August Meeting (LED`s: Discussion, Demo, and DIY)

sounds great, count me in!

 

Me too!!!!

 

Tomorrow's the day to talk about LED's.


We'll start the meeting out with a general discussion on LED's and take a look at 3-4 different LED fixtures. We've also got the Des Moines region's PAR meter, so we can do PAR readings for anyone that's interested. Any specific quesions you would like answered or LED topics you want discussed - please post them here....... Matt Nelson who has had LED's for several years will be here and will probably be our expert tomorrow. As well, several other club members with LED fixtures will be here to share their experiences.


The 2nd half of the meeting will be to work on my new DIY LED fixture. My LED kit arrived yesterday. It is a pre-packaged kit for the Red Sea Max 130D. I went with the solderless LED's - as if there are problems in the future - I thought that would be easier for me to maintain. Sure has alot of parts...... Matt (ninjazz77) and Mike (Rocketmann) will before will be here leading the build. The main post says that we will be doing 'part' of an LED build. I stated it that way, not knowing how long it will take - and it may be longer than people want to spend. But everyone is welcome to stay as long as they like to watch/help with the build...


My address is 1630 Greenbranch Circle, WDM. Phone: 515-222-0747 (Call if you have problems finding my house).


Depending on your route, there is some construction in the area to be aware of:


1) If you are coming on I35 driving south, the Grand ave exits are CLOSED. You must get off one exit earlier - at Geroge Mills Civic Parkway. Then go east to 50th street (WDM) and south to Grand. Then you could follow your GPS again.


2) If you are coming on I35 driving NORTH, the Grand ave exits are OPEN. No problem here.


3) The bridge at 63rd and Grand (Des Moines) is closed. If coming from downtown area, you will need an alternate route and can not take Grand ave west all the way out to my house.


Hope to see you tomorrow!!


Any questions - leave a post or send a PM


Jeanette

 

We completed about 1/2 of the LED build on Saturday. Got the LED's mounted and wired. Didn't have a soldering gun at my house, so we could not continue in assembling the DIY 2 knob potentiometer - which is needed for attaching the drivers to the LED strings.


So, we are going to complete the LED build this coming Saturday, August 31st at Matt's house at 10:00. If anyone is interested in joining us, you are welcome.

 

my address is 1919 E21st if your able to to please bring a folding chair with you cause i do not have very many chairs

 

Did you take PAR measurements with the reefbreeders value fixture?

 

We have 4 of the RB value fixtures on our 210 and did take par readings and here is a subset of them as follows:


At 75% white & blue channels (this is where we keep them now)


Depth PAR

• 1" 990
• 15" 440
• 29" 130

At 100% white & blue channels

• 1" 1040
• 15" 470
• 29" 140

For comparison, here is the PAR readings from our 3x250W MH + 80W T5 fixture

• 1" 450
• 15" 175
• 29" 120

Both lights grow coral well. MH doesn't have the PAR value at shallower depths but seems to penetrate better given they are relatively equal at 29".

 

Great info, thanks! How high are the values mounted and is that with any optics? Sounds like my 65 with 2 values has plenty of par then...

 

We finished up my LED build yesterday. I love it. I'm excited to now put more corals in my cube.


THANKS SO MUCH to Matt for all his help in putting it together. I thought I could help - but after the LEDs were mounted and wired last weekend (which I did help on), I just couldn't keep up with what Matt was doing yesterday. He's a great resource - plus he has wonderful tanks to look at!

 

Oh - and anyone in the Des Moines region that was interested in LED builds, you missed a GREAT opportunity!

 

Go ahead, rub salt in the wound! lol

 

Post pictures please! /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default//emoticons/smile.gif

 

They are mounted 10.5" above the water and have 90 degree optics.