Creating An Led Set Up For Planted Aquarium

[Chtheo]

Hi all,

Inspired by many of the posts here, i am begining the project of starting to create my own LED light unit for my 65l tropical tank.

The hope it this will give benefits of being cooler, cheaper, and better!

Following advice in ps3steveo's thread about creating one for a Pico tank, i have ebay'd a few items.

Now, let me say, i dont know much about electronics, i actually failed that class at school! and probably for good reason!

These are the LEDs I was thinking of getting:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360445764012?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360438570098?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649
--Not sure on this one, but i thought a single blue might be good for colours? (or is that a myth?)
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360450018473?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Driver:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/360450001747?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 (for a maximum of 3 of the above LEDs)

Heatsinks:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230754883161?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Now, even with my inept electronic skills, i know i am missing a plug for this! But this is where i get confused. Will i be able to "splice" an old laptop charger onto the driver? Or is there another peice of kit i need?

Also, Is the above kit fit for purpose, or even fit to work together!

Many blogs i have read, and posts i have found have made it look simple (otherwise i wouldnt try) yet i cant for the life of me see where anyone has posted actual hardware used, otherwise i would just copy what they did and stop pestering you lovely people with stupid questions

Any other help/advice/tips would be greatly recieved! Thanks!

 

[StandbySetting]

The driver is the wrong power rating. You should only need the colour white for a planted aquarium, on a 60 litre, you'd only need 2 LED's for a low tech setup

LED's:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5PCS-3W-Star-High-Power-White-LED-6500K-170Lm-700mA-/220875220686?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item336d3066ce#ht_1596wt_952
Driver:
http/www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3w-LED-Driver-MBI6651-Constant-Current-700mA-Light-Lamp-/110874020572?pt=UK_BOI_Electrical_Components_Supplies_ET&hash=item19d09b4adc

then you'll need a transformer with an output current of 700mA and an output voltage of 9V for 2 LED's, you can use a laptop transformer if the voltage and current ratings conform to the above.

Then of course you'll need wire, solder, heat sinks, thermal grease (or thermal tape). It's worth noting that if you go for different LED's make sure the driver has an output equal to the operating current of the LED's and that the input voltage is in the range of the transformer.

My 60L with 2*3W LED's:

Circuit diagram:

 

[Chtheo]

brilliant!

Thank you for this, your tank looks amazing. my tank has CO2 and i put ferts in every day, does that still qualify as low-tech? (stupid question, i have never really had them clarified)

Also, heatsyncs and thermal grease should be fine. I have some MX-2 left over from my last rebuild - will that be suitable? or would i want somethign a bit more adhesive?

EDIT - would i walso be able to use the 3 remaining from that pack (for example) for my 100l main tank?

 

[StandbySetting]

brilliant!

Thank you for this, your tank looks amazing. my tank has CO2 and i put ferts in every day, does that still qualify as low-tech? (stupid question, i have never really had them clarified)

Also, heatsyncs and thermal grease should be fine. I have some MX-2 left over from my last rebuild - will that be suitable? or would i want somethign a bit more adhesive?

EDIT - would i walso be able to use the 3 remaining from that pack (for example) for my 100l main tank?

Thanks, with CO2 and ferts you're into high-tech, I had HC growing under my LED's with CO2 and ferts so you should be fine, but you can always add more LED's onto the circuit should you need them. The thermal grease you have will be fine, but you'll still need to adhere the LED's to them in some fashion. And yes you could use the remaining LED's for your 100L tank.

 

[Chtheo]

sorry, another stupid question. what is HC?

 

[StandbySetting]

Hemianthus callitrichoides

 

[Chtheo]

the only reason im being a bit questiony, and why i chose red LEDS in the first place is i have always had a red tube, in both T8 and T5 varieties, i have a few (not many) red plants, and i always thought the special thing about the plant grow bulbs were that they were red-ish.

that said, if you are doing fine with just the whites, im happy to act on that with your recomendation

I will probably order tomorrow, and keep this thread up to date with my progress. may even see about getting the subject changed to "if i can do it, literally anyone can!"

Thanks for all the advice

EDIT- Just looked up that plant, that is somethign i havent been able to grow in myu current tank. so if i can grow that from these 2 LEDS that would be brilliant. would i notice any loss of colour in my red plants? That would be my only concern!