Beamswork LED

Hey,
So last month when I started my tank I wanted to do FOWLR, so I bought a Beamswork LED 46 x 1w white and 8 x 1w actinic. The reason I bought this is it was $120 and I didnt want to get a hanging unit. It also had more LEDs than the Marineland Reef and overall output. My initial impression was that the lighting was amazing.
I realized there were some zoos and mushroom corals on the liverock I bought and they have been growing over the last month and seem to do fine with the lighting. I now want to add some low light corals to my tank.

Questions:
Is this unit sufficient for coral growth other than low light corals? Should I get a unit with some 3w LEDS? Should I buy a second unit?

I was looking at the taotronics and it says they only actually function at 2W each and not the advertised 3W (for longevity).

I think the beamswork unit gets a bad rap...but it actually looks great and my soft corals are growing so.... is it a mistake to add more??
Please advise.

 

What's your budget?

 

Currently Id rather not buy a new light set up unless it was really warranted. In the next few months I could probably spend a couple hundred...but if these are working then do you think I need more?

 

If they are working with your current coral it should be fine for low light corals. Just pay attention to where do well and don't and adjust accordingly. You will then be able to save up for a better light if you want to get higher light needing coral.

 

That was going to be my suggestion.

 

Ok, thanks. Just wondering if there is a ballpark number of how many LED lights I need and at what wattage in order to keep corals healthy. Right now I guess I have 54w.
Would it be useful to get another of the same fixtures or do I need to get 3W bulbs.

 

I don't think watts is really important, especially with LEDs. The 55 bulb, 110 watt Taotronics have the have similar lumen and par numbers as a 250 watt halide. They draw much less power and produce much less heat.

Without having par values of your light, its tough to say. You say your corals are doing well, so your question is essentially answered with that statement.

 

as mentioned, you'll probably be good with softies such as mushrooms, zoas, xenia, leathers, ect. Past that getting into LPS and SPS especially you'll probably want a lil more.

 

just a suggestion the lenses on these lights arent that good and not polycarbonate. I have been using truelumens and support lps and sps and clams for over 2 years. the par test on beamswork drops every few months!

 

I have two beamsworks on my tank for 3 or four months, I've seen no real growth in my tank except for zoas. I'm actually ordering from reef breeders today