Need advice on using LEDs.

Post your quires regarding lighting needs in planted aquariums.
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SCORPIO
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by SCORPIO »

saikumar wrote:Rajiv ji, so I know one thing, you hate homeworks lol
Give me sometime and I ll tell for yours.
I am waiting your response. I don't have DIY skills, so I keeps away myself from DIY projects. yipi
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

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hahahaha ;) true
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by saikumar »

As per Hoppy's formula.

Tank 01: 90 X 45 X 45 cm : High light setup : At present using 21 watt X 5 T5 tubes. I am satisfied with the result.
where a= spacing between LEDs , n= rows of LEDs

a2/n=
560/
129.23
=4.33¬=4.5

So, length of 36", if one row of LEDs used= a=(4.5)1/2=2.12¬=2.5
So one led every 2.5inch
For better spread assume you ll go for 3 rows, then a=(4.5 X3)1/2=3.67¬=4"

So 36"/4"= LEDs per row= 9 LEDs, and in 3 rows= 9 X3 = 27LEDs. For safe side go for 30LEDs


=================================================================================================
Tank 02: 90 X 45 X 45 cm : Medium light setup : At present using 36 watt X 2 PLLs. Satisfied with result.
same as above dimensions. You can reduce to 24-26 LEDs.


=================================================================================================
Tank 03: 70 X 40 X 40 cm : Very High light setup : Using 36 watt X 2 PLL + 14 watt X 1 T5. Not satisfied with result.
560/
129.23

=4.33¬=4.5

For 1 row, we get a= 2.5
As its smaller 40cm, we ll use 2rows for equal spread, so a=(4.5 X3)1/2=3"

So 30"/3"= 10LEDs per row; so two rows= 10 X2 LEDs.

=================================================================================================
Tank 04: 45 X 30 X 30 cm : High light setup : At present using 36 watt X 1 PLL. Not satisfied with result.
560/
103.38=5.41¬=5.5

For one row usage, a= (5.5)1/2=2.32¬=2.5" gap between LEDs
so, 18"/2.5"= 7.2LEDs¬= 7 LEDs
=================================================================================================



All these are in assumption with CREE XTE, 400 lumens, 4-4.5W LED. If you use CREE XML you might be using 2-3 LEDs lesser in few of the tanks above.
Also please note there are few approximations made above to nearest 0.5 level for easy calculation.
Tank 1,2,3 will have lights at 30" from substrate, Tank4 will have lights 24" from substrate


As you see the LEDs wattage suggested (which is for all hight light tank) comes to more or less than your fluorescent, thats because everyone's definition of highlight and demanding plants varies. As a point of example in first tank, 105W on a 50gallon is still less than 3W/gallon, but been considered high light.


So hope it gives and idea of your requirement. takeca
All the best !


Edit- added heights
Last edited by saikumar on Thu Jan 02, 2014 8:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by SCORPIO »

Sai bhai, nicely explained everything. thnk

I want to know one more thing, "Which LEDs I choose, 3 watt/ 5watt/ 10 watt".
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by saikumar »

Its as per convenience Rajiv ji, if you want Metal Hamid like look, I.e sharp light and with few shadows use 10W.
Also for taller tanks preferred to use 10W

3w and 5w is more like uniform spread of light.

Also to note 10W can also be run at 3W or 5W and they will give more efficiently and run cooly giving more light than 3-5W.
Similarly 5w can be run at 3w and run cooly....etc.
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by saikumar »

Also on the whole you need proper heatsink material. acrlyic is only for aesthetic feel to cover up wires etc, you can even opt it out. so acrlyic will not melt as heat goes to heatsink.

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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by mats »

A small query guys,
What is the difference in using a meanwell
driver ( I presume it is one of the best) and a local /Chinese made
cheap driver for running our LEDs. How does it effect the
efficiency and output of our lights not to mention the life of the
overall light fixture.

Warm regards
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

Unread post by sumer »

Its the kind of difference that you expect in between an Apple iPhone and a chinese mobile.
Bot of them will do the same thing but one would be more reliable than the other one. And when you are investing in LEDs which will be a costly affair, you dont want an unreliable solution, do you?
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

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20140312_091036.jpg
HI i also made My own LED LIGHTS AND EXCEPT EDISON I USED CHINEESE LED

which costed me JUST RS 3 PER LED its OVER 6 months m using this led setup and YET there is no problem in it POSTING PICS OF MY LED SETUP AND MOSS TANK WHICH IS WITHOUT ANY CARBON SOURCE EVER ONLY UNDER MY LED SETUP
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Re: Need advice on using LEDs.

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:roll: :roll:
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