LED questions and help

Disclaimer: I know this is probably one of hundreds of these threads but none of the others really helped me much.

I have a 90 mixed reef, all frags currently I wanted to start small and fail rather than go big and give up. I've been looking into some new lighting because after 6 months I've realized my 4 t5's aren't going to cut it for growth (none of my frags have grown at all). Water quality is up to par, only using RO/DI water etc.

I contacted RapidLEDs and he suggested that I use the ultra premium LED kit. (48 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers - Rapid LED)

Now here's my questions does anyone here have this kit and has it preformed well? What's the best combination of LED colors if I prefer a little more of a blue tint? And is it hard to assemble? Also my canopy is 9 inches off the water so the unit would only be 6 inches from the water, will this be a problem?

My other choice is Kessil, I contacted them a few months ago and they told me I would need 4 of their units to cover my reef. Has anyone had a kessil over their system and enjoyed their growth/performance?

Thanks for reading!

 

There are TONS of us on here that has Rapidleds, like me! I have a 55g, so very similar food print. This is my very weak build thread, Biocube and exactly have better threads.

But its pretty dang easy, just a little time consuming! If your a true DIY type and don't mind soldering, I'd get the regular kit. Personally, I really rec the plug and play kit. This allows you to very easily change out the leds for different colors later or if something happens to one of them

So Id rec;
The 48 led plug and play kit.
24 blues(add 4 blue plug and play leds to your order, these will go on the terminal ends) so Id get 18 rb's, 6 blues, then add 4 blues to the order
24 whites (18 cw and 6 nw)
Then I'd add 10 violets with a driver as well.

80 degree optics,(none for the violets, if ya want you can get them off ebay if you want them for the violets, rapid doesn't sell them)

get the thermal adhesive
2 of the black heat sinks, don't get drilled and tapped IMO

Then get a typhoon controller form boostled. This is only $50 and is very easy to work. Will give ya sunrise/sunset abilities and allows ya to control the power easy.

Kessil is a cool product, they are coming out with a dimmable version at some point.

But personally I think rapid allows ya to truly design the look of your tank and how blue you like!
This punks thread is a little better than mine!
http://www.3reef.com/forums/led-aqu...install-biocube-rapid-violet-here-128277.html

Read through that thread and see the different color options with a rapid build! He is also selling some of rapids controllers too if ya decide to use theirs, it'll save ya some cash!

 

Does RapidLED have a 48 inch plug and play kit?
Is there a big difference between the two types of drivers they offer?

 

Their pre-made kits don't come with heat sinks, so you aren't limited to a size. They don't have a 48 LED plug and play kit, but you could always buy two 24 LED kits.

And the drivers send out different signals. The Mean well drivers that end in a "D" use a 0-10V signal for dimming and drivers that end in a "P" use PVM signal for dimming. Just make sure you get the correct driver for whatever you will be using to control the dimming.

 

Thanks Cosmo!

Yours is pretty good too. ;-)

 

Ah so it depends on the type of led? Are these leds enough to support a clam?

 

Any of their LEDs can run on either driver. But each driver can only be dimmed by certain means. So a PVM driver cannot be dimmed with a potentiometer.

And they can support a clam just fine. As with any reef lighting, just have to be mindful of how much and placement.

I keep a crocea clam in a 3 gallon tank with 5 Cree LEDs and it is doing great.

 

I would be dimming it with my apex, which type does that support?

 

I'm pretty sure Apex use 1-10V signals, so you will need a driver from Rapid that ends with a D.

 

Alright thank you! Guess now I gotta decide on 2 24 or 1 48 kit. Do the violets make the coral stand out well?