So yeah, now I'm going to go the route of LED lighting for my 29g tank.
Its become apparent that my old CFL lighting just isn't cutting it and I need something better. The options are PC, T5HO and LED. Well, considering an LED system can do twice the growth a PC can, and I can build a High Power LED system (watt for watt) that will last 15 or so years for the same price as an T5HO system that I will have to replace bulbs about once a year (looking about 4 bulbs at $10 a pop, ouch) the winner is apparent. An added advantage to LEDs is the shimmer effect that I get if I have some watter agitation. Don't believe me? point your LED flashlight at the water with some surface agitation. Be amazed
I've heard the arguments. Lemme list a few that I have heard
"LEDs can't grow plants". False, someone did a 7w LED system vs a 7w PC system, the plants under the LEDs grew far better than the PC tank. I just gotta make sure I use the correct ones.
"LED technology isn't here yet, wait a few years". I beg to differ, that may be the case in the marine side (almost) but thats a battle between LEDs and MH, something MH is going to lose in about 5 years. For a planted tank the battle is typicly between PC, T5HO and LEDs. LEDs already hold an advantage over PC, but is about twice the cost for a nice system.
"You'll need a bajillion LEDs to get enought light for plants" Not unless I go high power, I can get a 60w LED system using just 30 LEDs. Not bad :grinyes: .
"But what about all that heat?" Non factor, even the high power LEDs don't get near as hot as PC or CFLs. Yes, I'll have to use heat sinks and maybe a few fans, nothing major.
"You'll still need special drivers, thats gotta run the price up way too high, all those LEDs." again, non factor. Lux Drives Buck Puck is cheap and can power 10 of my LEDs easily. I'll explain why in a minute.
"The Plans"
My plan is to purchase 30 high power Luxeon Rebel LED lights, run at 750 mA (milli amps to those wanting to learn) and to power them using three Buck Pucks. I will use thirty individual heat sinks and two fans to avoid frying them.
Since Current remains constant in a series circuit, and the voltage output of a single Buck Puck is 32v, I can have 10 LEDs running off one Puck. Heres why.
LEDs don't work like your normal light bulb. Those work off of Voltage (think of it as electrical pressure), instead LEDs work off of current (amount of electricity that is flowing) to produce light. The more the brighter.
In a series circuit voltage can be different at two or more points in the circuit, however current will remain constant at all points. So why can't I power all thrity off of if thats the case? Well, LEDs still need voltage, without enough of it the LED simply won't turn on. I need 2.5 for the LED to turn on, but the typ voltage is 3.1, so ten is a good number.
So, a 12"x30" tank, the plan is to have 3 rows of 10, and a dimmer control on the midle line puck to provide a moonlight effect when I want.
I do have few other things to work, I'll figure it out later however.
Its become apparent that my old CFL lighting just isn't cutting it and I need something better. The options are PC, T5HO and LED. Well, considering an LED system can do twice the growth a PC can, and I can build a High Power LED system (watt for watt) that will last 15 or so years for the same price as an T5HO system that I will have to replace bulbs about once a year (looking about 4 bulbs at $10 a pop, ouch) the winner is apparent. An added advantage to LEDs is the shimmer effect that I get if I have some watter agitation. Don't believe me? point your LED flashlight at the water with some surface agitation. Be amazed
I've heard the arguments. Lemme list a few that I have heard
"LEDs can't grow plants". False, someone did a 7w LED system vs a 7w PC system, the plants under the LEDs grew far better than the PC tank. I just gotta make sure I use the correct ones.
"LED technology isn't here yet, wait a few years". I beg to differ, that may be the case in the marine side (almost) but thats a battle between LEDs and MH, something MH is going to lose in about 5 years. For a planted tank the battle is typicly between PC, T5HO and LEDs. LEDs already hold an advantage over PC, but is about twice the cost for a nice system.
"You'll need a bajillion LEDs to get enought light for plants" Not unless I go high power, I can get a 60w LED system using just 30 LEDs. Not bad :grinyes: .
"But what about all that heat?" Non factor, even the high power LEDs don't get near as hot as PC or CFLs. Yes, I'll have to use heat sinks and maybe a few fans, nothing major.
"You'll still need special drivers, thats gotta run the price up way too high, all those LEDs." again, non factor. Lux Drives Buck Puck is cheap and can power 10 of my LEDs easily. I'll explain why in a minute.
"The Plans"
My plan is to purchase 30 high power Luxeon Rebel LED lights, run at 750 mA (milli amps to those wanting to learn) and to power them using three Buck Pucks. I will use thirty individual heat sinks and two fans to avoid frying them.
Since Current remains constant in a series circuit, and the voltage output of a single Buck Puck is 32v, I can have 10 LEDs running off one Puck. Heres why.
LEDs don't work like your normal light bulb. Those work off of Voltage (think of it as electrical pressure), instead LEDs work off of current (amount of electricity that is flowing) to produce light. The more the brighter.
In a series circuit voltage can be different at two or more points in the circuit, however current will remain constant at all points. So why can't I power all thrity off of if thats the case? Well, LEDs still need voltage, without enough of it the LED simply won't turn on. I need 2.5 for the LED to turn on, but the typ voltage is 3.1, so ten is a good number.
So, a 12"x30" tank, the plan is to have 3 rows of 10, and a dimmer control on the midle line puck to provide a moonlight effect when I want.
I do have few other things to work, I'll figure it out later however.
