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View Full Version : New project. LED - how many and where to buy ?



michalm
01-04-2010, 10:02 PM
Hi,

I start build my own Scrubber using LED. I wonder what kind of LEN I have to use and how big ? (any web link to the right one ?). Or maybe using LED is not a best way and I should T5 or any other that you recomend.

I already bought a screens from Everything Plastic Canvas (Plastic Canvas 7 Mesh 12" x 18") http://www.everythingplasticcanvas.com/ ... -x-18.aspx (http://www.everythingplasticcanvas.com/p-20049-plastic-canvas-7-mesh-12-x-18.aspx)

I have 180 galon freshwater tank with Arowana nad Stingrays. I need to reduce NO3... I will build Scrubber in to my Wet/Dry Filter - Mega Flow 4.

PS: I live in US.

PS: Thank Santa for everything - good work, I found this project on MFK !

Thank you for any help.

Mike

SantaMonica
01-05-2010, 10:52 AM
Mike... if you must have results, don't use LED's. Only use them if you want to experiment.

Other than that, if you would post up all the details and pics of your setup, we can help you design it. I'm not so sure putting it into a wet/dry will do what you need.

michalm
01-05-2010, 10:04 PM
Hi,

Thank you for reply :)

I'm thinking about something like that. Sorry for quality, but it was just drawing... The red circle is what I'm planing to build using plexiglas and etc...

I attached couple diferent view for my project.

SantaMonica
01-06-2010, 08:04 AM
Yes that 's a standard design, will work well if size, flow, screen, and cleaning are done properly...


Huhhhhh on the MB site built this:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/UserHuhhhhhOnMB-11.jpg


You will probably want to move the bulbs away from the pipe, or, install a light shield:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/UserToddoOnAS-3.jpg


For high filtering , shoot for 180 total watts, and 180 square inches (like 12 X 15), and 40 gph of flow for each inch width of screen, on a two-layer roughed up plastic canvas screen (35 gph if just one layer).

michalm
01-07-2010, 10:13 PM
Thank you :)

Do you know where can I buy T5 lamp with waterproof cover ?

SantaMonica
01-07-2010, 10:51 PM
Bulbs.com

You'll need waterproof endcaps:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/UserHuhhhhhOnMB-endcaps.jpg




... that you can get from the same place a the ballast:
http://www.radio-media.com/fish/UserHuhhhhhOnMB-diagram.jpg

ChrisD
01-08-2010, 03:53 AM
SM - sorry to be pedantic (and possibly wrong) but those endcaps look to be splash proof rather than waterproof. I know it's no difference in most of our applications but does make a difference if you are at risk of dropping the fitting into water at any point. The other scenario that could risk submersion is if people position the scrubber lights within sumps, above normal water line but below the 'emergency' line (level to which the water would rise in the even of return pump failure).

michalm - looking at you plans you could be in this position - for your safety if nothing else, please consider what happens to your water levels in the sump if the return pump fails (how high will the water drain to?) and then evaluate where your lights can go. There are waterproof end caps available here in the UK that will stand being dropped into the tank - not sure about any prolonged submersion though. These caps tend to have a threaded collar that compresses a rubber seal around the glass section of the tube.

Here's an example in the UK
http://www.charterhouse-aquatics.co.uk/catalog/arcadia-long-ip67-ultraseal-p-787.html

Good luck and stay safe - our hobby brings electricity and water very closely together!

Chris

michalm
01-17-2010, 10:04 PM
Hi,

I'm in the middle of the project :):)

I'm planing to use 4 x T8 lamp (2 for each site) ~ 15"... or 4 x T5 - 12" (2 for each site). What kind do you recomended and where to buy. There are so many types and the prices are from 5 usd to 50 usd... its crazy ! :) and please let me know what kind of ballast is good to use for my project and where to buy it.

I want to use this endcaps (what do you think?)

http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/con ... C-ECSIN-T8 (http://www.customaquatic.com/estore/control/product/~product=LT-IC-ECSIN-T8) or http://www.aquacave.com/t5-waterproof-s ... 1223.html# (http://www.aquacave.com/t5-waterproof-socket-end-cap-br1-pair--by-icecap-1223.html#)

SantaMonica
01-17-2010, 10:33 PM
Good find on the waterproof caps.

As for bulbs. Just try to get the total watts to add up to 180. I think T8 are too long/big. Use T5HO, 24 inch, and put 3 or 4 of them on each side of the screen, just like the pic above. Get 2700K or 3000K, or Gro-Lux.

michalm
01-17-2010, 10:46 PM
As for bulbs. Just try to get the total watts to add up to 180. I think T8 are too long/big. Use T5HO, 24 inch, and put 3 or 4 of them on each side of the screen, just like the pic above. Get 2700K or 3000K, or Gro-Lux.

I found T8 that have 15"... I can't use T5 - 24"... I don't have enought space under the tank.

Thank you for helping :)

ChrisD
01-18-2010, 03:26 AM
The ballasts required depend on the tube type you go for (and in many cases the wattage too). If you cannot get the T5 fitting to fit in I would have thought you would be better off skipping T8 and going for a compact fluorescent (also known as power compact) fitting. You will get much improved efficiency over T8. A 36W PLL fitting measures 415mm long so should fit nicely but there are many other alternatives (not sure about US places to buy I'm afraid). The down side is you will probably have to build some sort of enclosure / protection for the electrical end as I'm not aware of any splash or waterproof endcaps for this type of lamp. The bonus is that the tubes should be relatively cheap for the power - you can get standard tubes made by the big lighting companies - GE, Osram, Sylvania - in 825 (2700K) or 830 (3000K) colour.

Figure out which tubes you will run and then you can source the ballast for them. Compact fluorescent run on a different ballast to linear, T8 different to T5 etc..

Hope this helps

michalm
02-09-2010, 03:56 PM
Mike... if you must have results, don't use LED's. Only use them if you want to experiment.


Santa, is anyone made Algae Scrubbers that works on LED so far... ?

SantaMonica
02-09-2010, 05:05 PM
No.

inkidu
02-09-2010, 05:43 PM
Algae grows under my leds. I am looking to find something better though. I got my eye on these

http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/Led ... oRGQ%3d%3d (http://www.mouser.com/ProductDetail/LedEngin/LZ1-10WW05/?qs=9eCsfeiOdSdqnx81fJoRGQ%3d%3d)

The spectrum contains a lot of high wavelength red and low wavelength blue.

From what I have seen so far not many leds have both of those characteristics.

inkidu
02-09-2010, 05:55 PM
Would it be easier to use other forms of lighting other than leds? yes

Would it be cheaper(short term) to use other forms of lighting? yes

Would it be exciting to find a way to use new ideas and products to ultimately

make something better? yes

Even algae scrubbers are fairly new.

SantaMonica
02-09-2010, 07:33 PM
All Correct. But since scrubbers finally have a configuration proven to work (unlike the previous 30 years of attempts), it's recommended that if people must have results (i.e., remove algae from their displays within 8 weeks), then they should do what is proven.

If removing algae from your display in the next 8 weeks is not needed, then by all means experiment with LED's and everything else.