72 gallon bowfront build

[Steve W]

I am planning my lights for this system. I want to use a combination of 4-48" T5s (216w) across the back for general lighting with a strip of 3w LED white and blue combination just in front of that and I'm also looking at adding about 2 10000K 10w LED spots and 3 10w blues in the bow. This is going to be about 90w of the 3w bulbs total and 50w of the 10w spot in the very front for a total of 356 w of light.

Does anyone have a feel for if this is going to be enough; too much; too little?

I welcome feedback as I am new to the whole LED thing. I want to get away from the MH because of the heat and expense thing, but I want to be able to grow a variety of LPS and SPS along with some zoas.

Steve W.

 

[TriMax]

Steve

What are the tank dimensions? How deep the tank is has a great deal to do with the amount of light needed. Well, that and what you plan to put in the tank that may need light. Fish do not care much, but some corals and most clams care alot. :lolspin:

 

[Steve W]

22" deep, 48" long, 13" wide at the ends, 17" in the middle. I want a clam or two and as I said before a variety of LPS and SPS corals with some zoas to fill in.

Steve

 

[Flavum]

Sounds like adequate lighting for lps. Might have to keep clams and some sps towards the top.
Still learning the LED lighting but 10 watt bulbs sound beastly, cant wait to see them in action!

what clam sp. are you planning on keeping?

 

[Steve W]

Crocea

 

[TriMax]

Not going to get much help from me about LED or t-5s. All I have ever had is MH. You are right about the heat. Croceas and maximas need the most lights. Croceas are also the smallest. So, that should work best as far as the size of the clam in your size tank.

 

[reeflover101]

I love clams but they use a lot of calcium lol

 

[TriMax]

Well, Travis, they need it to make more shell. It is not their fault.:bounce3:

 

[Runner]

I have a clam that seems happy enough under my LEDs, but then he is fairly close to the source. I probably need to increase my calcium dosing, though.

Not sure of your layout or depth, but the amount of LED wattage alone that you are putting in rivals that in some 180G tanks (admitedly those were using all 3W Cree XP-G whites and 3W XR-E blues and not 10W spot lights). But I like the idea of the general T5 strip lighting supplementing the LEDs.