Elliot`s 220 reef LED build

So I decided a while back after seeing my one of my buddies tnks with LEDs, to build my own and swap out the 400w Halides.   I didn't do anything too fancy but I did my research so I wouldn't make any mistakes.  I started with getting the CREE LEDs, Royal Blue and Cool Whites at 1:1 ratio.  I was going for both color and growth with  this selection.  I decided to get 6 dim-able Meanwell drivers to run the 84 LEDs; 14 on each string.  I noticed a huge difference with the LEDs vs the halides.  All I can say is WOW!  Especially when just the blues are on, I tried taking pictures but I my camera was having nothing of it.  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/w00t.gif  I will see if I can bug my buddy Andy to bring his camera over so I can show you all the sweet colors those lights pop out of the corals.  For now I am relying on timers and potentiometers, but I plan on getting a controller at some point here in the near future for programmable dimming, etc.The only part of the build that frustrated me was breaking at least 8 bits drilling the heat sinks. (I didn't have a drill press)  The rest of the build went almost without any flaws.  If you want more info or have questions/comments, feel free to ask!




Accidentally whacked myself with the heatsink...first blood!  lol

Top side with drivers and fan mounted:

All three mounted in my canopy:

Just the whites:


Just the blues:

All lights on full:  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/tongue.gif

Mounted from top:

Bottom view:

Light above the tank:

No lights on:

Just the whites on the tank:

Just the blues (camera couldn't get a good picture, new ones soon to come):

All the lights on:

Dimmed the whites down a tad:


Enjoy!  /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wow.gif

 

Thanks everyone, it was a fun build (minus drilling all those little holes)
Bella: Thanks! I also thought about putting a sheet of plexi under them, but I have no "salt spray" to be noticed, my halides never had anything on them before. But I understand the reason and I will probably do it anyways...
xroads: I would say my final build cost was about $270 for each panel, minus my time of course.. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif
Actuary: If your running 3 of these panels over a 180, I personally think you would be just fine with sps. My tank is sps/lps dominant and everything seems to be happy, even the stuff on the bottom. The only this is, I wish I would have maybe one more row to run the length of the tank, just to get across that 2ft spread a little better.

 

Thanks JB, the LEDs are sitting are sitting about 7 inches off the water. I have had no issues in the past with this tank and salt spray or splashing. So I think I will keep it how it is since I have the optics.

 

I noticed my placement of the fans only after I had them mounted on the heat sinks. They are just over an inch away from the 1x6's I believe. The heat sinks never feel warm to the touch, just nice and cool. Good catch though. /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/wink.gif

 

I'm still undecided about putting a glass panel in there, I just really don't want to lose to much of the light because of a piece of glass....

Paleoreef: 72x24x30 are my dimensions; it is a standard 220 from Perfecto. I did use fewer LEDs than most other people I have seen, but I was trying to stay within my budget at the time. I decided to run the max number in series that the drivers could handle (14) making 28 per panel. I figured I could always add more panels down the road. I know I could only benefit from more LEDs but the coral placement in my tank will be keep. So far, all the corals seem to be happy where they are at, we will see in a couple weeks how the growth is. I'm thinking positive here /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif If I had the money I would have done 36- 48 in each 2x2 section, but that gets pricey really quick.

 

****One piece of advice for those of you getting optics for your LEDs; get the ones with the adhesive tape on the lenses or the adhesive rings you can find now for the lenses. It will save much time and headache as the optics don't like to stay on the chips with even the slightest bump...

 

I meant plexi...