Rapid LED kit DIY options, need advice?

So basically I am finally employed and making money. You can read my sig to see whats in my tank but I am so bored with my 14k Phoenix 150W MH. I think i want to go the LED route and dimmable for both the blues and the white LEDS so i can really get a nice color combo. However although I do like my 40 gallon, i will probably upgrade in a year or so. Here are my questions (thank you for any help!!!! I am a LED NEWB....

1) How many LEDS would you recommened? Also would you recommend supplementing my halide, or completely replacing it and selling the fixture/bulb combo on here and craigslist?

2) What color ratio combo?

3) Should I bother having a fixture with the Actinic LED's also, or solely royal blues and whites?

4) Can you set the LEDS to dim on a timer?

5) Any other advice is welcome!

 

end quote

 

1) If you have a 40g breeder I'd go with 36 LEDs. Some people like to feel comfortable with LEDs first changing their entire tanks, but I'd say the majority of people dive right in (though most start out with smaller tanks and then upgrade their larger tanks after they get a feel for how LEDs are).

2) It depends on what color temperature you like. If you go 50/50 on the royal blue and cool white you'll get about a 12-14k (depending on who you ask), and a 2:1 blue:white ratio is usually about a 20k.

3) If you're only going to supplement the halides then I'd go with actinics, otherwise just go half/half. Jonjon is correct, the rb's are your actinics for LEDs.

4) Yes, if you use dimmable drivers and have a controller.

5) It's always helpful to have cooling on the LEDs, so don't forget to include a fan or two on your heatsinks (or in your canopy). You can mix in some red/blue/neutral white/etc for additional coloring, but there's no hard evidence that it is needed and tons of people have great growth/coloring just from cool white and royal blue.

 

36 leds if im replacing the halide right? I stillt hink that is a TON of LEDS on my 40g. Its 36" long. I might just supplement the halide? Get the 12 kit or something?

 

the key is dimmable and as a DIY project you can make it whatever you want it to be. If you think 36 is too many just turn em down but you get to be as versatile as you want

im using 36 on my 65 build and itll be perfect

 

if i make a rapid diy fixture and later upgrade to bigger tanks? Can i remove the leds from the heatsink to use on the bigger fixture?

 

i think if your really careful, but the cost of replacement isnt that tremendous if you break some :-/