Building My LED Light

[traelman]

Hi All................

I'm going to use this as my log for a project that I'm planning, a little backgroud info:

Project- Aquarium Light/Hood (30gl HeX)
Goals- Create a working Light that is both reliable and effective
Factors- $$$ Cost, keep it lowlowlowlow
- Design: I have an electronics backgroud but I've never done this type thing before.
- Equipment: Brand of Led, Driver ( or supply), heat sink
- Specs: Lumens(number at given mA), Color Spectrum , Thermal control

Using these different topics, I'll try to discuss each one using the various info I've gathered already, along with my results.


Do Work!!!!!!

[traelman]

Project- Aquarium Light/Hood (30gl HeX)

Just some info on what I'm really trying to do. I recently bought a 30gl Hex aquarium from a friend. It came with everything I needed to get started. Once it was up and running I felt the need to upgrade. After doing some research, it seemed that the existing light was inadaquate and the search for a replacement began. Using info from various aquarium forums, my plan was to replace my old technology flourescent with something a bit newer. The sticking point of this idea is there are no easy, cheap, hightech replacements for my oddball original .

Now what to do!?!?!

On the aquarium forums, the answer is either adapt or DIY, so I decided thats what I would do for this situation. Right now I'm well into the planning stages and have gathered enough info to be extremely dangerous and very costly.

I will try and post some of the planning that I've already done(complete info for this forum).

Do Work!!!

[BoredAgain]

I love DIY, especially lighting.

[1oooop]

kay, one problem tho, IT ONLY WORKS AS A MOON LIGHT WITH A REGULAR LED SET to does practically nothing, BUT make your tank look cool, anyway if you need any help just PM me

also I suggest taking an old computer PSU (power supply) as an LED driver(OLNY FOR WHITE, BLUE, AND GREEN LEDS) use the orange channel(it's all on a link on my first post on the originating thread)

they do a crappy job of plant growth, of course who wants GIGANTIC plants

[traelman]

I still have to disagree with the idea that LED's cant grow plants 1oooop. Take a look at these comparison photos, one is a PC and the other is LEDs. If you are going to use LEDs you have to be very particular about the spec of them. Check this guys link . He has done quite a few things with LEDs.

[Squawkbert]

Right - get the right LEDs and you're good.
Search - there are other DIY LED threads out there including links to cheap, right LEDs, programs that provide wiring diagrams & resistor specs for a given set of LEDs (you feed LED specs (mA), power supply spec, # LEDs - it does the rest)... if not here, then at [IMG]APC[/IMG].

[traelman]

For right now, I'm not to concerned with the physical shape or look of my new tank hood. I do want it to be pleasing to the eye(as mandated by my lovely wife), and functional; provide mounting for my light, and a means for preventing desertion of my fish. I have made some basic lay out designs that I think will work.

As far as the lighting portion of the project goes anything better than what I have right now would be great!!! It's not that my current light looks crappy, but I have a single flourescent of 15 W for a 30gl Tank. The math on that's pretty easy .5W/1gl, that just wont do it for most plants, not to mention the fact that my light is about 26 inches from the bottom of my tank. So, for my purposes, I hope to end up with something that is better in quality for; 1.the fishies, 2.The plants that I hope will prosper, 3. The person looking at the tank(namely ME).

Something else that should part of my goal for this project is $$$. At first I thought " I dont care how much it costs I'm still going to Do it", but now that I've been doing my research, I've backed off that attitude a little. Since this is my first attempt at this, maybe I shouldn't go "Hog Wild" and blow $200 that I don't really have to blow, so I am going to try and limit myself as much as possible. As of right now, the LEDs that a may use are a total $35, that's for 6 white LEDs (3W/per= 18W), one Blue, and one Red. So using that as a basic start I'm going to try and keep my budget in the $75 range (cheaper is better sometimes!?!?)

That's enough for now, it's Saturday and I've got a Honey Do that awaits.
Have a great weekend PeepS.

[1oooop]

okay, one problem IT NEEDS TO BE WATER PROOF or at least resistant
I suggest putting the supply on the ground and just cross the power on wire with the ground permanently

maybe have a timer for it

[1oooop]

so, it seems you have a hood for it, is the hood plastic or metal? because if it's plastic you can drill holes on it metal, same thing but easier to buy a piece of plastic

[Squawkbert]

Unless *all* you want to do through the opening is feed, move it back, closer to the center.