DIY: Replacing T8 fluorescent light with LED

I have replaced the standard T8 fluorescent ligt in the lid of my freshwater tank with LEDs

- The lamp is made from single piece of aluminium heat sink.

- The wooden ends are Ø25mm and fits in the T8 fixtures of the tank lid.

- The LEDs are 10W 10K each, run at 700mA (7.5W)

- The acrylic serves as a splash guard, and ensures airflow along the profile.

- It currently runs at 43C

 

... and some more pictures

 

Nice work. Very creative mounting. Tank looks awesome

 

Right

yes, the tank looks awesome and you have taken a good decision of replacing your old setup with LED. In these days everyone is choosing LED over fluorescent lights as they consume less electric and at the same time very beautiful.

 

Hey good DIY,great looking tank. And welcome to 3reef.

 

Thank you all,

I agree that LEDs are great looking, and it is certainly noticed when people see the tank.

However, I would like to know more about the effects on the fish and plants.
I have had some problems with algae, and the fish seem to seek the bottom.

Do you guys a know a good place to seek additional information ? Or is this the forum for it ?

Thanks,

 

As said, yhour plated tank looks great.

Algae is a combination of light and nutrients- your nitrate and phophate levels?
How long is it up and running? Have the fish had time to get used to it yet?

I moved my current LEDS 3/4 inch closer to the water, and the fish did the same thing for a day or two.

Welcome to 3 Reef!

BTW, how many watts total is your new LEDS running at? How many bulbs? Looks to be 4 or 5?

 

I have 4x10W LEDs, but I run them at 700mA with a constant current power supply. This gives 4x7.5=30W LED in total.
I haven't got the datasheet of the LEDs so I do not know how many lumens they output. But they were listed to 900 Lumen @10W.

The algae situation is better now, after I got some maintenance fish, that eat the algae.

Thanks,