LED's on an open-top.

Mean Well ELN-60-48D dimmable driver ...1 @ $32.00 = $32.00

CREE XR-E Royal Blue 3W LED with White Lens ...2 @ $6.75 = $13.50

CREE XR-E Q5 Cool White 3W LED with White Lens ...4 @ $6.75 = $27.00

10K Ohm Linear Potentiometer ...1 @ $3.50 = $3.50

Sub-Total $76.00
ESTIMATED SHIPPING $6.00
Rapid LED ESTIMATED TOTAL $82.00 Not too bad for being dimmable.

This is the recommended layout for dimmable lighting.

 

To use the ELN-60-48D I believe you have to have a string of at least 8 LEDs...from what I understand.

 

I'll see what I can come up with.

What was the problem with amphipods?

 

ugh. You are correct. I am afraid that would be too bright. :-/ Think that would be too much for moonlights of a 29?(lol)

 

I was looking at the $120 price on the link that you posted. A 20" strip is $49.95 and there is no assembly. I didn't see what size Cree's you are referring to, but it seems like a bit too much for moonlights. Personally, I'd save the money for an ATO, which you'll need for an open top tank, but a little LED project would be cool, too.

There was a population explosion, and they started eating corals with no predators to keep them in check. Not cool.

 

THis is correct. I started with 6 also. I was able to get them fired up just fine at 100% - 995 mAh, but as soon as I began dropping the dimming signal they would begin blinking constantly.

 

before you buy those i think you need to solder the wires to the leds, correct me if im wrong, so if im right make sure you have a solder.

 

Come to think of it, you would also need a small heatsink.

 

For a 29G, I would get 4, and get a LPC-35-700W to run them. It is not dimmable, but I ran 4 on a 30 gal (6" longer, but shallower) and it was great...a touch on the bright side. With your tank being deeper, 4 would be great. Plus, the driver is half the cost of the ELN.

 

As for the colors of LED, just keep in mind that moonlight that affects corals in the wild is at the 420nm wavelength. A few years back I made a moonlight setup and did the research to find out what the perfect lighting would be to stimulate the 'night cycle' on my tank.