LED lighting ... Opinions wanted!

[CRUSHER]

Home Depot has some LED lights that i was wanting opinions on... dont know if the lights are spot light or wide beams, but the price is very easy on the wallet!... please take a look see and give opinion ;^)

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053&productId=202051088&R=202051088

[SunnyHouTX]

My concerns with those are if they have the appropriate color temperature range for the application, and how many of those do you need to light up a tank all the way to the substrate.

[CRUSHER]

i was thinking, you could replace the bulbs with the type you need and then go to Radio Shack and get one of those mulit volt power supply units... or would the wiring in the unit not be able to handle a higher voltage... minds working here... cheaper solutions to gain appropriate lighting from LED lights!!!

[CRUSHER]

another thought, if the wiring can't handle volt load... replace the wiring (can't be too much wiring going on in the unit) with a heavier gage... could get higher gage wire from dollar store maybe?

[SunnyHouTX]

It might not end up being cheaper after you go through the rigmarole, which could involve going to a higher gage wire to handle extra wattage, etc. If it were up to me, I'd get Ecoxotic, Trulumen or SuperbrightLED LED bars that are known to work great and save myself the time and potential headaches.

[CRUSHER]

I posted a site in the DIY section that has alot of information on how to build your own moonlight but it can also be applied to day time lighting... Post is AWSOME LED lighting...

[CRUSHER]

It might not end up being cheaper after you go through the rigmarole, which could involve going to a higher gage wire to handle extra wattage, etc. If it were up to me, I'd get Ecoxotic, Trulumen or SuperbrightLED LED bars that are known to work great and save myself the time and potential headaches.

You're looking at hundreds $$$ there... plus building your own can give you something to do plus a sense of accomplishment! I just don't have the funds to put out all at once... piece mealing parts and then putting them all together during a period of time would be better for someone in my shoes. i'm thinking the bulbs and multi watt / volt power unit would be the more costly items... but shouldn't run into the hundreds... at least not too far into the hundreds.... just thinking

[SunnyHouTX]

What size tank are you trying to light up?

[SunnyHouTX]

I understand very well about doing your own stuff since i build my own stands, walk through landscape yards to pick up just the right rocks, custom plumbing for filters, etc. Lighting is something I won't do since it's very visible and I'm particular about how my setups look. So I look at as me saving up money for a nice LED setup by doing everything else myself.



In that tank there are two LED bars sitting on the glass tops that you can't notice till your right up next to the tank. Cost about $225 and I'm very happy with the output and overall look.

There's just too many unknown variables with the LEDs you linked for me to be confidant enough about then to buy them.

If you're happy with the end results of your handiwork then by all means go for it.

Just my two cents.

[CRUSHER]

ya gotta do what ya gotta do, no matter how long it takes sometimes.

[SunnyHouTX]

Agreed Keep us posted on your progress.

[Crude]

A lot of aquarium appropriate DIY LEDs will end up costing you nearly as much as a prefabbed (ecoxotic) light bar. Make sure you add up all the costs before you dive in to a DIY build. I ended up going with the Ecoxotics.

[SunnyHouTX]

Me too Crude. Love me some Ecoxotic LEDs.

I guess that's what I was trying to explain, but looks like trailblazing is the name of his game J/K CRUSHER

[cichlid1409]

those LEDS are bunk. dont waste your time and money. what exactly are are you trying to light? plants, reef, fish only? and what size tank? Building your own can save you some money for sure. check out my build.... http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...?299-LED-Build

[CRUSHER]

those LEDS are bunk. dont waste your time and money. what exactly are are you trying to light? plants, reef, fish only? and what size tank? Building your own can save you some money for sure. check out my build.... http://www.houstonfishbox.com/vforum...?299-LED-Build

I have a 100 gal with some plants and fish... 6 plants 5-fish... just not happy with the fluorescent lights... plus want some night time lights to go with it but dont know what type or size will light the whole tank lunar wise