I WANT! LED light by Ecoxotic

[JetJumper]

finally after a bit of searching, I found out whats needed to measure PAR..

2222UWB-3 Underwater Cable, 3 meters
USD 330.00
   
LI-192SA Underwater Quantum Sensor
USD 670.00
   
LI-250A Light Meter
USD 675.00

So if anyone wants to be able to measure PAR in your tank, here you go!
https://licor.secure.force.com/catalog/LI_ProductDetailsPage?sku=LI-192SA&viewState=DetailView&cartID=&store=env&g=Q0E=&parentCategory=a0d60000000T9PwAAK&navigationStr=ListProduct&searchText=

Too expensive for my blood!

[RossW]

I seem to recall Apogee having them in the $150-$200 range.

[JetJumper]

Found them, seems reasonable.  I will keep these in mind!
thanks!

[johnrt]

Looking at http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/, the  Model MQ-100 meter is $299. See: http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/bqm_spec.htm

More interesting is the sensor alone. See: http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/qso_spec.htm, are just $29 each. The calibration is in the sensor. It's spectral sensitivity is the industry standard 'match' to the photosynthetic curve. It is not exact, but as good as it gets outside of a lab and used throughout both the agricultural and aquaculture industries and for measurements reported in "Advanced Aquarium".

The output from this device is calibrated to: 5.00 μmol m^-2 s^-1 per mV, so sensor output x conversion factor = PPF (photosynthetic photon flux) effectively equal to, but not quite Canadian Journal of Plant Physiology grade equal to, PAR.

Full Sunlight is 2000 μmol m^-2 ,s^-1,  so a reading of 400 mV from the sensor x 5.00 μmol m^-2 s^-1 per mV = 2,000 μmol m^-2 s^-1. For simplicity the units are PAR, so if you had one of these beasts, and a good(ish) volt ohm meter and a calculator, you could take a reading on new bulbs, fluorescent, MH, Compact Fluorescent, LED, camefire, whatever, and make a measurement after about 100 hours burn-in, then make measurements every couple of months and decide - for yourself - when to replace expensive bulbs, rather than some blanket rule-of-thumb.

Remember, the accuracy is in the $29 sensor, not the MQ-100 yellow box, so you could also use Arduino boards, or one of it's cheaper clones, mentioned earlier (http://www.arduino.cc/) and one could make a data-logger for about $100 that is much better than the yellow box that Apogee sells, with a USB computer connection and all manor of bells and whistles.

Now that would be a great group build!

We would need:
A 'C' programmer or micro-controller programmer (not me), but *not* difficult,
some soldering people, say me for one, again, not difficult,
some Apogee AL-120 sensors,
some 24 character displays,
a handful of resistors, capacitors and crystals,
optional yellow boxes and
a place to work and some time, not my place.
Oh yes, somebody to organize, probably not me, but that is just my experience.

You know you want one. It will pay for itself when you discover that cleaning you bulbs, reflectors and splash shields restores so much light that bulbs can be used longer. It costs 3 fluorescent tubes or 1 1/2 MH bulbs. . . OK, I want one and can't do the programming.

[JetJumper]

Looking at http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/, the  Model MQ-100 meter is $299. See: http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/bqm_spec.htm

More interesting is the sensor alone. See: http://www.apogeeinstruments.com/qso_spec.htm, are just $29 each. The calibration is in the sensor. It's spectral sensitivity is the industry standard 'match' to the photosynthetic curve. It is not exact, but as good as it gets outside of a lab and used throughout both the agricultural and aquaculture industries and for measurements reported in "Advanced Aquarium".

The output from this device is calibrated to: 5.00 μmol m^-2 s^-1 per mV, so sensor output x conversion factor = PPF (photosynthetic photon flux) effectively equal to, but not quite Canadian Journal of Plant Physiology grade equal to, PAR.

Full Sunlight is 2000 μmol m^-2 ,s^-1,  so a reading of 400 mV from the sensor x 5.00 μmol m^-2 s^-1 per mV = 2,000 μmol m^-2 s^-1. For simplicity the units are PAR, so if you had one of these beasts, and a good(ish) volt ohm meter and a calculator, you could take a reading on new bulbs, fluorescent, MH, Compact Fluorescent, LED, camefire, whatever, and make a measurement after about 100 hours burn-in, then make measurements every couple of months and decide - for yourself - when to replace expensive bulbs, rather than some blanket rule-of-thumb.

Remember, the accuracy is in the $29 sensor, not the MQ-100 yellow box, so you could also use Arduino boards, or one of it's cheaper clones, mentioned earlier (http://www.arduino.cc/) and one could make a data-logger for about $100 that is much better than the yellow box that Apogee sells, with a USB computer connection and all manor of bells and whistles.

Now that would be a great group build!

We would need:
A 'C' programmer or micro-controller programmer (not me), but *not* difficult,
some soldering people, say me for one, again, not difficult,
some Apogee AL-120 sensors,
some 24 character displays,
a handful of resistors, capacitors and crystals,
optional yellow boxes and
a place to work and some time, not my place.
Oh yes, somebody to organize, probably not me, but that is just my experience.

You know you want one. It will pay for itself when you discover that cleaning you bulbs, reflectors and splash shields restores so much light that bulbs can be used longer. It costs 3 fluorescent tubes or 1 1/2 MH bulbs. . . OK, I want one and can't do the programming.

http://webtrolley.org/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=apogeeint&Product_Code=AL-100

The "leveling plate" is $29.00, the sensor is this link
http://webtrolley.org/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=apogeeint&Product_Code=SP-110&Category_Code=PYR
 

[johnrt]

http://webtrolley.org/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=apogeeint&Product_Code=AL-100

The "leveling plate" is $29.00, the sensor is this link
http://webtrolley.org/mivastore/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=apogeeint&Product_Code=SP-110&Category_Code=PYR
 

err, OK, but I'll stand by the rest of the gibberish I wrote. BTW Hence the comment about getting somebody else to organize. I'm kinda a 'big picture' person, not details - *not* a programmer, no, no, no. < bad match.

So that pops it up to 5 fluorescent or 2 2/3 MH bulbs in cost. Still a bar-goon!

[Brent Shaver]

I have been following this thread and I have to say unless you are good at building, soldering etc this is a very expensive form of lighting.

I do sound engineering for live bands and have worked with alot of lights.  There is alot of options that some might not consider just due to not knowing the industry.  As you all know LED has become popular for both color, less power draw and of course less heat.

I am going to give a link that has nothing to do with aquariums but will show a version of an LED that comes with 288 5mm LED's, these do need a controller but they can be found cheap and used for the simple application of lighting an aquarium.  This system before controller is only $186.99 CAD.  I am pretty sure you could get a controller for under $100 used and this would give you the option to program the exact color you want vs what you are stuck with.  Also this option would allow you to have a dual color mode which would offer a moon light vs day light.

You would need to build a proper stand/rack to hold these as they are of course used for stage.  This unit only draws 37 watts of power and weights a mere 7 lbs so mounting shouldnt be an issue.

As far as light intensity and penetration I would think this would more then cover any aquarium as they are designed to cover stages/dance floors that a considerably larger.  Another perk to this type of system is you can have 0-100% electronic dimming.  It is also rated at 100,000 hours of use.

Anyway here is the link and keep in mind this is just one model, there is many more avaible if this is not right for your application.

http://www.avshop.ca/stage-lighting-wash-amp-pars/wash-lights/american-dj-profile-panel-rgb

Hope this helps and should anyone be interested in this and wants to locate a controller to run it let me know as I will make some calls and see what I can get for you.
Brent

[groan]

i dont think you would get the proper color mix to give you a good white.
the bulbs colors are red green and blue, though technically mixed they should give white, i'd be hesitant to buy it unless i could know the color temp.
the lights that you get from rapid are rated 6500K with no yellow in the mix giving us exactly what we need.
scared.

[Brent Shaver]

Considering white is not an actual color in the specturm I dont think this would be an issue.  Even the Aqua Glow bulbs which are rated for corals are a soft blue.  And again that light was just one option there is hundreds possibly thousands of options out there.

I also have noticed that all the SW tanks I have seen have shown with a blue tinge in the lighting so it isnt a true white anyway.  With technology today and the way they know how to make one light cover over a million colors I think the lighting would be sufficient.

Again this just an opinion based on experience using them on stage.

[groan]

Are these units rentable? May be an option to try it before you buy it.

[Brent Shaver]

Are these units rentable? May be an option to try it before you buy it.

Actually you can rent the controller and light module.

Couple places to check would be
Wall Sound Ottawa
Fleet Sound Bells Corners

Keep in miind these are rented as a commercial application so dont be shocked if you pay a bit to take it from the store.

PS if you tell them you are considering purchasing them (Fleet Sound) they might give you a break.  Wall sound is only rentals.

Hope this helps

[Brent Shaver]

Also let them know you want more white and blue with the LEDs as I said there is many options.  Also tell them you want the narrowest they have.

Fleet Pro Sound & Lighting
Unit #104 6 Bexley Place
Ottawa, Ontario
613.829.1228

Ask for Brent (Not me smiles)  If you tell him I told you to call might help in the loan/cheaper rent issue

[JetJumper]

Just came across this ad

http://www.usedottawa.com/classified-ad/11825953

I am going to see if I can get a look at one to see if its viable as an option.

Pricing is nice so far from what it seems.  Will know more once I hear back.

hmm
This is a nicer wavelength for what I was looking for.

[RossW]

Thanks for the heads up.  I am anxiuos to hear your impressions.

Do the LEDs have lenses?

[mikerobart]

RossW,

From what I have read on RC the Maxspect's do not use lenses. Even the newer g2 models do not but they are working well for many people on a bit of a budget. The current gen (g2) can be ordered with cree's for added cost but otherwise they use semiled. Maxspect is based in china and can be ordered from fish street and a few other online retailers.. prices are pretty good but shipping is killer. There are still some good threads on RC but many kept getting shut down due to one guy shilling.

Remember no dimming, although light groups are indiv controllable with built in timers. Was looking into these quite a lot awhile back. Dome decent par numbers if I remember right and have seen relatively good sps progression pics as well.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1817995

[JetJumper]

There will be no shipping costs as the guy is local that is selling them.  So if we get enough people interested he might do a group rate.  We shall see if I hear back from him.

[mikerobart]

There will be no shipping costs as the guy is local that is selling them.  So if we get enough people interested he might do a group rate.  We shall see if I hear back from him.

I'm interested to hear how it goes with this local guy and what his prices are compared to the online stores.

[omarh]

ya, let me know as well, i was about to email him until i saw your post!
I'm currently on the look out for lighting fixtures!

[JetJumper]

Found some pictures / mini review of it

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/showthread.php?t=40313

[HomerJ]

Not sure if you got a reply but I had emailed him yesterday:

(I hope it's ok to post prices, I'm not affiliated with the seller).  Here is the reply I got:

$320 is for 110w demo model only, and it is a limited time offer.
after giving out the demo ones, the regular price will be the folowing:
LED-G2-400-110w:      Lamp size: 400*180*45mm          $336+tax+S&H 
LED-G2-400-160w:      Lamp size: 400*180*45mm          $448+tax+S&H
LED-G2-400-180w:      Lamp size: 400*180*45mm          $498+tax+S&H Not in stock
LED-G2-800-170w:      Lamp size: 800*180*45mm          $580+tax+S&H
LED-G2-800-230w:      Lamp size: 800*180*45mm          $680+tax+S&H

A bit cheaper than ordering directly from fish street.