Help choosing corals that would work with my LED light

alleny87 · 08/09/2010, 02:01 PM

I am fixing to build a new LED light fixture for my 46 gallon corner with 6 or 8 Cree XP-G and 6 or 4 XP-E Royal Blue, for a total of twelve. If my tank is 22" tall and im only using 12 leds, for a total output of 36Watts, would it be considered low lighting? maybe moderate? any particular corals that would do good for my situation? Iv been researching but im new to most of this saltwater stuff, but im really interested in getting into corals in the next 3-6 months or so, by then my tank will be 4-7 months old.

Jeff · 08/09/2010, 04:13 PM

If you are successful at cooling the LED's well, I would think that you can grow just about any type of popular coral including sps. I know a couple people that have been very successful with LED's.

Scuba_Steve · 08/09/2010, 07:35 PM

The issue your going to have is spotlighting. I am not speaking from any experience with LEDs btw, just what I have read. You will have to space them far enough apart that only a small space under the LED will be lit by the optics. If you choose to go opticless, you will prob overcome this to an extent, but will not have very strong lighting. As a guess, with optics you could keep a colony directly under each light. Without, you can keep low/mod light corals. Pretend you have PCs. Keep the moderate ones up high, and under the LEDs if possible.

08/09/2010, 02:01 PM	#1
alleny87 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: San Antonio, tx Posts: 4	Help choosing corals that would work with my LED light I am fixing to build a new LED light fixture for my 46 gallon corner with 6 or 8 Cree XP-G and 6 or 4 XP-E Royal Blue, for a total of twelve. If my tank is 22" tall and im only using 12 leds, for a total output of 36Watts, would it be considered low lighting? maybe moderate? any particular corals that would do good for my situation? Iv been researching but im new to most of this saltwater stuff, but im really interested in getting into corals in the next 3-6 months or so, by then my tank will be 4-7 months old.

08/09/2010, 04:13 PM	#2
Jeff Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Chicago Posts: 11,907	If you are successful at cooling the LED's well, I would think that you can grow just about any type of popular coral including sps. I know a couple people that have been very successful with LED's. __________________ Always remember.... any time you reef, you also reef with every reefer that reefer has reefed with. Mitch 2/18/10 IWNFT343F Current Tank Info: Innovative Marine 20

08/09/2010, 07:35 PM	#3
Scuba_Steve Premium Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Pooler, Ga Posts: 1,342	The issue your going to have is spotlighting. I am not speaking from any experience with LEDs btw, just what I have read. You will have to space them far enough apart that only a small space under the LED will be lit by the optics. If you choose to go opticless, you will prob overcome this to an extent, but will not have very strong lighting. As a guess, with optics you could keep a colony directly under each light. Without, you can keep low/mod light corals. Pretend you have PCs. Keep the moderate ones up high, and under the LEDs if possible. __________________ 40g DIY AIO. DT Size is 27"x18"x17" SCA-301 skimmer, DIY ATS 4"x4" 1 cube setup, Ocean Revive 120w LED, Quiet One 3000, Jager 150w TBS Rock

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