watts per gallon LED

BIG_B · 08/02/2013, 07:56 AM

I have a standard 29 gallon tank and am thinking about the Chinese LED for lighting. I plan on soft corals LPS. problem is I know nothing about LED's. Any help would be great

TL1000RSquid · 08/02/2013, 08:07 AM

No real WPG rule for LED's, depending on quality some LED's are more efficient then others of similar wattage.

I do have a 29g under 120 watt 16" reefbreeders fixture which is about the same as the chinese evergrows on ebay. LPS, softies, anemones all doing fine under it.

Paul B · 08/02/2013, 08:54 AM

My 6' long reef uses 36 3 watt leds. So that is just over 3 watts per gallon. Or to make it easier to understand I have a 3 watt LED every 5" over the tank.

I don't know if that helps, but my reef is doing fine.

asid61 · 08/02/2013, 01:26 PM

The general rule is 3w of Cree or Luxeon (good quality) high-power leds per 20 inches squared up to 24" deep tank. No optics needed, or 120* optics.
For a 24"-30" deep tank, you use 90* optics and run 1 led per 16 inches squared.
For a 30"-36" depth, one led per 12 inches squared, and 60* optics.
Deeper than that I'm not sure.

If you use Reefbreeders/Evergrow fixtures, then use about 1.5x that number.
If you use an ebay fixture, go a little higher.
In either case, you can use a 120w led fixture for a 29 gallon.

08/02/2013, 07:56 AM	#1
BIG_B Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Ausin Texas Posts: 39	watts per gallon LED I have a standard 29 gallon tank and am thinking about the Chinese LED for lighting. I plan on soft corals LPS. problem is I know nothing about LED's. Any help would be great

08/02/2013, 08:54 AM	#3
Paul B Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 15,549	My 6' long reef uses 36 3 watt leds. So that is just over 3 watts per gallon. Or to make it easier to understand I have a 3 watt LED every 5" over the tank. I don't know if that helps, but my reef is doing fine. __________________ I used to get shocked when I put my hand in my tank. Then the electric eel went dead. Current Tank Info: 100 gal reef set up in 1971

08/02/2013, 08:07 AM	#2
TL1000RSquid Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NY Posts: 423	No real WPG rule for LED's, depending on quality some LED's are more efficient then others of similar wattage. I do have a 29g under 120 watt 16" reefbreeders fixture which is about the same as the chinese evergrows on ebay. LPS, softies, anemones all doing fine under it.

08/02/2013, 01:26 PM	#4
asid61 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cupertino, CA Posts: 1,111	The general rule is 3w of Cree or Luxeon (good quality) high-power leds per 20 inches squared up to 24" deep tank. No optics needed, or 120* optics. For a 24"-30" deep tank, you use 90* optics and run 1 led per 16 inches squared. For a 30"-36" depth, one led per 12 inches squared, and 60* optics. Deeper than that I'm not sure. If you use Reefbreeders/Evergrow fixtures, then use about 1.5x that number. If you use an ebay fixture, go a little higher. In either case, you can use a 120w led fixture for a 29 gallon.