RSM 250 AI Sol Blue D.I.Y

[uxdesigner]

Inspired by the Aqua Illuminations (AI) Sol Blue modules. I decided to build my own retrofit into my existing Red Sea Max 250 hood.

Specs:
48 3 Watt Cree LED's

16 Cool White
16 Royal Blue
8 Blue
8 Neutral White
4 Meanwell Drivers running 12 LED's each
Dimmable on a blue and white channel


Package Arrives:
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/7BF1031A-orig.jpg

Wiring and layout specs complete. I will be building 2 of these 16 x 6 (24 LED) modules.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/RSM_SolBlue_Wiring.png

Carefully gutted the hood. (Available for sale, PM if interested)
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/B4CAC16C-orig.jpg

Installed the horizontal aluminum brace that will be used for mounting the modules. (You can also see I upgraded the fans to the Silenx)
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/A39A7E1E-orig.jpg

Used connector bolts attached with epoxy to create the mounting hardware.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/7851F92C-orig.jpg

LED's attached (Thermal Adhesive)
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/0CB307F1-orig.jpg
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/71B01D26-orig.jpg

All wired up. Lit them up to test and damn these are bright!
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/CC88DF19-orig.jpg

Was able to fit the 4 Meanwell drivers in the hood and retain the stock LED moon lights.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/6A9EA04C-orig.jpg

Installed the dimmer potentiometers under the timer lid (1 controls white, 1 controls blue). I really like the ability to mix the colors as well as slowly acclimate the tank.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/70690C89-orig.jpg

[Bananahands]

Nice! I'll be following along. How much $$$ are you in so far?

[bigdog6286]

just some advice install some plexiglass or equivalent below the leds Your probably already on it but just trying to help.

[susaneckert]

Cant wait to see how it turns out please do before and after pictures

[bigdog6286]

gotta feeling i'm going to be envious after hes done...

[mike1987]

Nice! I'll be following along. How much $$$ are you in so far?

Have the same question when all things are said and done.

Also what made you choose the color LED's you are using?

I love the step by step you are doing it would be a first online achievement in reefing DIY history if you had pictures and commentary throughout the build like you have been haha.

I will be doing the same thing after you if it all works out and give you a :ohsnap:

[mike1987]

How does it look?

[jessegarcia28]

WOW!NIcE DIY led set up buddy. Cant wait to see it over the tank

[mike1987]

What angle are the lights shining at you put on 80 degree optics?

[mike1987]

Close as in less light? It looks great to me. I will be doing the same thing within the month you have anything you would suggest or change after doing it yourself? Also what was the total cost?

[uxdesigner]

Shot of the hood without optics for now as I still have a few things to clean up but needed to get some light on my corals that have been deprived for 3 days
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/69179528-orig.jpg

All I can say is wow these things are bright! Really happy I decided to go LED, the shimmer is awesome! This is a FTS with the LED's running at 15%% without optics and they are equal to the 6 stock T5's in brightness. Next I'll be adding the optics.
http://i1123.photobucket.com/albums/l556/uxdesigner/Snapbucket/9E72EE9F-orig.jpg

I've heard of people burning their corals so I'm going to be safe and slowly acclimate. To be honest I don't think I will ever be able to run them at full brightness but we will have to see. Heat is zero, the air coming out of the side fans is cool compared to hot when the T5's were running. It's a great design as the fans blow air through the heat-sink fins from left to right.

Suggestions:
I would suggest taking your time, get it right the first time. A simple mistake and you could blow the entire string. Get the dimmers, with the RSM we can't acclimate by moving the modules up/down. Total price including the misc hardware was right under $500, well worth the price as I was about to get a chiller and buy new bulbs which would have put me right at 2/3 of the total cost. Not to mention saving on electricity and the long life of the LED's. Hot me up on PM if you have any questions.

[mike1987]

Would love to just keep it in PM's since its easier to track but you did such a good job on this I am sure other RSM owners would love to see this DIY.

What made you choose the LED color temps that you decided to go?

Do the LED's over shine the tank, as in how much light spill over outside of the tank do you experience?

What website(s) did you use to order your lights and would you recommend them or another source?

[uxdesigner]

Thanks Mike, I agree.

Color Temps: It was the latest color mix AI was offering and I knew I wanted to add some neutral white to get the warm color mix that otherwise would be missing with all cool whites and blues.

The LED's did over shine the tank so I added the optics to one module for comparison and the difference is remarkable. The optics side creates some really nice shadows and depth that the side without the optics lacks. Optics keep the light towards the center of the tank, really a nice look. (Kind of hard to explain but my clowns now have shadows on the sand while them swim around, pretty cool)

I ordered everything from Rapid LED, I highly recommend them. Mike the owner is a great guy and has ties to San Diego (UCSD), tell him Frankie sent you.

[mike1987]

Good to hear about the optics, I figured it would help focus the light I am sure with them you will get better PAR readings as well. I tore down my tank and am cooking my live rock so I get to start all over. Tank was up for 2 years and crashed hard after my heater blew up and it has never recovered and I am blaming the dead organisms in my live rock for clogging everything up. Can't wait to get started on this I know Christmas is coming up soon so I can get some good gifts this year, ha. Will do on rapidled thanks for the information! Can't wait to see progression shots.

[uxdesigner]

Good to hear about the optics, I figured it would help focus the light I am sure with them you will get better PAR readings as well. I tore down my tank and am cooking my live rock so I get to start all over. Tank was up for 2 years and crashed hard after my heater blew up and it has never recovered and I am blaming the dead organisms in my live rock for clogging everything up. Can't wait to get started on this I know Christmas is coming up soon so I can get some good gifts this year, ha. Will do on rapidled thanks for the information! Can't wait to see progression shots.

Thanks Mike, let me know if you have any questions.

[uxdesigner]

2 Month Update:
Its been almost 2 months and the LED's have been awesome. I can't say that I'm getting better growth on corals because everything has been growing the same but color and polyp extension has significantly increased. Temperatures are also down significantly even with the hood closed all the time. Power consumption is also down and I really enjoy the morning and evening actinics only time period (3 Hours).