Is there a rule of thumb for LEDs on reefs?

fishykid9212 · 08/15/2011, 09:01 PM

I have a 92G corner and was wondering what LEDS to get so I can keep soft corals and anemones? Is there a certain rule of watts/gallon?

hagar101 · 08/15/2011, 09:04 PM

Yes there is a watt per gallon "rule" as you say. I believe its 5 watts per gallon for softies and lps. Not sure about sps

James77 · 08/15/2011, 09:16 PM

There is no watts per gallon rule that is anywhere near reliable, especially for LEDs. Baisng it on surface area is far more effective.....one 3 watts LED per 10-20 square inches is rough amount. Whether you go to more or less on that scale depends on corals, optics, and tank depth.

I had LEDs on my 120....77 of them run at half power, less than one watt per gallon, and I was scorching coral. Imagine if I went with the above suggested 5 watts per gallon....

I'd guess you'd want in the neighborhood of 45-55 LEDs, 3 watt ones.

BigKahuna · 08/15/2011, 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

Yes there is a watt per gallon "rule" as you say. I believe its 5 watts per gallon for softies and lps. Not sure about sps

Not sure that applies to LED's though. Nearly 500w LED on a 92g would probably fry anything and everything. I'd say with 3w Crees maybe 200w total would be where you want be on the high end.

fishykid9212 · 08/15/2011, 09:21 PM

so if I DIY something do you think 50-60w of them would be enough?

hagar101 · 08/15/2011, 09:35 PM

What was i thinking! Wow im sorry, its been a long day

I was think with T5's i believe?

James77 · 08/15/2011, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishykid9212

so if I DIY something do you think 50-60w of them would be enough?

More like 40-60 LEDs, so about 120-180 watts using Cree 3 waters. Being dimmable would be ideal, so you can acclimate and adjust your lights to the coral.

BigKahuna · 08/15/2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fishykid9212

so if I DIY something do you think 50-60w of them would be enough?

I think anemones might want a little more than that though. I think like James mentioned above you'd probably want to be around 40-50x3W Crees for about 120-150W. Anemone experts can chime in if that is enough for them though.

James77 · 08/15/2011, 09:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

What was i thinking! Wow im sorry, its been a long day

I was think with T5's i believe?

That wouldn't be as bad as the 5 wpg of LEDs

. Still, There are too many variables with tanks and equipment to make a broad WPG rule. 300 watts of low end T5s with one big reflector and no cooling may be far too little light, where 300 watts with individual reflectors high end bulbs and active cooling could be too bright. It's better to gauge it on the type of lighting, quality of equipment, and tank dimensions and what you plan on keeping.

hagar101 · 08/15/2011, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James77

That wouldn't be as bad as the 5 wpg of LEDs

. Still, There are too many variables with tanks and equipment to make a broad WPG rule. 300 watts of low end T5s with one big reflector and no cooling may be far too little light, where 300 watts with individual reflectors high end bulbs and active cooling could be too bright. It's better to gauge it on the type of lighting, quality of equipment, and tank dimensions and what you plan on keeping.

You really sound like you know what your talking about. would a sunlight supply TEK light T5 fixture X6 be good for a 300 gallon reef? 60" strip of lights and 72" long tank.

James77 · 08/15/2011, 09:52 PM

I had 77 LEDs on my 4x2x2 tank, and were I to do it again, I would go with more like 60 with 60° optics

James77 · 08/15/2011, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

You really sound like you know what your talking about. would a sunlight supply TEK light T5 fixture X6 be good for a 300 gallon reef? 60" strip of lights and 72" long tank.

Teks lack that active cooling, but you can easily point a fan across the bulbs and greatly increase the PAR. How wide is the tank?...Im assumin 72x 30x 30? The length would be ok, as the 6" on either side would be not be noticeable, but I donth think it would be wide enough with 6 bulbs.

I would look at a 8x60"( 8x80 watt) or 10x60" T5 fixture assuming I got the dimensions right above. Teks are decent lights, the lack of cooling is a killer on them, but there are the tek elites. ATI Sunpowers are more intense fixtures.

hagar101 · 08/15/2011, 10:11 PM

Okay. I will save the extra hundred

. and these ones said they have a good cooling fan in them?

James77 · 08/15/2011, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hagar101

Okay. I will save the extra hundred

. and these ones said they have a good cooling fan in them?

The ATIs? Yes, they have cooling fans, they ( SunPower and PowerModule) are a couple of the best fistures around. The SP is a not-so-fancy version of the PM....but with as much performance.

The TEK Elites I have no experience with, I know they just re-did the fans because of noise issues. Not sure if anyone has tested them or put them up against the ATIs.

fishykid9212 · 08/15/2011, 10:41 PM

does anyone know I can buy the whole kit of Cree's as cheap as buying everything seperate because I have no idea how to pick this stuff. I can follow directions once i get them lol

hagar101 · 08/15/2011, 10:44 PM

Okay. thanks

Woznickiaj · 08/15/2011, 11:31 PM

Id say rapidled.com If you want a DIY with 3w crees.

daplatapus · 08/16/2011, 08:12 AM

I agree with going with Rapidled.com. Click on the link below and explain your setup and they'll size everything for you and answer all your questions.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=646

James77 · 08/16/2011, 08:49 AM

Well....might as well add to the RapidLED praise

. They are great, and Mike there took plenty of time to answer my questions I havd at the time.

08/15/2011, 09:01 PM	#1
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	Is there a rule of thumb for LEDs on reefs? I have a 92G corner and was wondering what LEDS to get so I can keep soft corals and anemones? Is there a certain rule of watts/gallon?

08/15/2011, 09:04 PM	#2
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	Yes there is a watt per gallon "rule" as you say. I believe its 5 watts per gallon for softies and lps. Not sure about sps __________________ "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." John F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: Empty 75 gallon tank

08/15/2011, 09:16 PM	#3
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	There is no watts per gallon rule that is anywhere near reliable, especially for LEDs. Baisng it on surface area is far more effective.....one 3 watts LED per 10-20 square inches is rough amount. Whether you go to more or less on that scale depends on corals, optics, and tank depth. I had LEDs on my 120....77 of them run at half power, less than one watt per gallon, and I was scorching coral. Imagine if I went with the above suggested 5 watts per gallon.... I'd guess you'd want in the neighborhood of 45-55 LEDs, 3 watt ones. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/15/2011, 09:35 PM	#6
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	What was i thinking! Wow im sorry, its been a long day I was think with T5's i believe? __________________ "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." John F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: Empty 75 gallon tank

08/15/2011, 09:52 PM	#11
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	I had 77 LEDs on my 4x2x2 tank, and were I to do it again, I would go with more like 60 with 60° optics __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

08/15/2011, 09:21 PM	#5
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	so if I DIY something do you think 50-60w of them would be enough?

08/15/2011, 10:11 PM	#13
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	Okay. I will save the extra hundred . and these ones said they have a good cooling fan in them? __________________ "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." John F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: Empty 75 gallon tank

08/15/2011, 10:41 PM	#15
fishykid9212 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Southern NH Posts: 1,470	does anyone know I can buy the whole kit of Cree's as cheap as buying everything seperate because I have no idea how to pick this stuff. I can follow directions once i get them lol

08/15/2011, 10:44 PM	#16
hagar101 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Washington Posts: 339	Okay. thanks __________________ "Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." John F. Kennedy Current Tank Info: Empty 75 gallon tank

08/15/2011, 11:31 PM	#17
Woznickiaj Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Hershey, PA Posts: 227	Id say rapidled.com If you want a DIY with 3w crees.

08/16/2011, 08:12 AM	#18
daplatapus Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Port Alberni, B.C., Canada Posts: 895	I agree with going with Rapidled.com. Click on the link below and explain your setup and they'll size everything for you and answer all your questions. http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/fo...play.php?f=646

08/16/2011, 08:49 AM	#19
James77 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Rhode Island Posts: 8,158	Well....might as well add to the RapidLED praise . They are great, and Mike there took plenty of time to answer my questions I havd at the time. __________________ Jim Current Tank Info: 120g Mixed Reef and 75g Freshwater

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