High efficient LED DIY Rack lights

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
ITHURTZ said:
I hope u didnt pay that price!

Iv been looking at those for years, the only thing that keeps stopping me is the lumen output vs the reg t8.

Even the 4ft t5 is 520lm. A 13watt spiral has more lumens for only $3
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They offer a 4ft t5 with 760lm. a 13w spiral (870lm) may have more lumens but it's almost using twice the wattage as the 520lm model and 2 more watts then the 760 model. Now compare a 4ft t8 with 1650-1750lm and using only 15w. LEDs are also cooler running. Not to mention that LEDs do not need a ballast which also create heat and noise. But I believe both can have the same whiteness. Obiously the price is not the same but I guess you can run multiple spirals above your tank.

price is actually not that bad if you were to DIY instead of buying a fixture for $500+ for a t5 72" fixture and using twice the wattage, heat, fan and ballast noise.
 
cutting and soldering I used heat shrink tubing over the solder point, my tanks are covered but I like to play it safe, I'd tried undercabinet linkble LED's with pig tails and FAILED the moisture in a full enclosed hood because of the moisture
 
blkdrgn said:
They offer a 4ft t5 with 760lm. a 13w spiral (870lm) may have more lumens but it's almost using twice the wattage as the 520lm model and 2 more watts then the 760 model. Now compare a 4ft t8 with 1650-1750lm and using only 15w. LEDs are also cooler running. Not to mention that LEDs do not need a ballast which also create heat and noise. But I believe both can have the same whiteness. Obiously the price is not the same but I guess you can run multiple spirals above your tank.

price is actually not that bad if you were to DIY instead of buying a fixture for $500+ for a t5 72" fixture and using twice the wattage, heat, fan and ballast noise.
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LED produce much more "usable light" then a CF or T5HO, the tank will appear dimmer but the non............... just read the article

http://www.americanaquariumproducts.com/Aquarium_Lighting.html
 
you have been using these for a little while, how are they holding up?

I have tried led xmas lights that worked good. Just could not override the built in flash mode.

I then went with led rope lights and they looked great, but gradually starting to burn out. Now I got almost no lights.

I run three timers, one for blue lights am, and pm, one for whites am to noon, and one for whites noon to pm. each timer runs 5 meters of rope. So I was wondering how well these would work and if they last.
 
I used led xmas lights once. I had 600 leds, over half of my tank. Looked nice, great color but wasnt more than a giant night light.

The ol 330gal. 600leds on the right, twin t8 48" on the left.



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Just the led's on the right. Looks bright until u turn on the t8's.



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The first design. After this I took out the red and added 2 more white light strings. For a 55gallon This would be PERFECT. But that 330 was 8lx3wx32" deep. way to much area for to little leds.



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Redoog said:
you have been using these for a little while, how are they holding up?

I have tried led xmas lights that worked good. Just could not override the built in flash mode.

I then went with led rope lights and they looked great, but gradually starting to burn out. Now I got almost no lights.

I run three timers, one for blue lights am, and pm, one for whites am to noon, and one for whites noon to pm. each timer runs 5 meters of rope. So I was wondering how well these would work and if they last.
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I have no complaints to how they are running, I recently got the soldiered into place and am running tests with swords and other high demanding plants with multiple strips ranging from one to three, also note all tests are in 20l and 10's. My CF fixture is about dead on my 75 show tank, so that is next on the testing list
 
Havn't got any input but i curtainly will be adding this thread to my favorites, looking for alternative lighting to T5s
 
there is two different styles of these strips waterproof and not waterproof the ones you have are the not waterproof style .
 
LIGHT OUTPUT - This is just some more info from my research and I am sure you will find some variances in what product you purchase, but these are the averages of what I have seen.


3528 strip lights -


20- 35 watts per/5meter strip
200-300 lumens per/meter


5050 strip lights (150 lights per/5 meter strip)


36 watts per/5 meter strip
300-450 lumens per/meter


5050 strip lights (300 lights per/5 meter strip)


72 watts per/5 meter strip
700-900 lumens per/meter
 
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