Led Lighting In Planted Tanl

[jamesgjatkin]

Hi all,
 
I will soon be setting up a new tank using a 198 Litre aquarium (BOYO LZ-810)
This comes equipped with 2xT8 lights which I don't feel is very good given the depth of the tank.
 
I am planning to custom build LED unit consisting of 6 panels of LEDs, however instead of the normal 3W star LEDs, I am thinking of using 'Ultra Bright' 5mm LEDS (around 200 per panel). 
 
I've done the math and it appears to give a very similar light output to 6 panels of 6x3W Star LEDs (which is what I used in my old tank).
 
Has anyone had experience with using this sort of setup? 
 
I am planning to use mostly daylight white with maybe 10 to 20% Blue
  - The Blue LEDs are 465nm @ 9,000mcd
  - The White LEDs are 13,000mcd (~6500k)
 
If I go ahead with the 5mm method, I am planning to do a post showing the setup of this, but wanted to check if it is not going to be any good before I start.
 
Anyone have any thoughts, suggestions or experience with this? 3W Star or 5mm Ultra Bright
 
Any help would be gratefully appreciated.
 
Thanks,
 
James
 
( Sorry, just realised I can't type 'Tank'  D )

 

[Zikofski]

i can post pictures later, but i use the 3w star LED's and so far i can't fault them, altho i am having overheating problems with mins :s poor manufacturing i think on who made them, i now make my own, but i do not know about these 5mm less and am interested in what u make of them, currently i have a 88L (30"x12"x15") tank that i run 15x3w LED's 3 banks of 5, and as u see in my picture below thats how bright they are, perfect for a high tech high light setup, i also have a new ADA 60 H (45) which is 60cm x 45cmx 45cm, which i will also be running 15 x 3w led's in a similar fashion, altho the new tank is more Ltrs it has a lesser floor foot print and I'm hoping the 3W led's are strong enough to penetrate through deeper water, to still give me a high light environment but i have questioned on getting the 5w led's but i feel cooling them maybe an issue, i can post pictures up of both my led setups if u like

 

[jamesgjatkin]

Ok, I have created a test board with 204 5mm Ultra Bright LEDs on it.
My existing Marine tank used 3W Power LEDs and I have noticed a potential issue already...
Firstly, they do not seem to be as bright as the 'equivalent' 6 x 3W units.
Also the 5mm LEDs have quite a tight angle or projection meaning that the LED Panels are not likely to fill the tank as I'd like
Looks like I am going to have to go back to using 3W Stars again...
Any ideas as to a reliable way to isolate these from moisture? That would be quite straightforward with 5mm ones, but the stars are a bit more of a challenge.

 

[Zikofski]

hm tbh i don't bother, depending on how u have them if u use a LED Lense like this one 
 
http/www.ebay.com/itm/20x-60-Deg-Matte-LED-Lens-for-1W-3W-5W-LED-White-Holder-/110730449812?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19c80c9394
 
i use these but black, and the heat that is given off from the led's i don't haft to worry about moisture as these get to around 50 to 60 degrees C, the lens is 22mm wide i cut a 22mm wide hole in wood and use a glue gun to secure in place if u surround the whole lens with the glue gun to hold it in place i guess it could help prevent moisture getting inside
 
but here is the latest LED"s that i made today
 

 

 
these are 3w LED's 15 of them using 60 deg angle lens

 

[jamesgjatkin]

That looks great
 
I like the idea of the lens being used in the way that you have...
 
I'll get to work and post some pics as I progress

 

[Zikofski]

cool glad you like it and hope it works well for you