ChicagoDiscus.com     Cafepress Store

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 15 of 32

Thread: Switching to ALL LEDs.

  1. #1
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Switching to ALL LEDs.

    I've made the decision. ALL of my tanks will now be lit by LEDs. Just had a Coralife T5 fixture blow up on me. It blew up, bulb blew, acrylic shield melted, and glass top cracked/shattered in half. I suspect heat, but I've had the same setup for almost a year or more now with no problems. I cannot risk a fire or something similar on a whim whenever it feels like blowing up. So I'm going LEDs. No heat, low electricity costs, and long life......no risk. So I'll spend some money upfront and win in the long run. Been thinking of doing it for a while, but this T5 fixture blowing up was the last straw.

    Not sure if I'll go DIY or premade yet.....but I'm open to options, 100% going LED. Any ideas?
    -Matt


  2. #2
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    When the glass top broke my automatic feeder dropped into the tank.....might have to be replaced, its soaked all inside. Trying to dry it out now.
    -Matt


  3. #3
    Registered Member Trier20's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
    Posts
    2,707
    Real Name
    Brandon Trier

    Default

    Try throwing it in a Ziplock with some rice in it if you have it.
    -Brandon
    Discus.....The best cult I've been a part of!
    B's Bunker

  4. #4
    Registered Member Bill63SG's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Naperville Il
    Posts
    3,678

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Or kitty litter.Also look for Beamswork on e-bay for cheaper led's.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Bill.

  5. #5
    Registered Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Hutto, TX
    Posts
    805

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Beamswork is ok, just make sure you get the double bright, the single is kindda dim for my taste, specially if you used to have t5's

  6. #6
    Registered Member ZX10R's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Bowling Green, KY
    Posts
    2,398

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    You do as myself and Skip have done use under the counter LED lights from Lowes or Home Depot cheaper then buying the aquarium fixtures.
    My wife names my fish

  7. #7
    Registered Member Poco's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Posts
    1,799

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Quote Originally Posted by ZX10R View Post
    You do as myself and Skip have done use under the counter LED lights from Lowes or Home Depot cheaper then buying the aquarium fixtures.
    +1

    Didn't you already made a hanging light fixture for one of your tanks? It looked neat!

  8. #8
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Yeah I did. My only concern with those under the counter LED fixtures is how cheap they are. How long with the LEDs last in those? How cheap are the parts? Etc. I know the little star modules you buy for DIY are quality lights...like the Cree brand. To me its like buying Cree vs Chinese knock offs.....i don't know. I'll have to look into them more.
    -Matt


  9. #9
    Registered Member Skip's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Austin, America
    Posts
    11,839

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    my 30" light from IKEA.. LEDBERG model.. is $14.99.. 30".. good enough for me!
    Jester - S0S Crew Texas

  10. #10
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Are you using it as a single light source for tanks Skip or just supplement? Can you post pictures once done?
    -Matt


  11. #11
    Registered Member Harry Marsh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    712

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Rick, Incognito, has good results from these suckers: http://www.ebay.com/itm/2-Pack-LED-4...item19d57fa38e

    I'm debating trying a pair

  12. #12
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Good call Harry, and I can get 2....thats not to bad. I need at least 2. I've heard those aren't to bad either for fish only tanks.
    -Matt


  13. #13
    Registered Member dpete9's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Maseru, Lesotho
    Posts
    780

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    I posted this once on another thread and it seems no-one really had interest. I like it a lot and will do it again. I could have made it look really fancy but it's just hanging over a grow-out tank in the basement so I didn't really care about looks.
    It's a standard Halogen ceiling fixture. I replaced the Halogen bulbs with led bulbs each led bulb is 1.3 watts. you can get them in various colors from blue, bright white. yellow or green. I prefer the bright white. For 14.99 for the fixture and 5 for each led replacement bulb. and it lights up the 65 gallon very nicely. they make them in 3 watt tool and well that would be plenty of light.

    ~ Pete
    any advice I give is just that, advice. I say it because it's what works for me.

  14. #14
    Registered Member Harry Marsh's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Charlotte, NC
    Posts
    712

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    Quote Originally Posted by dpete9 View Post
    I posted this once on another thread and it seems no-one really had interest. I like it a lot and will do it again. I could have made it look really fancy but it's just hanging over a grow-out tank in the basement so I didn't really care about looks.
    It's a standard Halogen ceiling fixture. I replaced the Halogen bulbs with led bulbs each led bulb is 1.3 watts. you can get them in various colors from blue, bright white. yellow or green. I prefer the bright white. For 14.99 for the fixture and 5 for each led replacement bulb. and it lights up the 65 gallon very nicely. they make them in 3 watt tool and well that would be plenty of light.

    That's growing on me

    And no aquarium fixture hanging on top of the tank that you have to move around (to clean, etc)

  15. #15
    Registered Member Discus-n00b's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Columbia, SC
    Posts
    5,399
    Real Name
    Matt

    Default Re: Switching to ALL LEDs.

    I like that, and believe me I love my hanging LED fixture over my 100gal. Problem is I don't want to hang anything for a bunch of these smaller growout/breeding tanks I am getting lights for.
    -Matt


Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Cafepress