DIY LED Questions?

[Xcali1985]

I have decided on 3 x 48 LED Kits for my tank. However, I will excercise the option to have each kit on 2 12" heatsinks instead of 1 24" heatsink. This will allow for less spacing between the heatsinks and create a more even lighting surface.

Now this is where the questions come in.

I'm going to run 3:1 blue:white ratio because I want amazing color over growth, and that ratio is 20,000k, so any ideas on how the layout of the leds should go?

Option: 1
BBBW
BBWB
BWBB
WBBB

or
Option: 2
WBBB
BBWB
BWBB
BBBW


Next question is will an apex support what will end up being 12 drivers?

That's it for now will probably have more, just concerned about the layout more than anything now. Im told a 48 LED kit on a 24" heatsink is the equivalent of a 250 watt MH, which is needed to penetrate 24" on water to grow clams and sps. Anyone think otherwise?

Ohh yea getting the kits from Reefledlights.com

[Troylee]

go with a 2:1 ratio and set the whites around 60% and blues @ 100% for a 20k look.... 3:1 is to much imho.... as for the apex yes it will support 12 drivers you can run up to 6 per channel so 24 drivers per module....

mine was like this...

bwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbb
bbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbb
bwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbw
bbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbbwbb


etc etc etc..... hth the color was nice and even... if you want the halide shimmer you might look into making clusters of led's here and there like a bunch of par38 bulbs it gives off a more define shimmer like a halide since you have less focal points.... spacing them even gives you a shimmer but billions of tiny ones nothing like a halide imho..

[Narazbad]

I would talk to kent about his light. He has had the best success in the club with diy led and is very knowledgeable with it.

[Xcali1985]

@Narazbad: will do.

@Troylee: wouldn't that essentially burn out the blues faster than the whites. One of the reasons I opted to go with 6 - 12" heatsinks was because it would be cheaper and easier to disassemble and replace a 12" with 24 LEDS then a 24" with 48 LEDS. That being said the 2-1 ratio wouldn't be the end of the world for me. However, im looking for deep rich color. Than fast growing bland color.

opinions?

[Narazbad]

And personally, I would go with something like a 3:1 or 3:2 I believe...but don't listen to me. I have yet to build one. The par 30 I have is a 3:2 ratio.

[Xcali1985]

And personally, I would go with something like a 3:1 or 3:2 I believe...but don't listen to me. I have yet to build one. The par 30 I have is a 3:2 ratio.

Got a picture of the fixture for reference?

[Troylee]

With the drivers set at the correct amperage no it won't burn them out faster... Latest results show LEDs need to be changed after 3 to 4 yrs anyways so not a huge deal.... Depending on your corals you prolly won't get that rich deep color your looking for fwiw.... Not with royal blue and cool whites.... If ya wanna run a blue, royal blue, cool white it will help cover the spectrum better but I would still use t5's as supplements to achieve the colors you want.... In reality all LEDs do is add pop!!! Sure your corals look great under them now sell a frag to a friend with mh and there brown..:(. After swapping displays and pulling all my corals from a led only fixture and swapping them to another tank with mh most of my pieces were brown instantly...:( put them back under the LEDs they have color.. Something is missing man there not quiet dialed in yet IMHO....to each there own I guess but I have played with every lighting available and I won't stray away from mh on any tank I own... LEDs are great for supplemental lightin but not as a single light source.. Hth