Some pics here hun......

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/364275-my-gsp-tank/

Lisa x

 

[Vin Swords]

You can buy gu10 led bulbs.. High powerd ones cost you 2 or 3 quids.. They are plug and play. And watch...