Input Needed: LEDs for 90 gallon

I would like to be able to run a mixed reef. This is what I was thinking for lights...


I need feedback in terms of... is this light intense enough for a mixed reef? Is there good spread of colors to avoid spot lighting? (I'm planning on no optics). Do I go with 14k or 20k 50W multichips? I was thinking 14k because I can add blue to it with the additional lighting... but I can't "remove" blue from 20k if it's too blue (especially with the accent lighting). I want to get in on the LED group buy... so I need to decide this somewhat quick. I have the GPU coolers on the way in for the multichip, so I'm pretty set on having most of my lighting come from those and the Crees just being additional "accent" lighting (and they'll help with phase in/out sunrise/sunset).

I will have at minimum 2 drivers, more likely three (so I can control Royal Blues independent of the other accent colors, which are expected to be more minor contributors to the overall color).

 

you should just get 2 of the reefbreeders fixtures. will run you $400 but you will be happy with the results.

 

I think that plan sounds good. The supplemental colors should be on dimmable drivers as well so you can tune colors to not wash others out. 14K is a good choice as you stated you can add more blue to your liking. Looking forward to see this come together.

 

I'm building the LED set up. I understand I can buy it, but I am more than comfortable building my own lights, and I feel I can adjust the build to better suit my needs than many of the lower cost alternatives. For those that don't know, I did a complete DIY LED set up (even built the heat sink) for my Biocube that fits into the stock hook so it looks completely stock and is more than enough light for the anemones and corals in that tank so I'm not new to LED building... just want to make sure I have a good balance of colors and intensity as I've never used the multichips or green/red/true violet before. The set up I'm working on will be completely removable from the canopy if I want to modify it or just get in there to work. I have a "quick release" system I'm working on right now to allow me to simply unclip the entire track and everything.

 

Are you referencing keeping the true violet/red/green/blue on the same driver or have independent dimmable drivers for each of those colors?

 

I would put the Reds/Greens on one, The Royals on one, and the Blue/UV on one. You'd have to add the 4 remaining Royals to the Red/Green driver if you kept your number at 18 Royal diodes. The Reds/Greens can be overpowering...you might want to subtract the 4 remaining Royals, and instead replace them with 4 Cyan diodes, and run those 8 (Red/Green/Cyan) together.

 

Crap, I forgot about Cyan. That sounds like a good idea. And yes, I had read about the reds and greens being very strong, which is why I only have 2 (each one will be diluted to the point of covering 24"x18". I will modify my set up.

*LED group buy doesn't offer Cyan* so I'll need to look into either picking them up elsewhere, or think about maybe not using as many. Most of them I see are 1W.

 

I like your plan and I do agree with FaceOfDeceit about putting the colors on separate dimmable drivers.

cyan leds can be found here...Im sure they are pricey compared to the group buy stuff but if you really want them its not a huge investment.

LEDs - Cyan LEDs - Rapid LED

 

Yeah, and I may not need 4 I guess as well... especially if they are just to make the corals pop, a couple might be enough to just do that. The True Violet has a good amount of usable PAR for corals I've read, so it makes sense to have a bit more of them. I can see if there are some cheap dimmable drivers that'll run 2 - 3W LEDs and then I can have a mounted board on top of the canopy controlling the rough manual dimming (APEX will control ramps).

 

Sounds like a good plan, I would disperse them more evenly, and go with a 12k multichip, which leaves room for you to g 14k, or 20k, instead of 18k or bluer. Also, I put all of the blues, as in royals, regular blues, and violets on one driver, and the reds/greens and cyans on another, if I even use cyan, they don't seem to have much of a benefit.