LED fixture question

[bwig333]

just a quick question to see if you guys think I have enough light for my tank. I have a 90g bowfront dimensions are 48"x27x18(roughly). I put together a DIY LED kit with 21 royal blue 3w, as well as 21 neutral white(7 need to be rewired due to my faulty soldering ability) 3w. The fixture is about 1 foot above the water. I plan on putting SPS and zoas in right now but may change later. I actually have 8-9 frags of various Acros/millies that have been in the tank for a month. They are encrusting the plugs well but show little polyp extension. I also have a few kenya trees and blue green mushrooms that hitchhiked from my old LR from my 55g(they are growing like weeds). So all you lighting experts: Is this enough lighting for what I want to grow? If I left off important info you need just let me know. Thanks in advance.

Brian

[barry_keith]

I run 110 LEDs over my 90


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[ghellin]

Knowing what kind of LEDs would help us answer your question, if you are using Crees, bridgelux, Phillips or something different.

[ghellin]

Originally Posted by barry_keith

I run 110 LEDs over my 90


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Perfect example here. Are these half a watt, one watt or 3 watt LEDs? Are they being driven at 100mA or 3A? Specifics are needed when talking and planning led builds.

No harm meant to op or Barry Keith just trying to help.

[joelespinoza]

Originally Posted by bwig333

just a quick question to see if you guys think I have enough light for my tank. I have a 90g bowfront dimensions are 48"x27x18(roughly). I put together a DIY LED kit with 21 royal blue 3w, as well as 21 neutral white(7 need to be rewired due to my faulty soldering ability) 3w. The fixture is about 1 foot above the water. I plan on putting SPS and zoas in right now but may change later. I actually have 8-9 frags of various Acros/millies that have been in the tank for a month. They are encrusting the plugs well but show little polyp extension. I also have a few kenya trees and blue green mushrooms that hitchhiked from my old LR from my 55g(they are growing like weeds). So all you lighting experts: Is this enough lighting for what I want to grow? If I left off important info you need just let me know. Thanks in advance.

Brian

The most common rule of thumb I have heard is 1 high quality 3w led per 15-20 square inches of tank surface area up to 24" deep. For you that would mean 65-87 LEDs, however your tank is a bit shallower, and you are not growing high light requirement critters. So assuming you have high quality 3w LEDs, I would say you are probably ok for most softies, as long as you pay attention and move criters that need more light up higher in the tank.

[bwig333]

Thanks for the replies guys. Sorry for lack of info. The LEDs I have are luxeon es 3w i believe they are made by phillips. The driver is a bucking linear 700ma.

[bwig333]

Originally Posted by joelespinoza

The most common rule of thumb I have heard is 1 high quality 3w led per 15-20 square inches of tank surface area up to 24" deep. For you that would mean 65-87 LEDs, however your tank is a bit shallower, and you are not growing high light requirement critters. So assuming you have high quality 3w LEDs, I would say you are probably ok for most softies, as long as you pay attention and move criters that need more light up higher in the tank.

thanks for the info

[bwig333]

Originally Posted by ghellin

Perfect example here. Are these half a watt, one watt or 3 watt LEDs? Are they being driven at 100mA or 3A? Specifics are needed when talking and planning led builds.

No harm meant to op or Barry Keith just trying to help.

No harm, or offense taken. That is actually why I posed the question the way I did. I am electrically/ technologically stupid, or at least slow. So any other info that would help to better answer my question, just ask for. I will gladly give info to the best of my ability. Thanks

[bwig333]

evening bump

[ghellin]

20 more would give you a better spread you can probably get away with what you have just by making good placement choices for your SPS frags. People tend to really over estimate the number of LEDs in their builds. I personally use several extra LEDs so I can run them at a lower current. Best thing to do is just try and see what happens with your frags.

[bwig333]

Originally Posted by ghellin

20 more would give you a better spread you can probably get away with what you have just by making good placement choices for your SPS frags. People tend to really over estimate the number of LEDs in their builds. I personally use several extra LEDs so I can run them at a lower current. Best thing to do is just try and see what happens with your frags.

Thanks for the answer. I do plan on upgrading at a later date...I just hate to get frags and kill them because of my stupidity/carelessness. I normally do tons and tons of research before I purchase things, but for some reason I jumped into this hobby running and really need to do a little more "learning", as my dad used to say. I appreciate all the help people have given.