My first DIY build thread 30" led fixture

Bradw18 · Dec 9, 2016

Old thread but what power supply you running and what's the specs

twilliard · Dec 9, 2016

Bradw18 said:
Old thread but what power supply you running and what's the specs

I like it when my threads come up

keeps awareness going.
I am using a LED S-180-48 power supply
[email protected]

cowboy · Dec 9, 2016

Speaking of your thread buddy let's get some updated fts going brother

twilliard · Dec 9, 2016

cowboy said:
Speaking of your thread buddy let's get some updated fts going brother

Hey how are you!
Call some time when your free, we should catch up

(I am ill so may not sound the best LOL)

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

@saltyfilmfolks I have a question for you.
I am working on adding some more chips to this fixture and in the meantime I will be putting up a t5 fixture till I get this done. ( I have to re-do the whole chip layout)
Would you think I should match surface LUX with the T5's when I install the T5 fixture? It will be a huge lighting change for the tank and I have never used full T5 before.
I am trying to lessen the light shock.
3 blue +
1 purple +
48"
Current LED surface lux showing 48K through physics toolbox
Thanks!

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

@mcarroll ideas also?

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
@saltyfilmfolks I have a question for you.
I am working on adding some more chips to this fixture and in the meantime I will be putting up a t5 fixture till I get this done. ( I have to re-do the whole chip layout)
Would you think I should match surface LUX with the T5's when I install the T5 fixture? It will be a huge lighting change for the tank and I have never used full T5 before.
I am trying to lessen the light shock.
3 blue +
1 purple +
48"
Current LED surface lux showing 48K through physics toolbox
Thanks!

No, actually at 48k you WILL have a much higher par.
led,,,48k/60=800
t5....48k/40=1200

imo set the fixture to get the best spread, test the full power in lux, then remove tubes.

if you know your going back to the led's I would suggest matching the PAR number.

A side note, IMO some folks claiming great success after changing back to t5, may in fact be merely adding MORE par than anything else.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
No, actually at 48k you WILL have a much higher par.
led,,,48k/60=800
t5....48k/40=1200

imo set the fixture to get the best spread, test the full power in lux, then remove tubes.

if you know your going back to the led's I would suggest matching the PAR number.

A side note, IMO some folks claiming great success after changing back to t5, may in fact be merely adding MORE par than anything else.

Oh dang!
Thank you for this so much. I will try my best not to shock my tank.
There is more par in t5.. crazy!

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
Oh dang!
Thank you for this so much. I will try my best not to shock my tank.
There is more par in t5.. crazy!

yup. lux to par ratio is higher. Ive yet to see any evidence to the contrary.

depending on the combo of tubes the par may be lower (45,50) but its a good est.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yup. lux to par ratio is higher. Ive yet to see any evidence to the contrary.

depending on the combo of tubes the par may be lower (45,50) but its a good est.

You're making me think here about my LED fixture

hmm

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
You're making me think here about my LED fixture hmm

lol. dont think too hard. (tough not to) even though theres a difference led do still grow coral. The neat experiment w DIY led is if you have a set lux and known spectrum, you can add small chips to see if there IS a difference in spectrum and thus PAR, and more importantly pur, or finding that Pur those corals want.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
lol. dont think too hard. (tough not to) even though theres a difference led do still grow coral. The neat experiment w DIY led is if you have a set lux and known spectrum, you can add small chips to see if there IS a difference in spectrum and thus PAR, and more importantly pur, or finding that Pur those corals want.

Funny cause that is exactly what I am going to do! I am missing a few spectrums knowing I was going to add it in the future. Chips were too expensive at the time. Also going to have a heat sink cut at 42" instead of 30"

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
Funny cause that is exactly what I am going to do! I am missing a few spectrums knowing I was going to add it in the future. Chips were too expensive at the time. Also going to have a heat sink cut at 42" instead of 30"

OH sweeet!

not that Im a cruel man, but.........If ya drill a couple extra holes you can add a 2 tube t5 retro pretty easy....jus saying.

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
OH sweeet!

not that Im a cruel man, but.........If ya drill a couple extra holes you can add a 2 tube t5 retro pretty easy....jus saying.

I have thought of that to help tone the color but having a hard time picturing this as to keep the fixture from looking ugly.
Wife has to stay happy too

saltyfilmfolks · Dec 14, 2016

twilliard said:
I have thought of that to help tone the color but having a hard time picturing this as to keep the fixture from looking ugly.
Wife has to stay happy too

oh yes....

twilliard · Dec 14, 2016

Well the fixture is on the road for delivery today so I shall see how this temp lighting goes.
Its just a t5ho highbay

mcarroll · Dec 14, 2016

saltyfilmfolks said:
yup. lux to par ratio is higher. Ive yet to see any evidence to the contrary.

depending on the combo of tubes the par may be lower (45,50) but its a good est.

The mercury emission is the basis of the T5 spectrum....lots of green energy in there!

Agreed with Salty's analysis, for what it's worth.

Salty, you happen to see the little chart I threw up for my old halide fixture?
#64