20w LED enough to grow corals?

Astroreefer · 10/27/2016, 08:59 AM

Greeting fellow reef enthusiasts,

I recently built a diy LED fixture using 9 x 3w LEDs and am driving them at 20w. I have 5 Royal Blues, 2 6500Ks and 2 12000Ks and they are on a 15" cube and I am not currently using any lenses on the LEDs. I was just wondering if anyone would have any ideas on what corals I should be able to grow with this setup? I can always put some lenses on them if needed.

Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

75mixedreef · 10/27/2016, 09:28 AM

Only 9 LEDs seems a little on the low side. 20 watts is about the minimum that I would use. I'm planning on using a 18W LED par 38 bulb for my frag rack in the sump but that will be shallow water and maybe 10 inches at the widest. It might be fine and I would definitely use at least some lenses to penetrate deeper into the water, you do not need to use all of them though if you are concerned about coverage. If you can control them then 24W might be better.

shingo43 · 10/27/2016, 12:40 PM

I have a 18w IM skkye light and it can grow lps and softie fine, If I remember the PAR is just over 100 6" under water
http://innovative-marine.com/skkye-light/clamp-18w.html

taby15 · 10/27/2016, 01:30 PM

Would they be okay for soft corals?

mcgyvr · 10/27/2016, 05:16 PM

Depending on placement, with a fixture like that on a small tank you could probably grow anything...
Light loving corals would need to be up mid to high and fairly centered..

To feel comfortable for anything I'd want a little under twice that...

Astroreefer · 11/03/2016, 06:38 AM

Thanks for the input, I've put some 90° lenses on all of the 3w LEDs and I've bought a blue and 6500K 10w LED to add in case I feel it's not bright enough. So far I've added the 10w chip and might add the additional 6500K in the future

Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

Astroreefer · 11/03/2016, 06:43 AM

I've also added some more SPS and LPS, including Acropora, so we'll see how they grow under these.

Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

10/27/2016, 08:59 AM	#1
Astroreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 46	20w LED enough to grow corals? Greeting fellow reef enthusiasts, I recently built a diy LED fixture using 9 x 3w LEDs and am driving them at 20w. I have 5 Royal Blues, 2 6500Ks and 2 12000Ks and they are on a 15" cube and I am not currently using any lenses on the LEDs. I was just wondering if anyone would have any ideas on what corals I should be able to grow with this setup? I can always put some lenses on them if needed. Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

10/27/2016, 05:16 PM	#5
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Depending on placement, with a fixture like that on a small tank you could probably grow anything... Light loving corals would need to be up mid to high and fairly centered.. To feel comfortable for anything I'd want a little under twice that... __________________ Who me?

10/27/2016, 09:28 AM	#2
75mixedreef Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Posts: 255	Only 9 LEDs seems a little on the low side. 20 watts is about the minimum that I would use. I'm planning on using a 18W LED par 38 bulb for my frag rack in the sump but that will be shallow water and maybe 10 inches at the widest. It might be fine and I would definitely use at least some lenses to penetrate deeper into the water, you do not need to use all of them though if you are concerned about coverage. If you can control them then 24W might be better.

10/27/2016, 12:40 PM	#3
shingo43 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 223	I have a 18w IM skkye light and it can grow lps and softie fine, If I remember the PAR is just over 100 6" under water http://innovative-marine.com/skkye-light/clamp-18w.html

10/27/2016, 01:30 PM	#4
taby15 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 137	Would they be okay for soft corals?

11/03/2016, 06:38 AM	#6
Astroreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 46	Thanks for the input, I've put some 90° lenses on all of the 3w LEDs and I've bought a blue and 6500K 10w LED to add in case I feel it's not bright enough. So far I've added the 10w chip and might add the additional 6500K in the future Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk

11/03/2016, 06:43 AM	#7
Astroreefer Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Manchester, England Posts: 46	I've also added some more SPS and LPS, including Acropora, so we'll see how they grow under these. Sent from my LG-H955 using Tapatalk