Rapid LED or Aquastyle LED??

Here's the main problem I've read with regards to Aquastyle, the maxwell drivers run noisy and hot as heck! Then die pretty quickly, so 4 new meanwell drivers to replace those are $125-150 shipped!

I just ordered the rapidled plug and play 48 Cree kit with 4 meanwell P dimmable drivers, opitcs and a drilled and tapped heatsinks X2 for $523 shipped! Then ordered a typhon controller from boostled for $54 shipped!

IMO, 48 Cree's are def enough for your tank, or 72 Aquastyles, but I'd def upgrade to meanwell drivers! That's one of the few things that seems a rule when it comes to led's, no maxwell, get meanwell!

As far as the color spectrum goes, i did the standard 50/50, knowing i'm gonna add a strand of mixed colors and uv's as my budget allows!http://reefledlights.com/ledmytank/

One more thing, I wouldn't skimp on the heatsink size! The bigger will dissipate more heat, and allow you to expand and add to in the future!

Good luck in your decision, just remember its easier to dim your lights down than to add to them!

 

If you go 16" heat sinks you would still get coverage, but that is real big for a 3 foot tank. You would be wasting a ton of light out the sides of the tank IMO. If you are def gonna upgrade to a 4' tank then this is okay, but if it's not for a while or for sure, it certainly is a lot of wasted light and money. Not to mention you'll have much more algae growth on the glass.

36" tank-2(16"heatsinks)= 4"
So you would have 2" either end open, also don't forget the centre brace.

 

Hm...what I mean is...if I go with Aquastyle 72LED Kit I'll be doing (2) heat sinks 5x16. If 36LED is way too much I might just do 24LED on each and make it (3)heat sinks. May be (2) heat sink with 24LED each may be enough for my 65G tank and i can use the other 24 for my nano tank =) My Display tank is 36L x 24D x 28H I think. the way my tank hood setup I have to hang the display at least 6" above the top of the tank no less.

Or I can go with Rapid 48LED kit with 2 heat sink. That's going to cost me $400 for sure. I should I dig a little deeper?? =) From what I read UV + Red can really bring out the color of the coral. So I might do some color config.

 

OK OK..here is what I can come up with if I decided to go with RapidLED for $368 that i might be able to catch up in a week =) Just wondering if those LED setup will work in my tank with 2 4x16" heat sink =) What do you guy think? 42LED

3 ELN-60-48D Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver $34.00 $102.00
2 4.25-16HS 4.25" x 16" Aluminum Heat Sink $25.00 $50.00
6 UV-LED-420 Violet UV 3W LED $5.50 $33.00
16 XPG-NW-65-LENS-BLACK CREE XP-G Neutral White 3W LED with 65 degree Black Lens $6.00 $96.00 12 XPE-RB-80-BLENS CREE XP-E Royal Blue 3W LED with 80 degree Black Lens $4.40 $52.80
2 660-RED-OR Osram 660nm 3W Red LED $5.50 $11.00
8 80-XP-BLK 80 Degree CREE XP-E/XP-G Lens/Optics (black) $1.25 $10.00
2 AATA-5G Arctic Alumina Thermal Adhesive $7.00 $14.00

Sub-Total $368.80
Shipping: USPS Priority Mail (DHL for international) $0.00
Sales Tax $0.00
Total Due: $368.80

 

I'd call rapid and see what they will do, you can purchase a retrofit kit and it is cheaper than buying the components separate. They allowed me to make substitutions so you may be able to get what you want for cheaper than you have thought.

Edit, I also think the heat sinks are a little large, I used 14" on mine. But it's up to you.

 

I think you may have a driver issue there, i believe your only supposed to run 12 per driver and you have 16 on one! I may be wrong on that though!

24 Ultra Premium LED DIY Kit with Dimmable Drivers
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-60/12-Ultra-Premium-LED/Detail
http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-82/4.25"-x-23"-Aluminum/Detail

Then add your fans and potentiometers about $40
and ask if you can swap the 12 led string out with uv's reds etc

that way your blues and white are on seperate dimmable strings and your uv's on a constant! Under $400

 

on a 65 tall you should be fine with just 1 36 split up onto 2 heatsinks probably with 60 degree optics...email rapid they're pretty helpful

 

3 things that quickly stand out to me on that list:

You should use ~60deg optics

I'd ditch those two reds, but that's a personal preference

You need a method to dim those drivers. You've selected the dimmable drivers (good), but you need something to control them. You have a few choices here.

 

OK..for now I'm about to go with Aquastyle LED just because of the price difference! Been looking and configure all the options that I have ....seem like If I go for Rapid36LED kit with 8UV kit it and (2)4x16 Heat sink will coast me $389 with. I still have to buy Potentiometer. (Can get of off the radio shack)

Got the email back from RapidLED and they recommand 48 LED Kit and I can swap to 6 UV that I want But no optic lens for the UV with (2) 4 x16 heat sink that will cost me $435

$100 over the budget is way more than I thought..

But, If I go with Aquastyle LED So DIY 72LED with UV 2 Black Heat sink and all the hardware to dim it ...all will cost $289 shipped. I can add another heat sink and have 3 fixture for a little over $300..

What to do what to do??

Hm....

 

Be mindful you get what you pay for in this hobby. Especially when it comes to lights. If I were you I would email Rapid. Mike, is very helpful.