Quick questions about LED build..

[fishstick41]

Hey, I was wondering if there was information out there talking about how many LEDs is needed on a tank. I am trying to learn how to make my own LED fixture and all the information that i am looking at doesn't tell me how many LEDs I need per surface area. If you want to know what my tank dimensions will be, it will be 16Hx20Lx16W.

 

 

Thanks,

Martin

[dacianb]

Martin,

 

I don't think anybody can come up with such a rule of thumbs as too many variables are involved:

- current on LEDs - there are LEDs capable to handle 1W, 3W, 5W or even more

- LED efficiency - this mean lumens / watt - on short, cheap LEDs have less light output than better ones at same current. Here you should include temperature ( as lower the temperature, higher the efficiency)

- primary optics of the LEDs - this mean, same energy coming from chip can be distributed on a narrower or wider surface

- spectrum / color of the LEDs - each led color have a different impact on the coral requirements... If you put yellow leds will not help your corals, maybe just algae. Put deep blue leds, corals will be happy, but you will not see too much inside tank.

 

Have more questions? Just ask.

 

PS - excuse my English, but I am a Belgian

[Apexlaxfrog]

Quick answer: 10-20 lol. Like dacianb said, there are a lot of variables...

 

Take a look at this.

 

I think Jedi Ben found (with only 10 LEDs) PAR of 500+ at 12" depths and 200+ PAR at 24" depths.

 

I'll also add that I've got, IIRC, 22 LEDs total, on 2 drivers (1000ma and 700ma) and I've got to be careful not to burn coral in a 20" cube. I run them at about 35% and 20%, respectively. The way I look at it... stuff a bunch of LEDs in your fixture, it's easy to remove/add and tune/dim colors after the fact. GL!

 

EDIT: another good thread

[fishstick41]

Thanks guys, I am doing my research But as always if i don't understand something I may ask the question. I don't expect to build anything until I am ready. I may have another question about how far I should hang the lights over my tank.. but ill read the information apexlaxfrog posted and post another topic if i can't find the answer or I am confused about the answer.

[Paleoreef103]

I suggest you buy a pair of these ( http://www.nano-reef.com/topic/348156-nano-box-13up-arrays-for-sale/ ) boards as the backbone for your unit. These boards have a lot going for them. Tight LED spacing to reduce color banding, top quality LEDs, plenty of power for your tank, the fact that you can run both of them with two channel control (white and blue) with a pair of common drivers (for example two Invetronics 40W 700mA drivers or two meanwell LDDs would be necessary to power BOTH arrays), and a good price for 13 quality LEDs.

If you prefer to customize everything that's fine too, but honestly if I was starting from scratch today on a nano to mid sized tank I'd probably be using four (or some evil clusters) over my 40 breeder.

[gus6464]

Your tank screams dual nanobox pucks.