New Lighting for a 150 gallon- 6 ft open top tank.-UPDATED! GROWTH PICS!

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by Build My LED

Hi Steve. Just a heads up...I configured a 97 CRI spectrum tonight that used 2 Cyan LEDs. See if you can better it once the Configurator is live on the website :-)

Nick

I'll take a look once you have it set up.
Do you know offhand what the color temperature is with that configuration ?

While replying I was recalling when I was a volunteer at the Baltimore National Aquarium back in the late 90's even then I foresaw the practical application of leds in planted tanks.

[Build My LED]

Originally Posted by Steve001

I'll take a look once you have it set up.
Do you know offhand what the color temperature is with that configuration ?

While replying I was recalling when I was a volunteer at the Baltimore National Aquarium back in the late 90's even then I foresaw the practical application of leds in planted tanks.

Of course. I built the spreadsheet with the algorithms, so I get to see all of the metrics It was a 5500K spectrum, but I personally don't pay attention to the kelvin scale. By itself, it doesn't tell you anything about a lighting system, as you can have multiple color lights that are the same CCT (i.e. kelvin temp). Various lights can look completely different, even though they have the exact same kelvin temp. I prefer to look at the X and Y chromaticity coordinates and the spectrum, which can be used to calculate the CRI and color saturation effects.

Nick

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by Build My LED

Of course. I built the spreadsheet with the algorithms, so I get to see all of the metrics It was a 5500K spectrum, but I personally don't pay attention to the kelvin scale. By itself, it doesn't tell you anything about a lighting system, as you can have multiple color lights that are the same CCT (i.e. kelvin temp). Various lights can look completely different, even though they have the exact same kelvin temp. I prefer to look at the X and Y chromaticity coordinates and the spectrum, which can be used to calculate the CRI and color saturation effects.

Nick

Thanks for informing me.

You are right about K temperature *alone not being an appropriate standard by which to determine spectral distribution but my hunch, ( I could be wrong ), is when K temp is coupled with high CRI like you have it will center around 5500K which appears to be the case.

Hears another hunch. A true yellow diode or one very close to true yellow will create and even higher CRI, perhaps even match sunlight at noon.

* In another thread not to long ago I had mentioned how different lights with the same K temperature can and do have different spectral outputs among them.

[minicrazy592]

Hoppy I snagged these pics in case you were curious about my color shadows:

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by Build My LED

Hi Steve. Just a heads up...I configured a 97 CRI spectrum tonight that used 2 Cyan LEDs. See if you can better it once the Configurator is live on the website :-)

Nick

A CRI of 98

• 5700K
• 5000K
• 6500K
• 470nm Blue
• 505nm Cyan
• 505nm Cyan
• 4500K
• 3000K
• 525nm Green
• 525nm Green
• 4000K
• 5000K
• 590nm Amber
• 625nm Red
• 590nm Amber

Other than the CIE chart what information do the other graphs give me ?

One other question does the configurer allow the user to select fixture size? I can only configure a 12 inch fixture.

[Build My LED]

Originally Posted by Steve001

A CRI of 98

• 5700K
• 5000K
• 6500K
• 470nm Blue
• 505nm Cyan
• 505nm Cyan
• 4500K
• 3000K
• 525nm Green
• 525nm Green
• 4000K
• 5000K
• 590nm Amber
• 625nm Red
• 590nm Amber

Other than the CIE chart what information do the other graphs give me ?

One other question does the configurer allow the user to select fixture size? I can only configure a 12 inch fixture.

Nice, Steve. I created a 98 CRI with different LEDs earlier this week, as well The Configurator lets you build 12", 24", 36" and 48" fixtures. What browser are you using? Try Firefox or Chrome.

For a deep dive on the various charts, check out the advanced tutorial video on our site and/or YouTube.

Nick

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by Build My LED

Nice, Steve. I created a 98 CRI with different LEDs earlier this week, as well The Configurator lets you build 12", 24", 36" and 48" fixtures. What browser are you using? Try Firefox or Chrome.

For a deep dive on the various charts, check out the advanced tutorial video on our site and/or YouTube.

Nick

Firefox. I'll give Chrome a go.

For some reason Chrome or Firefox allows me to only configure the 12 inch. Even tried Internet Explorer with the same result

[Build My LED]

Hi Steve. Our web developers are looking into it, but we cannot recreate the issue. Nobody else has had this issue. Any chance you can try on another computer? I will let you know what they say.

Nick

[UDGags]

Don't you always create only 12" and the pattern is repeated? I've only ever been able to put in 15 lights no matter what length I choose.

[Build My LED]

Originally Posted by UDGags

Don't you always create only 12" and the pattern is repeated? I've only ever been able to put in 15 lights no matter what length I choose.

That is correct. However, it sounded like Steve could not select the other fixture length options.

Nick

[UDGags]

To me it sounded like he wanted to pick more than 15 lights...like 45 for a 36".

[Build My LED]

OK. I thought the radio buttons would not let him select the longer fixture options. For all fixture lengths, you pick any combination of 15 LEDs for a 12" PCB, and we build those boards end-to-end for longer fixtures.

Nick

[Steve001]

Originally Posted by UDGags

To me it sounded like he wanted to pick more than 15 lights...like 45 for a 36".

Originally Posted by Build My LED

OK. I thought the radio buttons would not let him select the longer fixture options. For all fixture lengths, you pick any combination of 15 LEDs for a 12" PCB, and we build those boards end-to-end for longer fixtures.

Nick

Yes, that's what I thought you could do, because it says in step 1 choose the fixture length. I see I misread the instructions.

[dastowers]

Sorry for the LONG delay, thought I had uploaded them to this site but didn't. Low quality iPhone 4s pics. :-( These are two 48 inch, "PLANTED SHOW TANK LIGHTS" from Buildmyled. The lighting is very gradually light and shadows for the Discus. Nick was very helpful! Actually I harvested the plants from this tank TWICE during the three weeks and lightly planted a 75 gallon bowfront and heavily planted 42 gallon bowfront (which has these lights also). The Amazon Sword mother plant (left corner) has been very generous also- lots of babies. They were out of control- in a good way. LOL!

Here they are: Installation day 12/11/12

Lotus 3 weeks ago when lights installed:

Picture taken today 3 weeks later. Notice the growth on the Lotus especially:

[dastowers]