Journal High-Tech 90P Build

[renesis]

Hi guys!

I'm new here, but not entirely new to planted tanks though I've been out of the hobby for the better part of the last decade between kids and moving a couple of times - but finally in a spot where I can do something again. I'm mostly going to be making things up as I go along, but plan on a lot of automation (I want to integrate everything into home assistant) and a lot of DIY as I love the challenge of building things out myself.

The starting point:

I picked up a 90P rimless, low-iron tank on a great deal.



I have a rough idea in my head for a stand to be built from plywood - just have a couple other house projects to finish off before starting that built.

Wife says I can only have one aquarium, so for this tank, I want to go all out with a sump to allow for auto top off, and auto water changes, auto fertilizer dosing etc. etc. I have half a plan in my mind.

I've also started on the light fixture which I've modeled up in CAD, and plan on making out of an 8020 extrusion, and some 3D printed bits.

I'm using bridgelux gen 3 thrive CW (3000k) and WW (5000k) LED strips which have super high CRI at 98+ along with some specific XPE2 wavelengths that I'll solder onto some starboards. Far Red (730nm), Red (654nm), Cyan (495nm), Blue (455nm), Visible UV (415nm). Each segment of the white channels will be on its own driver so I can adjust left to right brightness in thirds, and each colour channel on its own driver so I can vary each channel on a time-based approach.

These will be run from a custom PCB board with Meanwell N-LDD drivers, and will run ESPHome on an ESP32 so it can link up with my Home Assistant installation.


That's it for now, this will probably be a very slow build so be warned if you follow along!

 

[Mr.Shenanagins]

Ooooo a true DIY LED light was going to tackle this years ago but I didn’t have the time or know how to really do it.

 

[Koan]

I'm using bridgelux gen 3 thrive CW (3000k) and WW (5000k) LED strips which have super high CRI at 98+ along with some specific XPE2 wavelengths that I'll solder onto some starboards. Far Red (730nm), Red (654nm), Cyan (495nm), Blue (455nm), Visible UV (415nm). Each segment of the white channels will be on its own driver so I can adjust left to right brightness in thirds, and each colour channel on its own driver

Nice! Sounds like you have done this before

We don't currently have many LED tinkerers active on the board here. But if you're familiar with UKAPS, definitely send a shout out with any questions to user Oreo57 over there, he is by far the Deity of All Things LED

 

[Count Krunk]

You'll want a yugang reactor then in your sump. Maybe glass tops on the DT.

 

[JayP]

I'm using bridgelux gen 3 thrive CW (3000k) and WW (5000k) LED strips which have super high CRI at 98+ along with some specific XPE2 wavelengths that I'll solder onto some starboards. Far Red (730nm), Red (654nm), Cyan (495nm), Blue (455nm), Visible UV (415nm). Each segment of the white channels will be on its own driver so I can adjust left to right brightness in thirds, and each colour channel on its own driver so I can vary each channel on a time-based approach.

These will be run from a custom PCB board with Meanwell N-LDD drivers, and will run ESPHome on an ESP32 so it can link up with my Home Assistant installation.

This is cool. Someone finally talking my language. All the chemists, biologists, and aquatic botanists here, droning on-and-on gets rather old.
At some point I might tinker around with a DIY light as well. Will be very interested in your build. Would be interesting to try a DIY version of a Skylight Hyperspot style light.

 

[BenB]

All the chemists, biologists, and aquatic botanists here, droning on-and-on gets rather old.

haha... I've often thought the same thing. The only way to get people talking is to make a post that starts... I'm trying to calculate..... and you get all sorts of info whether you wanted it or not.

 

[renesis]

Ooooo a true DIY LED light was going to tackle this years ago but I didn’t have the time or know how to really do it.

Happy to help with the know-how!

Nice! Sounds like you have done this before

We don't currently have many LED tinkerers active on the board here. But if you're familiar with UKAPS, definitely send a shout out with any questions to user Oreo57 over there, he is by far the Deity of All Things LED

I've done it once before, so I still have some bits and pieces leftover from last time, re-using 5 of the now 11 LDD drivers, and the old PSU. Appreciate the source, looks like some really good info from him there - a lot of it seems to align with what I'm setting up so the extra validation is nice. I mostly bounced ideas off Claude until I ended up with this design.

You'll want a yugang reactor then in your sump. Maybe glass tops on the DT.

I was actually just reading about the yugang reactor , smart design and I think something horizontal will fit better with a sump than the old Cerges I have kicking around.

This is cool. Someone finally talking my language. All the chemists, biologists, and aquatic botanists here, droning on-and-on gets rather old.
At some point I might tinker around with a DIY light as well. Will be very interested in your build. Would be interesting to try a DIY version of a Skylight Hyperspot style light.

Haha! My degree is actually in Microbiology! But I'm much happier talking engineering

I hadn't come across the hyperspot before, looks pretty cool. I'm constantly amazed with how much everything has changed in the last decade and the innovation with all the new stuff that's out there.

My custom PCB came in much earlier than expected, so should have some updates soon. In the mean time, I've made an enclosure for the PSU and board which should come off the printer in.... 15 more hours.





I did get the LEDs soldered onto the starboards, and over the past few days finished printing the winged reflectors for the light. I printed in PETG with a ~1mm skin on the inside to help with reflecting the light down. I wasn't super happy with the look of the PETG, as it screamed DIY a bit more than I was hoping, so I covered it in some automotive black matte vinyl, I think it looks wayyy better now.



After/Before


I also mounted magnets along the strip that will attach to the 8020 extrusion so I can pull a wing off at any time if its in the way for tank maintenance or any other reason.

 

[Koan]

think something horizontal will fit better with a sump than the old Cerges I have kicking around

Here's a post on converting a vertical type reactor to horizontal

Resource Thread 'Easy and Cheap DIY Horizontal reactor (Yugang Reactor) from an existing vertical reactor'

Apr 1, 2025

I have an old "vertical" CO2 reactor lying around (next to my UNS 90B, an upcoming project!):

This old reactor works by making a "vortex/spiral" of water flowing in due to a 90-degree elbow piece, with a CO2 gas pocket at the top that is in contact/agitation with the vortex. A long clear return tube takes the CO2-enriched water from the bottom of the vessel back to the aquarium while leaving the CO2 pocket at the top of the vessel.
It is heavily dependent on flow, super loud, and seriously reduced my filter's flow rate (180-degree water direction inside doesn't help!). It wasn't...

• Naturescapes_Rocco
• co2 horizontal
• Replies: 3
• Forum: Equipment Discussions

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