LED Lighting

Ok, so one of the benefits of being in the building industry is you get to take advantage of meeting new suppliers. One of my recent new contacts is a lighting specialist, who I have been liaising with regards to replacing my current tank's fluorescent tubes because they are pretty old. (+8 months already)

She was looking at basically sourcing the correct tubes of the correct Kelvin rating, however during her investigations, she has discovered the LED strip lights, and we are currently investigating this option. Don't ask me what the price is going to be. I will not know this, nor will she tell me. We are working on a deal at the moment that if I get one of my clients to purchase their lighting from her, she will absorb the cost for me.

This is a list of the different types, and I'd like to get your opinions on what I should look out for:

ECO White: 60LED per meter 6000-7000K 230 Lumen/m
Elite White: 60LED per meter 5500 - 6500K 300 Lumen/m
Aquarium White 60LED per meter 14000K 280 Lumen /m
unknown name 90LED per meter 10000K unknown Lumen

If I work on an average of 4w per meter, and put in 7 meters of lighting, I'm looking at only drawing 28W for the entire tank.

I am getting a one meter sample sometime next week to test to see if I get enough depth penetration. But let's assume this is fine... what are your guys opinions on what I should be going for. According to her suppliers, the 14000k and 10000K is the one I should be looking at for aquarium plants... but this goes against the general acceptance of 6500k that we have on the forum here.

 

So that is 0.06 Watt per LED?

Depending depth you need a sinlge LED of 3W with min 230LM with 60 degree optics to penetrate lets say 45cm and get a good par reading on substrate level.

 

@Zoom - been discussed to death on MASA. Conclusion - avoid at all costs.

 

sounds like the same stuff I mentioned here http://www.tropicalaquarium.co.za/showthread.php?10186-Will-LED-s-save-MTS ..

After loads of digging - I do not believe that the current drivers are not upto the job ... so just invest in some tubes again.

 

@Henk Hugo, Darn every time I walk into a lighting shop im so keen to get some. Whats the reason they say avoid? To little depth penetration or not enough wattage. Have noticed LED's seem to be very directional! Think I will get some just for that moon light affect at night. keen to try that out

 

it simply doesnt have the power we need/want in fishtanks.

 

This is the best link that explains exactly what to look for in aquarium LED's and also the MANY differences in the so called "aquarium" LED's being sold across the world. Well worth the read if you are considering LED's for a planted tank where you really need the light.

http://aquariumdigest.wordpress.com/tag/e-shine-led/

And as Henk has said, its being discussed heavily on MASA. And any LED should be compared to CREE LED's, they are the standard.

However, I have just installed these exact strips you are talking about in my coffee table tank, defn not good enough for a proper planted tank, but the best option for my tank. Will post some pics late tonight.

 

I want the new LED units the D&D guys are importing. REALLY cool

 

I was looking at the AquaRay GroBeam 500 - Solid State Lighting Strip - LED - 6500K - Single .. but at $140 it is a long way from affordable for 12W

Then again for min of 50 000 hours i.e 13 years - maybe it really it the way to go .. yes I am trying to convince myself here.

 

The Green Machine, an aquarium/fish/aquarium plants/gallery shop in the U.K.recomends the Arcadia Eco-Aqua LED light.
They specialise in aquatic plants and aqua scaping and have tested this LED unit,as well as other LED's,extensively and the Arcadia is the only unit meeting their requirements.
The artical:http://www.thegreenmachineonline.com/articles/news/why-we-now-stock-led-light

 

time to diy I think ... http://www.led-tech.de

 

Eish damn it! Where to start?!

 

Nice site if you need to learn to talk cree .. http://flashlight-wiki.com/Cree

I am looking at the xml t6 or u2 at this stage.

 

Be carefull even cree's differ in their bin numbers. Good place too get cree's and stuff from for DIY is Rapidled.

 

Thanks @Vis ... still playing with the idea ledgroupbuy seem to be ok priced but shipping is a killer, ledsupermall has the best price and free shipping but the star is only 16mm. Must say, rapidled does seem to have most of the bits getting a pre-drilled heat sink seems like a great plan - I need to see what shipping will cost.


Later F

 

I just ordered a pair of GroBeam 500s from the UK via family.
120 GBP - R1400ish for 2x12W

What convinced me was this:
T5 fitting for 2x28W - R600
2 year's worth of tubes at R400/pair = R1600
Total without electricity = R2200

Both solutions will give me High Light in my 56L tank.
cb