Jonny bs DIY led build

jonnyb4ss

jonnyb4ss

New member
So I just ordered a 24 led kit from rapid led and I plan to retrofit it into this old coralife PC fixture I gutted
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Anybody see a problem with using thermal adhesive and attaching the LEDs right on the aluminum fixture if I have plenty of cooling fans?
 
Do you have a better picture of the top of the fixture? You want your LEDs to run as cool as possible as it will give them a longer life and better PAR. If you think the aluminum will allow the heat to disburse quickly I think you should be fine.
 
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there's 2 existing fans and I was going to add 2 more in the middle of the fixture where my cross brace is on the tank
 
I think you should be okay, but I can't be certain. Hopefully someone else who has experience with your fixture can chime in about its ability to dissipate heat.
 
I would definitely try to squeeze in at least aluminum channel, if not some decent heatsinks because heat takes away from the life of the LED. Is that a 4' housing? You're putting only 24 LEDs? What size tank is this going on?
 
Yeah it's a 48" it's going over a 72 bow front but I'm gonna be running 2 39 watt t5s with it as we'll until I get more LEDs
 
jm23 said:
I think you should be okay, but I can't be certain. Hopefully someone else who has experience with your fixture can chime in about its ability to dissipate heat.
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Jon did you use the thermal adhesive or did you do drilled heatsinks? I used the drilled for my biocube so haven't used the the adhesive yet
 
Yeah I used the adhesive. You only want to mix up a tiny bit at a time as it hardens really quickly. I put two small dabs on a piece of wax paper and mix them. I then put a very thin coat on the back of the LED.
 
U me glue the stars to the fixture not just the leds right. I ask cause ive seen some one just glue the leds to the aluminum not sure how it even worked. Just remember to hot to touch to hot to last is rule of thumb. U could always get aluminum u channels think menards carries em . Good luck
 
I've heard that heat rule of thumb too, kinda why I was considering mounting right on the fixture with the fans I think they'll stay pretty cool,there's a lot of surface area to the fixture, think the u channe might make mounting and soldering em easier though
 
Ok got my LEDs ordered the 80 deg. Lenses but wasn't sure bout using em, the fixture is only gonna be bout 5 or 6" off the water and the tank Is 21" deep, so the LEDs will be bout 26-27" off the sand bed, anybody got any advice on using em or not for what I'm doing?
 
From what I understand, lenses will increase par. If you run them no lenses, you will have less par than with them.

I'm not an LED DIY guy, but love to read about them so I can regurgitate info pretty good. Madjoe is definitely the person to ask on that though.
 
Thanks man hope he'll chime in, an updated pic cuz everybody loves pics decided to go with the u channel so I can add more later, hopefully sooner?
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Looks good. LEDs normally have a 120 or 130 degree lens built into them. This give you great coverage, but very little par the deeper you go. I recommend an 80 degree lens, though I use to recommend a 60, because they still give you great coverage, but also give good par on the sandbed. You can always add lenses later so there is no harm in trying it first without to see who you like it.
 
Thanks I actually got the 80s based on your advice but then read if your not hanging the fixture at least a foot or so sometimes no lenses are best Ill prob just do like u say and try without first and see how I like it, is paste n em necessary, seems like they kinda hang on there on their own the lenses that is..
 
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