LED supplement help

kevantheman35 · Apr 12, 2012

I'm debating on what to add to my 20'' cube to supplement my 250w mh.
1. 15'' blue reefbrite strip 6 3w led's
2. Kit with 6 royal blue cree XT-E bulbs

Which is more powerful? And if I went with the cree kit, would I want 2 kits? and should I add a red and a UV bulb as well? Will either kit make any difference with my halide on? My fixture is only 15'' long so I don't want anything longer than that. Any input would be great

jonbar1 · Apr 12, 2012

Depends on how into DIY you are and what tools you have available. For the price of a ReefBrite you can do more than 6 XT-Es. I'd go all blue and 12 XT-Es but buy parts separate from a kit if you can DIY the heatsink etc. You would definitely be able to tell with the halide on!

Troylee · Apr 13, 2012

^^^ what he said... I'm a DIY kinda guy but hey everyone isn't haha... I made 2 strips for my tank they will blow a reefbrite away since there ran at 100% intensity vs 1w reefbrites

Zoanthkid · Apr 13, 2012

If u can I would go d.I.y. and I would add a red personally, probably just one or 2. I like what I have seen on the couple of tanks using red and violet l.e.d.s in their supplement of halides.

kevantheman35 · Apr 14, 2012

I want to add a red and a uv but with only 6 leds probably idk how it would go over.

kevantheman35 · Apr 14, 2012

I thought reefbrites are 3w?

ReefLEDLights · Apr 14, 2012

kevantheman35 said:
I thought reefbrites are 3w?

They may be but not all 3 watt LEDs are the same the XT-E can be as much as 50% brighter or more depending on the type of 3 watt LED

Not all LEDs are equal and Cree for now have the best.

Bill

kevantheman35 · Apr 15, 2012

Ok i ordered the 9 royal blue actinic kit with an 18" heat sink. Im planning on cutting the heat sink to 15"(the length of my fixture) and using 8 of the leds. Will i need a fan?

dsmhero · Apr 15, 2012

kevantheman35 said:
Ok i ordered the 9 royal blue actinic kit with an 18" heat sink. Im planning on cutting the heat sink to 15"(the length of my fixture) and using 8 of the leds. Will i need a fan?

Which heatsink? From RapidLED? A lot of those sinks are more than adequate without a fan, especially for only 8. I would use a laser thermometer to double check tho.

ReefLEDLights · Apr 15, 2012

kevantheman35 said:
Ok i ordered the 9 royal blue actinic kit with an 18" heat sink. Im planning on cutting the heat sink to 15"(the length of my fixture) and using 8 of the leds. Will i need a fan?

You will need some airflow not much. If you drive them at 350mA they will be thermally stable with no airflow but thats at half recommended power.

Bill

kevantheman35 · Apr 16, 2012

Thanks Bill. I did not purchase the dimmable driver so I assume I can only run them at full power? This is a rimless tank with no canopy so I really don't want an ugly fan hanging there but ill see what I can do.

ReefLEDLights · Apr 16, 2012

kevantheman35 said:
Thanks Bill. I did not purchase the dimmable driver so I assume I can only run them at full power? This is a rimless tank with no canopy so I really don't want an ugly fan hanging there but ill see what I can do.

Ive tested them in free air no flow with the Cree XR-E which produces more heat than the XT-E. They are thermally stable at 700mA with out a fan however this was a 76 degree room. You should be good just do the sanity test and if its too hot to hold its too hot.

Let us know.

Bill