LED Question

[cardiffgiant]

I am thinking about upgrading the lighting over my frag tank so that I can focus it more heavily on SPS and finally eliminate the frag rack in my display.

I have a 20G long with 2 nano tuners evil par38 bulbs. I find that zoas and LPS do very well, but have had limited luck with SPS.

I've done some reading, but most of peoples posts are for cube like nano's or big display tanks. I'd like to do something for less than $400 that will give me a broader spectrum of light and better results. The AI vega's sound pretty nice. Can I do something very similar through rapid LED or another nice alternative?

 

[Jacwil]

If you do go the diy route, I have an old t5 fixture you could use for the housing..just a thought.

 

[reefboarder]

I just built an 84 led fixture for my 120g, and the cost was a little over 700.
for a 20 long you could probably go with one of rapid LED's kits and be well under 400 even with buying huge and awesome heat syncs like i did with mine. I would think you could easily get away with around fourteen and some decent optics. If my memory serves me correctly a 20L is around 14" deep and IMO you would'nt need any more than 21 for sure.
you could run 14 blues and 7 whites (2/1 ratio is a typical combo for the color most people like) or vice versa and only have two drivers. and you would be looking at around 100 for leds and another 20-30 for optics and the drivers are 35 each or so and whatever you decide for heat sync and whether or not you want to be able to dim would factor in as well.

 

[NirvanaFan]

You should be able to do a DIY fixture for less than $400 easily. Reefboarders suggestion should work well. That will give you PLENTY of light. If the fixture is close to the water (less than 6"), you probably won't need optics.

 

[Eastamherstbias]

Whatever you get make sure it has a nice overall spectrum. I have a tough time growing SPS under the par38/evolution but a much better time under the Radions.

 

[cardiffgiant]

That's what I'm most concerned with. It seems like the fixtures that people are really pleased with LEDs for SPS include a small amount of red and green. Rapid LEDs kits only include white and blue. I'm leaning toward a custom kit with LEDs right between the AI vega and the radion configuration, but I'm going to have to give the rest of hte options a lot of thought before I give it a try.

I'm thinking about 24 LEDs of:
6 cool white
8 royal blue
6 blue
2 green
2 red

 

[NirvanaFan]

You can always change out a couple cool white for warm or neutral white as well. That will spread the spectrum out a bit. I'm happy with my neutral and warm whites.