DIY - DIY LED retrofit for JBJ 12 gallon

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DIY LED retrofit for JBJ 12 gallon

Printed From: Utah Reefs
Category: Specialized Discussion
Forum Name: DIY
Forum Description: Do it Yourself
URL: http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=60728
Printed Date: July 27 2025 at 7:23am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.03 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: DIY LED retrofit for JBJ 12 gallon

Posted By: chris.rogers
Subject: DIY LED retrofit for JBJ 12 gallon
Date Posted: December 08 2012 at 8:57am

I 've got an empty 12 gallon from JBJ. I want to remove the entire PC fixture and replace it with LEDs. I've got everything figured out except how to actually mount everything into the hood. Since I haven't bought anything I am still open on which heat sink to get, I want to get whatever will make my life the easiest.

Any thoughts, suggestions, or links to what others have done would be greatly appreciated.

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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!

Replies:

Posted By: phys
Date Posted: December 08 2012 at 12:27pm

Does your system have good airflow? How many LEDs are you adding?

Posted By: chris.rogers
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 12:25pm

It has 2 fans, and I'll be putting in 14 LEDs

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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!

Posted By: backwards32
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 1:51pm

If you go to heatsink.com they have all sorts of sizes for heatsinks. good prices too

Posted By: chris.rogers
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 2:43pm

How do you mount them to the plastic hood of the JBJ? I can't glue it because of the fins, so do you just tap it with a bit from Lowe's and then try to screw it in? And into what, the plastic is so thin the fasteners will poke out on the other side.

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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!

Posted By: backwards32
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 3:17pm

You get thermal tape and tape them to the heating. the back side of the leds do get quite hot so you wouldnt want them touching plastic or anything that Will melt.

Posted By: chris.rogers
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 3:20pm

I will bond the LEDs to the heat sink using thermal adhesive but how do you attach the heat sink to the hood?

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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!

Posted By: backwards32
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 3:25pm

Oh sorry i misunderstood. i did this same project but for my red sea max. I just used some eggcreate to put some space between the plastic and the leds . wow that's hard to explain.

Posted By: chris.rogers
Date Posted: December 09 2012 at 4:04pm

So LEDs bonded to heat sink then, to egg crate? What did you use to bond the crate to the hood?

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Ils sont fous, ces Romains!