My DIY 288 Watt LED Lighting System

tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
Hey guys
I just completed my LED lighting project intended to light my future 160g bowfront reef. I will never use an alternative lighting source ever, as long as it has the output and shimmer of LEDs.
This lighting project cost around $1000 to build but is very worth it. Compared to some online aquarium LED lighting fixtures, I saved around $2000-$3500 for a 288W LED lighitng system.
These pics are of my 288 Watt LED lighting system for my 160g bowfront tank. It's 6 feet long. It was an awesome investment and I already have it overhanging my 55g tank as of right now. I am using it on my 55g tank right now as a holding tank because I have a few things to buy before I convert over to the 160g tank.
I hope you all enjoy!
PS - I will be providing a complete useres guide of how to build this light. I have some details to finish in the guide. It will be very detailed and accurate. Please be patient
Some price estimates for this type of setup...
1-30g tank - $250
30-75g tank - $550
75-250g tank - $1000
250-400g tank - $1600

Royal Blue Night LEDs







 
2quills

2quills

Well-Known Member
Looks good! What kind of drivers and power supplies did you use, if I may ask? Are you going to use optics?
 
tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3298480
Looks good! What kind of drivers and power supplies did you use, if I may ask? Are you going to use optics?
I used Luxdrive drivers. The royal blues are running on 700mA drivers and I am using 1000mA drivers for the whites.
I used two power supplies.
One 24V 150W for the Blue LEDs and for the four fans that run on 24VDC.
One 24V 300W for the White LEDs.
Ask what you may. I am putting a step by step guide for DIYers
 
acrylic51

acrylic51

Active Member
Looks sweet!!!!! Will be waiting your build specs!!!!! This is my plan for my new tank as well. Do you notice any heat buildup with the plexi in place? How far is the plexi from the LEDS?
 
tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
Originally Posted by acrylic51
http:///forum/post/3298638
Looks sweet!!!!! Will be waiting your build specs!!!!! This is my plan for my new tank as well. Do you notice any heat buildup with the plexi in place? How far is the plexi from the LEDS?
There is no heat build up with the plexiglass. There is about 2" between the LEDs and the plexiglass. I have four 24VDC fans that are above the heat sinks. The heat sinks are barely warm with the fans so its perfect. I will be taking more pictures tonight and posting my fans and the positions they are in.
 
tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
Originally Posted by 2Quills
http:///forum/post/3298480
Looks good! What kind of drivers and power supplies did you use, if I may ask? Are you going to use optics?
And for optics...I currently am using no optics. Optics are optional but not neccessary. The optics that I have researched would have a spot light effect on the tank and I dont like that.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tannersmith200 http:///forum/thread/379489/my-diy-288-watt-led-lighting-system#post_3298700
 
And for optics...I currently am using no optics. Optics are optional but not neccessary. The optics that I have researched would have a spot light effect on the tank and I dont like that.
Have you considered 80 degree optics?
I played around with 40/60/80. 80 degree gave me the best overall boost without the spotlight effect diminishing the spread. I keep my panel about 10" off the surface of my 125g.
 
Nice case, I considered putting my array inside a case as well.
 
tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
Hey guys
 
Well I got my 60 degree optics this morning and just put them on my LEDs. The output is exceptionally brighter. I will test with a PAR meter whenever I can borrow the one off of my friend.
This was a good idea! :)
 

 

 

 
Quote:
Originally Posted by King_Neptune http:///forum/thread/379489/my-diy-288-watt-led-lighting-system#post_3299692
Have you considered 80 degree optics?
I played around with 40/60/80. 80 degree gave me the best overall boost without the spotlight effect diminishing the spread. I keep my panel about 10" off the surface of my 125g.
 
Nice case, I considered putting my array inside a case as well.
 
J

jstdv8

Guest
looks nice, how far off the water is the fixture? and do you get any spotlighting with the 60 degree optics?
 
tannersmith200

tannersmith200

Member
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jstdv8 http:///forum/thread/379489/my-diy-288-watt-led-lighting-system#post_3300502
looks nice, how far off the water is the fixture? and do you get any spotlighting with the 60 degree optics?
Hello
 
My fixture is approx 1 foot above my tank. I can swing it into position in order to work inside the tank if need be.
 
There is no spot light effect. I may go to 80 degree optics in the future but for now I am very happy with the output.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
Quote:
Originally Posted by tannersmith200 http:///forum/thread/379489/my-diy-288-watt-led-lighting-system#post_3300519
My fixture is approx 1 foot above my tank. I can swing it into position in order to work inside the tank if need be.
 
There is no spot light effect. I may go to 80 degree optics in the future but for now I am very happy with the output.
I think 60 was as solid choice. Im sorry I forgot to mention the reason I opted for 80's on mine was due to a foam wall build. I needed the wider spread.That potentially was an important fact to consider.
 
Im pretty sure your gonna be really happy with 60's...unless you too have a foam wall. Then you might want to consider 80's after all.
 
At 12" a 60 degree spread will do very nicely!Kudos.
 
reefraff

reefraff

Active Member
I went without optics because I wanted to mix in a few warm whites and didn't want spot lighting. Haven't checked PAR with water in the tank but empty the fixture with 3" spacing of the leds and no optics is putting better than 170 at the bottom of my 24" tall tank. Pretty impressive considering that is pretty much solid over a 24x48 inch tank. Only the last 6" or so at each end show much of a drop off.
 
king_neptune

king_neptune

Active Member
My dad just got the Q5's over his nano. Its mixed with XRE RB.
The Q5's alone look far better than the XRE-Whites alone!
I love the Q5's white vs. the XRE's yellowish color.
 
However, when mixed its not as nice looking.
I like the 50/50 split of my XRE/white + XRE/RB, over my dads Q5/white + XRE/RB.
Mainly because the Q5's are so bright, it over powers the RB.
I predict to off set this I can see the need to do at least a 60/40 split with RB being the 60.
 
My next build will be mostly RB and a splash of Q5's. Probably 25/75, with my Q5's running at 750ma for the RB, and 1000ma for the Q5's
Well see how it works out!
 
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