Steve's or Rapid?

[G_Beck_87]

Hey I'm really close to pulling the trigger on a retro for my BC29 and I've narrowed it down to these two. Just wanted some thoughts or suggestions one which would be better for keeping softies and possibly some LPS.

Biocube 29 Gallon LED retrofit kit
-or-
http://www.rapidled.com/biocube-29/
solderless/dimmable

 

[Amba]

Rapid.

 

[G_Beck_87]

thats what i want, just getting more thoughts i have the RKL and the ALC module is coming soon so i can using the dimmer,i think ill be good. what do u think about colors? Ratio's, i know its 24 LEDs i was thinking 15 RB and 9 CW. thoughts?

 

[Northstar24]

thats what i want, just getting more thoughts i have the RKL and the ALC module is coming soon so i can using the dimmer,i think ill be good. what do u think about colors? Ratio's, i know its 24 LEDs i was thinking 15 RB and 9 CW. thoughts?

Generally the ratio you will see recommended most often is a 2:1 ratio of blues to whites. Rapid's setup should be modular enough so that you can play around with ratios / colors if you want too.

If possible I would see if they can work in some cyans and/or UV colored LED's for color rendition

 

[G_Beck_87]

how about 14 blues 7 whites 1 UV and 2 cyans?

 

[poksal]

how about 14 blues 7 whites 1 UV and 2 cyans?

Yes, do the RapidLEDs. I would ask if he can get purple and replace the UV with it. I don't think he has them though, or I missed it when I built mine... or didn't know better then.

 

[G_Beck_87]

I dont want to have to hook up 3 or 4 seperate drivers for Cyan and Uvs to run at different currents. i may just stick with blues and whites, my buddies setup has 15 RB and 9 CW and his looks pretty sweet.

 

[poksal]

I'm counting mine now.... ;

OK... 23 blue.... 18 white.... 2 red... 2 green... 6 UV ... on my RapidLED sticks.. and I keep the white (and others) at about 1/2 power, .. and the blues at about 7/8 power.
.. I think Mike at Rapid does the cran instead of purple.

On the AquaticLED there are 24 blue.... 18 white ... and 9 purple. This one is on full w/o a dimmer.. and this is a "nice" color mix.

 

[G_Beck_87]

So how many drivers are you running? Thats 2 heatsinks?

 

[poksal]

OK, it gets a bit complicated to explain so here goes..

I have three 36" heat rails. They come pre-drilled and taped.

On one rail [we shall call this the "front rail"] I have 5 white and 4 UV on a LPC 35 700 driver that does not dim. Additionally on that rail are 6 blue.. but those blues are powered by the two blue drivers listed below (3 to each driver) This rail has an empty LED port at each end.

The other two rails [we shall call these the "dim rails"] are powered by four ELN 60 48D drivers. They dim and are controlled by two pots (one for blue and one for white) . The white drivers also drive the "others". ..to be explained.

The two ELN drivers on the blue circuits each drive 8 blues on a "dim rail", and 3 blues on the "front rail". .... that is a series of 11 blues per driver.

The two ELN drivers on the "white" circuits each drive 6 white, 1 green, 1 red, and 1 UV on a "dim rail", .... that is a series of 9 per driver.... thus the whites are provided more voltage at full power... (these 2 green, 2 red, and 2 UV are the "others" mentioned above).

Is that clear as mud?? .... LOL... and is a mouth full too..not to mention a head scratch to math out.... and a bit of a web to solder and wire as the proper number of balanced series circuits on three rails.


.................but they work perfectly!