Author Topic: LED / rimless reef Project. (Read 9353 times)

David Schmaus · « **on:** January 26, 2010, 14:28:50 »

Getting ready to start a Nano project. Here are a few things I ordered and I will post details with pictures when they arrive..

MR. Aqua 18x18x18 Rimless

12 Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers

10x10 heatsink

ghurlag · « **Reply #1 on:** January 26, 2010, 14:58:19 »

Looks like fun! Be sure to keep us posted! I am in DIY withdrawal due to a combination of school, work, family, and lack of disposable income. I will be living vicariously through you

jd · « **Reply #2 on:** January 26, 2010, 15:07:34 »

Awesome! I've been waiting for someone local to try out LEDs. If you don't mind, how much was the LED kit? Pm me if you'd like.

cyberwollf · « **Reply #3 on:** January 26, 2010, 15:09:03 »

I was about to click send
on the EXACT same question!

What LEDs are they?

David Schmaus · « **Reply #4 on:** January 26, 2010, 15:34:04 »

The kit was $150. Its 6 6700k 3w Q5 whites and 6 20000k Royal Blues. Has everything I need except the heatsink which was around $24 bucks.

I just ordered this from the filter guys

I picked up a used wet/dry that measures 18x8.5x15. Still had the old bio balls. Im going to build a PS for it. I need to research live rock and macro algae in a sump. Ive been out of the money pit for about 6 years!

jd · « **Reply #5 on:** January 26, 2010, 16:06:21 »

Thanks David. The price on that kit is great!

cyberwollf · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2010, 16:22:34 »

Probably do it a little cheaper if you did complete diy. But the powersupply and driver in one brick is cool.

The problem with crees is they have become super popular and actually drove the price up by almost $2 an LED. Which is the opposite of normally cutting edge technology as they mature

HUNGER · « **Reply #7 on:** January 26, 2010, 18:06:00 »

very cool cant wait to see more

David Schmaus · « **Reply #8 on:** January 27, 2010, 08:25:16 »

Anyone want to help me design the overflow? I have been reading reefcentral threads for the past couple days and my head is swimming. Here is what I know I want. Drilled for sure and the overflow to be in the back center of the tank. It doesn't have to be dead silent but I don't want to hear it over the TV

Maybe I just order a system from glass-hole.com?

cyberwollf · « **Reply #9 on:** January 27, 2010, 08:35:15 »

I'm going with coast to coast when i redo mine. Not sure how that would look with a rimless/cube

David Schmaus · « **Reply #10 on:** January 27, 2010, 08:41:00 »

Yea I looked at that but I think on a rimless cube it wouldn't look right from the side. I'm going to paint the back glass black so I thought a centered overflow out of black acrylic would be almost invisible..

lazylivin · « **Reply #11 on:** January 27, 2010, 09:08:31 »

The Solana System is from end to end. It is black ABS plastic with teeth cut in it for the overflow and a hole for the Return. If you are going to do sump in the rear of tank it would work great. I removed the Loc Line from mine for looks.

Riderc82 · « **Reply #12 on:** January 27, 2010, 18:38:58 »

I've heard different things about the glass-holes overflows. I've heard they are dead silent and then I've heard they are loud. When I was going to set up a 30 gallon oceanic cube I was planning on using a glass-holes overflow since they are small. I guess if it's too loud you could just get a surround sound system

HUNGER · « **Reply #13 on:** January 27, 2010, 18:47:40 »

well what seems loud to you may not be loud to me so when some one mite say its loud mite not be loud
but most of the time its the pump or the stand pipes that makes it loud

David Schmaus · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2010, 14:05:07 »

Thought I would post an update. I received a few things in the mail today.

Here are a few pics of the MR Aqua 25 gallon frameless 18x18x18 $89

This is a sump that I bought used. Its 18x8.5x16. I am going to try to use this but looks like I will only have room for a protein skimmer and return.

Here is my RODI from thefilterguys. Very happy with this purchase

Here is the DIY LED KIT

jd · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2010, 14:38:26 »

Wooo! Can't wait!

David Schmaus · « **Reply #16 on:** February 01, 2010, 14:58:26 »

I could really use some input on internal overflow design. I'm thinking about centering the overflow on the back wall. Here are a couple of ideas. I would have to make the overflow out of glass so it will attach to the glass walls of the tank. Then I could cover it with black acrylic. Im thinking 6"x2".

HUNGER · « **Reply #17 on:** February 01, 2010, 19:01:48 »

looks good dont see anything to change

jungliztkruger · « **Reply #18 on:** February 01, 2010, 23:46:42 »

on needing to make the overflow out of glass...

i designed an overflow chamber on my 10 gallon and it was secured into place with only silicone and held perfectly fine. i have an mp10 on the tank and even opened at full throttle this thing does not even budge.
something i figured out staring at this thing for hours... even a slightly lower water level in the overflow area will cause the water in the aquarium to push against it from higher pressure? it is being held in place not only by the silicone but the water pressure in the aquarium.

some food for thought if you dont feel like building two overflow chambers together in place of one. our nanos have a very limited supply of real estate

every 1/8 inch counts

lazylivin · « **Reply #19 on:** February 02, 2010, 00:59:09 »

BRS sells the DIY overflow teeth if you need them

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/store/catalogsearch/result/?q=back+drilled+tanks&x=29&y=12

HUNGER · « **Reply #20 on:** February 02, 2010, 08:20:20 »

thats a shap overflow box

UDJustin · « **Reply #21 on:** February 02, 2010, 09:20:40 »

why drill so low in the tank why not make the hole up closer to the top then you wouldnt need the overflow box all the way down the back, would leave more space in the tank

jd · « **Reply #22 on:** February 02, 2010, 10:06:07 »

Agreed, drill the tank up and put an external durso on it.

David Schmaus · « **Reply #23 on:** February 02, 2010, 11:41:21 »

Agreed, I think I am making it to difficult. I think I am just going to go with a overflow kit from glass-hole.com
http://glass-holes.com/Super-Nano-con-Dientes-Overflow-Kit-nanodienteskit.htm I have to balance work and the time I have for DIY as much as I like it...

David Schmaus · « **Reply #24 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:21:43 »

Had some time this evening to work on the LED fixture. Here are some pictures. The rapidled.com kit comes with a 2 part epoxy to attach them on the LED. This is special epoxy that will transfer heat. The only downside using epoxy is if one unit goes bad you will need to grind it off to replace it.

This is the heatsink (Heatsinkusa) 10x8.46 by 1 inch fins

This is the two part epoxy that comes with the kit

David Schmaus · « **Reply #25 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:26:25 »

Here is the spacing I used.

Another

Testing the White LED

You can use two AAA batteries with a couple wires soldered to the ends to test each unit.

Testing the Blue

HUNGER · « **Reply #26 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:27:29 »

cool cant wait to see it all cone

HUNGER · « **Reply #27 on:** February 03, 2010, 20:28:04 »

i mean done

Rayman · « **Reply #28 on:** February 05, 2010, 17:30:23 »

lol some one has been in the sauce again ^

, wow this is looking great, can you elaborate on the size of the heat sync plz i am not getting it, i thought leds' put out low heat.

ghurlag · « **Reply #29 on:** March 01, 2010, 14:31:48 »

David, how is this going? I am actually strongly considering this very setup for my 29 gallon. Have you had a chance to make any progress? I'd love to hear some more details, and I don't think I'm alone in that.

David Schmaus · « **Reply #30 on:** March 11, 2010, 16:31:20 »

Its going ok. I painted the back pane of glass and when I was carrying it in from the garage I bumped it on my bandsaw fence and cracked it. UHHHH I will post an update tomorrow.

Thanks

David Schmaus · « **Reply #31 on:** March 11, 2010, 16:38:23 »

I could use some input on the sump design. the sump with be 16x16x15. Here is the idea. I will feed the refugium from a feed from the return pump. A valve will control how much flow it gets..

jd · « **Reply #32 on:** March 11, 2010, 17:05:36 »

That looks good David. I don't know if I would bother drilling holes for the fuge section. I'd just run the plumbing over it. Other than that it looks great.

HUNGER · « **Reply #33 on:** March 11, 2010, 18:16:09 »

it looks great i dont see any thing wrong

Lost Floridian · « **Reply #34 on:** March 11, 2010, 18:19:02 »

I wouldn't drill the holes from the fuge either, what about an overflow with tall & narrow teeth? That might give you the best chance of keeping most of the macro out of the return section.

David Schmaus · « **Reply #35 on:** March 11, 2010, 18:31:45 »

Quote from: Lost Floridian on March 11, 2010, 18:19:02

I wouldn't drill the holes from the fuge either, what about an overflow with tall & narrow teeth? That might give you the best chance of keeping most of the macro out of the return section.

Yea, actually that is what I am going to do. I am using glass for the insides and will attach acrylic teeth to the top. I am using glass to so it doesn't expand and break any joints and to reinforce the rimless sump

David Schmaus · « **Reply #36 on:** March 24, 2010, 19:10:46 »

To hard to keep two threads alive.. If anyone wants to follow the build will be here.

http://reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1789570

Thanks

Riderc82 · « **Reply #37 on:** March 24, 2010, 19:45:49 »

Cool thread, I never knew you could use india ink on wood.

David Schmaus · « **Reply #38 on:** March 24, 2010, 21:54:16 »

Quote from: Riderc82 on March 24, 2010, 19:45:49

Cool thread, I never knew you could use india ink on wood.

Thanks. Yea it works really well. Thats only the second time I have done it and I am amazed how good it looks!

ghurlag · « **Reply #39 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:02:04 »

You are my hero

HUNGER · « **Reply #40 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:42:14 »

all i ahve to say is wow

reefman · « **Reply #41 on:** March 24, 2010, 22:44:23 »

Seano Hermano · « **Reply #42 on:** August 14, 2011, 02:45:50 »

So what's become of this tank? Is it still up and running? Did it not work out? Did you get a larger tank?

itsalifestyle · « **Reply #43 on:** October 28, 2011, 11:30:00 »

nice i have a solana and love it this build looks nice

2024 Ohio Reef Frag Swap

Author Topic: LED / rimless reef Project. (Read 9353 times)

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

Lost Floridian

David Schmaus

David Schmaus

David Schmaus