7000k enough or not enough

[nacho87]

ok so im looking into some led lights is 7000k enough light for corals or is it not enough please let me know thumbs2:

[Dave66]

You're simulating sunlight through water, so 10,000K would be more appropriate. The intensity is also quite important, so you'd be looking at T5 tubes in quantities sufficient for 10 watts per gallon, if you wish to keep photosynthetic corals.

Dave

[MonkeyPox]

Did I read correctly in that you intend to use leds to light your tank?

[MCHRKiller]

If you paired that 7000K with an equal number of actinic tubes then I would say it would be fine. You are a brave soul looking into LEDs, cost of an LED setup to effectively light a reef is going to be insane.

[saix88]

LED lights are very effective and I can't remember where, but I saw a thread to build an LED light system for around $500-600 and had pics and showed PAR readings.

[MCHRKiller]

They are effective, it just takes alot of them to get enough lighting power to do a reef. Thats not a bad price for it, cheapest prebuilt system Ive ever seen was well over a grand.

[Taurus]

Yeah, but you'll make that back after the first 100 years of use though. :ssmile:

[nacho87]

ok guys so my hopes of a LED system any time soon are gone.
Now to figure out what I need and i dont want MH because they waiste way too much energy whats the best fixture with low power consumption for a reef tank I want to keep soft corals and maybe one clam or two =)

[MonkeyPox]

T-5s would be your best bet.

[sid101]

7000k is just above the best temp for SPS (according to articles in reef central or advanced aquarist can't quite remember both are great places to search articles and do research) but you still want actinic lighting wich ussually makes a balance and you end up with a "custom" light temperature, even some led lighting systems give you the chance to play with the intensity of both white and blue leds so you can get that custom color (default is between 10k and 12k, best is between 13,5 and 14k), they are pretty expensive but since the leds last aproximatelly 10 years it pays for itself over time (I read somewhere it get's even with mh lighting at arround 5 to 6 years, you lose the shimmering effect MH's provide.

If you have the money for it and you don't care for the shimmering effect go leds.

Altho Metal hallides use tons of electricity there are ways to save on that, there are rail systems in wich you hang the metal hallide and it moves side to side, this has no bad effect on corals according to coral farmers and allows you to cover a bigger area with the same power. also functions as a cloud simulation.


The only downside of leds is that you need A LOT

[MCHRKiller]

I second the notion of HOT5s. Not sure of your tank size or debth but for most applications you will want around 8watts per gallon. I would throw on atleast 2 full actinic tubes and 4-6 10-12K tubes. Also having a couple of blue LEDs to create moon lighting is great for corals, they really love it :22: