New custom LED reef lights

JRChristiansen · 01/17/2019, 09:15 PM

This is a prototype of the light I'm testing. If anyone is interested in me building them one let me know. They put off a ton of light. I will have blues and whites. They light up a space about 36"x36"

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Jordan Kutun · 01/17/2019, 09:16 PM

Spectrum?

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JRChristiansen · 01/17/2019, 09:46 PM

I can build it with 10000k 20000k or royal blue or just about any spectrum somebody would want. Also 2 colors in one with different power cords for blue and white. They consume a little over 50 watts and around 110 watts for the 2 in one.

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jtrasap · 01/20/2019, 02:58 PM

The nickel plated coolers will last a whole lot longer than the bare aluminum. I built quite a few of these a few years back and all of the aluminum sinks were junk within a year.

JRChristiansen · 01/20/2019, 07:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrasap

The nickel plated coolers will last a whole lot longer than the bare aluminum. I built quite a few of these a few years back and all of the aluminum sinks were junk within a year.

The heat sinks I use have a copper core. They use a fan to stay cool so I shouldn't have any heat issues with this set up.

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jtrasap · 01/21/2019, 09:42 AM

The problem is the aluminum on the outside. It will corrode like crazy to the point that it doesn't dissipate the heat. I have some of my old ones lying around somewhere. I'll have to see if I can dig some up. The nickel plated ones pitted a bit here and there but the aluminum ones pretty much rotted away due to the saltwater. Not knocking your lights, just a word of advice from my experience. It's been a few years since I built some but I've been considering throwing a few together for my 400.

JRChristiansen · 01/21/2019, 04:53 PM

I have used bare aluminum on all my heatsinks and light fixtures on my tanks over the last 12 years and never had corrosion issues. I even used bare aluminum c channel for Center braces before on my saltwater tanks and never had corrosion issues. They were about 1 inch away from the water surface. Maybe the ones you tried weren't actually aluminum or not quality aluminum or maybe that pot metal stuff. because I've never had a corrosion issue with any of my lights setups over the past years so I highly doubt I will have issues with my new 540g build. Plus most manufacturers use aluminum for their heat sinks on just about any light setup.

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jtrasap · 01/22/2019, 04:00 AM

I agree, I have aluminum bits and pieces here and there that stand up decently to the saltwater. It was the aluminum in the cheap CPU/GPU coolers that I had problems with. I tried a number of different ones and had the same issue with them all. I think the majority of them are low-grade aluminum. That's why I switched to the nickel plated coolers.

JRChristiansen · 01/22/2019, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrasap

I agree, I have aluminum bits and pieces here and there that stand up decently to the saltwater. It was the aluminum in the cheap CPU/GPU coolers that I had problems with. I tried a number of different ones and had the same issue with them all. I think the majority of them are low-grade aluminum. That's why I switched to the nickel plated coolers.

I will check Into those if I have issues. Thanks for the heads up.

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01/17/2019, 09:15 PM	#1
JRChristiansen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: O'Fallon, missouri Posts: 325	New custom LED reef lights This is a prototype of the light I'm testing. If anyone is interested in me building them one let me know. They put off a ton of light. I will have blues and whites. They light up a space about 36"x36" Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk __________________ 540 gallon mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 540 gallon reef tank

01/17/2019, 09:46 PM	#3
JRChristiansen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: O'Fallon, missouri Posts: 325	I can build it with 10000k 20000k or royal blue or just about any spectrum somebody would want. Also 2 colors in one with different power cords for blue and white. They consume a little over 50 watts and around 110 watts for the 2 in one. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk __________________ 540 gallon mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 540 gallon reef tank

01/20/2019, 02:58 PM	#4
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 2,361	The nickel plated coolers will last a whole lot longer than the bare aluminum. I built quite a few of these a few years back and all of the aluminum sinks were junk within a year. __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

01/21/2019, 09:42 AM	#6
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 2,361	The problem is the aluminum on the outside. It will corrode like crazy to the point that it doesn't dissipate the heat. I have some of my old ones lying around somewhere. I'll have to see if I can dig some up. The nickel plated ones pitted a bit here and there but the aluminum ones pretty much rotted away due to the saltwater. Not knocking your lights, just a word of advice from my experience. It's been a few years since I built some but I've been considering throwing a few together for my 400. __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

01/21/2019, 04:53 PM	#7
JRChristiansen Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: O'Fallon, missouri Posts: 325	I have used bare aluminum on all my heatsinks and light fixtures on my tanks over the last 12 years and never had corrosion issues. I even used bare aluminum c channel for Center braces before on my saltwater tanks and never had corrosion issues. They were about 1 inch away from the water surface. Maybe the ones you tried weren't actually aluminum or not quality aluminum or maybe that pot metal stuff. because I've never had a corrosion issue with any of my lights setups over the past years so I highly doubt I will have issues with my new 540g build. Plus most manufacturers use aluminum for their heat sinks on just about any light setup. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Tapatalk __________________ 540 gallon mixed reef build Current Tank Info: 540 gallon reef tank

01/17/2019, 09:16 PM	#2
Jordan Kutun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2017 Posts: 230	Spectrum? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01/22/2019, 04:00 AM	#8
jtrasap Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: St. Elmo, Illinois Posts: 2,361	I agree, I have aluminum bits and pieces here and there that stand up decently to the saltwater. It was the aluminum in the cheap CPU/GPU coolers that I had problems with. I tried a number of different ones and had the same issue with them all. I think the majority of them are low-grade aluminum. That's why I switched to the nickel plated coolers. __________________ Jason Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.