Help with LED build for a 37G

[ashwin1224]

Im planning a DIY unit for my 37G. The tank is 24x20 and 18" deep. My initial plan was:

• CREE XTE 450nm x20 @1000mA
  
  
• Epistar Neutral White x10 @700mA
  
  
• Epistar Cold White x10 @700mA
  
  
• Epistar Blue 465nm x10 @700mA
  
  
• Epistar Purple 420nm x10 @700mA
  
  
• 60 degree Lens for all

As I was calculating the drivers, it turned out that this setup would require a total power of about 550W, which is a HUGE overkill and a pretty bad power bill. I then turned it all down to the following:

• CREE XTE 450nm x10 @700ma

• Epistar Neutral White X10 @150mA

• Epistar Cold White x10 @150mA
  
  
• Epistar Blue 450nm x10 @150mA
  
  
• Epistar purple 420nm x5 @150mA

This setup seems a lot more reasonable with a total power requirement of about 150W.

• Will it be sufficient to grow low to moderate light requirement corals?
  
  
• Secondly, is driving 3W LEDs at 150mA good, or would it be too inefficient?
  
  
• Is the color combination good?
  
  
• Instead of having 20 white LEDs and 5 Purple, would 10 White and 10 purple be better for the corals?

 

[Reefing Madness]

 

[Lingwendil]

What dimensions is the tank? Tall tanks need to be lit differently to do it correctly...


Ditch the epistar chips. Poor efficiency and color. You are better off going for Luxeon Rebel (or C, or Z) or Cree for everything, with the slight edge in efficiency and color going to the Luxeons. Honest opinion would be that you are best off with a pair or so of arrays from someone like Nanobox or Acrostar, acrostar has some PERFECT pre-arranged 48w arrays that would work very well for you, and end up cheaper than using individual stars-
https://blueacro.com/acrostar/products

You will be hard pressed to beat the quality and value, and this will also greatly reduce your actual wiring and assembly work, solderless connectors are already on the board!