Would this DIY LED lighting be good for tree corals?

[clowntriggerfis]

so am thinking of making a DIY LED reef lighting and was wondering if this would be enough for tree coral?
24 royal blue LEDs
10 white LEDs
7 red LEDs
7 moon lights

 

[gflat65]

Unless you have a huge/deep tank, that'll likely be more than you need. On a shallow frag tank (72x30x14t), I'm running (24) RB's and (24) CW's on dimmers and everythig seems happy. The SPS side has optics, but one on the other side of the tank (softies). My wife's 75 is now running (40) 3W Crees-half and half RB and CW and so far, it's loving it. Her's is primarily a softie with some LPS and a few SPS. Whites are at maybe 55%...

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Thanks would that be enough for a clam too. I know its not the right forum for clams just curios.

 

[Budda]

What size is your tank? I'd be careful running the red led's have heard they promote algae blooms.

 

[APBonds]

I have 60 diy 3 watt cree leds on my 125gal 72L x 18W x 22H, 24 RB 24 CW 12 red leds. I have a crosea clam sitting on the bottom for almost 2 months now and its doing fine.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

ohhh sorry thought I posted my tank size. 45(48X13X18). APBonds do you know how big those clams get cant find anything anywhere on how big clams get. It soundas like this might be almost enough for a 135(6X1.5X2) because of what you guys are saying.
thanks

 

[gflat65]

Crocea's can get fairly large (most Tridacna's can), but they don't seem to grow as fast as gigas, squamosa, or Maxima's. My Crocea's have only put on an inch or two over the last four years, but my Maxima has put on over 3".

How do you run you're LED's? 100% on or dimmed? My wife's 75 seems to have enough light for clams (no quantum meter...) with whites full on, but I've not tried. Do you use optics? If so, what angle? The (48) over the 130 work so well because it is so shallow. LED's drop par fairly quickly through water depth, so at 2', I'd not be as well off with so few. I've got lower light spots in the tank, but that allows me to keep the lower light corals along the fringes. Getting spread is the tough part...

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Planing on building it sometime, this december at the earliest but now I am not sure what tank I will make reef So how many LEDs do I need for the 135 for tree corals and maybe a clam? and the 45? Is your LED lighting DIY? If so what did you use to make it?

 

[APBonds]

My drivers are set at 1.3A for the cool whites and .75A for the royal blue and reds. The drivers are the meanwell 60-48p with the pwm controler, set for 12 hour.It has a ramp up of 1 hour, then they are at full power for 10 hours, and then ramps down for 1 hour.
The light is enough for the crocea but seems to be to much for some LPS like blastos and chalices. You'll be looking for to shade those. Softies love it . The rule of thumb I went by when I built my lights was 18 to 22 inches squared per led. I think 18 inches per led is plenty of light unless you tank is very deep. I don't have any SPS in my tank but I would say stick with the lower end and you might want to try more colors than just the cool white,royal blues , and reds just for looks. My tank looks kinda like 20k MH with a slights purpleish tint.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

My drivers are set at 1.3A for the cool whites and .75A for the royal blue and reds. The drivers are the meanwell 60-48p with the pwm controler, set for 12 hour.It has a ramp up of 1 hour, then they are at full power for 10 hours, and then ramps down for 1 hour.
The light is enough for the crocea but seems to be to much for some LPS like blastos and chalices. You'll be looking for to shade those. Softies love it . The rule of thumb I went by when I built my lights was 18 to 22 inches squared per led. I think 18 inches per led is plenty of light unless you tank is very deep. I don't have any SPS in my tank but I would say stick with the lower end and you might want to try more colors than just the cool white,royal blues , and reds just for looks. My tank looks kinda like 20k MH with a slights purpleish tint.[/QUOTE\]




What do you mean by I think 18 inches per LED. How many LEDs would you recomend for a 45(48X13X18) and how many for a 135(6X1.5X2)? I want a blue light look in my tank so that is why I want so much blue. All I want to have that needs specail lighting is a clam and tree corals.

 

[APBonds]

1 led per 18 too 22 inches square of the top of your tank. 48 X 13 = 624 sq in. Then devide by 18in = 34 leds or 22in = 28 leds. For the 135g its 80 or 65 leds. I have 60 leds over my 72 X 18 125g its more than enough.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Ok thanks I think I will do like 60-72 LEDs for my 135. What should I put the LEDs in? what clam will be best for that lighting?
34-38 royal blue
5-7 red
11-17 cool white
12 moon lights

 

[APBonds]

You may want to check out the DIY section on the forums and search for leds. There is a little bit of a learning curve to build your own lights but its not very hard. Rapidled.com has good info and all the stuff you need. For the clam you can find that info in the clam forums. The one I have is a crocea it needs the most light out of all the clams and is doing well on the sand in my tank with 60 day time leds.
There is some debate over led amount and colors, I'm no expert I was just posting what I have on mine and that every thing is thriving. I have 24 royal blue, 24 cool white, and 12 red leds for a total of 60 leds on during the day. That gives my tank a slight purple look. I wouldn't go with that many blues to whites I would do a even amount, but the good thing is if its a diy light you can always go back and change the lights, they just a little pricie at $3 to $6 per led.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Thanks I will look at those other forums. would having a lot more blue not make the tank have a blue light look that is what I realy want because I had a blue florecent bulb over my tank and I loved it it was awesome.
I think if it will create the blue I am looking for maybe even a little purple too
34 royal blue
10 red
16 cool white
12 moon lights

 

[APBonds]

Well I havent seen that many blues to whites but I would guess that will give you a blue look.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Cool thanks

 

[organism]

Thanks I will look at those other forums. would having a lot more blue not make the tank have a blue light look that is what I realy want because I had a blue florecent bulb over my tank and I loved it it was awesome.
I think if it will create the blue I am looking for maybe even a little purple too
34 royal blue
10 red
16 cool white
12 moon lights

Yes, more blues will make your tank look ridiculous. I use a 3:1 blue to white ratio and have 18 royal blues and 6 cool whites over a 34 gallon solana, the color is really pimp, kind of like a radium 20k. If you like a bit of a bluer look and neon corals I'd really recommend that ratio

As far as the red LED's, have you read much about them? I haven't heard much and have never used them, but I'd be worried about how many you really need (if any) before they start growing algae or washing out the blues and making the tank look orange. A 17% red LED ratio seems kinda high is all, the only people I know using any are SPS guys. For me to swap out blues for reds there would need to be some serious documentation that you actually need reds...

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Yes, more blues will make your tank look ridiculous. I use a 3:1 blue to white ratio and have 18 royal blues and 6 cool whites over a 34 gallon solana, the color is really pimp, kind of like a radium 20k. If you like a bit of a bluer look and neon corals I'd really recommend that ratio

As far as the red LED's, have you read much about them? I haven't heard much and have never used them, but I'd be worried about how many you really need (if any) before they start growing algae or washing out the blues and making the tank look orange. A 17% red LED ratio seems kinda high is all, the only people I know using any are SPS guys. For me to swap out blues for reds there would need to be some serious documentation that you actually need reds...

I have not read anything about reds but was told I needed them but if you dont need red for softies and clams I will swap it out for blues and whites but will definitly lower the amount of reds with what you said. I dont want a orange look.

 

[APBonds]

Its hard to get any reliable info on the red leds, weather corals use the red spectrum or not. I went with them with them thinking of the look, red and blue make purple lol. I need to take pics to post, but my tank doesn't have a orange look to it. Orange corals do pop but even with just the reds everything is red.... blood red. Its crazy with just the rb and reds on. I'm gona go take pics right now lol.

 

[clowntriggerfis]

Thanks I would like to see them, can you post a pic of your clam too?