LED wattage?

[jamesonwhiskey]

My tank is a 54g corner bow which is 24" deep. I currently have 150W MH and 2x65W Actinic florescents.

All the LEDs I've looked at seem to be only 1W... would I really need a 150 LED fixture to match my 150W MH that I have now? Will 1W LEDs even penetrate deep enough to support corals on the sandbed (the 150W barely does)?

 

[Hefe-Weizen]

Try 3 watt PAR 38s with 40 or 60 degree optics.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

Those are large bulbs, would I use them in a regular fixture? I thought most LED fixtures had lots of little LEDs in a grid arrangement and this is why I thought they would not get down to the bottom of my 24" deep tank. Either style is ok with me though.

I'm looking to completely replace my fixture which has a 150W MH 14k, 2x65W Actinic fluorescents and 2 blue LEDs moon lights which I run on this schedule:
11am-11pm - actinics
12pm-10pm - MH
6am-2am - moon lights

I would want something at least comparable to this in light output (if not closer to a 250W MH) and I want to be able to control the lights separately as I listed. Any recommendations?

Any comments on the lighting schedule? I auto-feed pellets at 1pm and then either froze or phyto in the evening.

 

[Hefe-Weizen]

You can use these in standard sockets(e26/e27). You may need more, they only come in 40* optics now. You could try RapidLED as well.

 

[jamesonwhiskey]

I'm reading that they are barely comparable to a 250W MH and drop off after the first 8" of water... anyone have a LED setup in a 24" or deeper tank?

 

[InfernoST]

I'm running the AI Sol Super Blue system and running them at 50% because I bleached out a few frags. My tank is a 120 and is 26" deep.

 

[Hefe-Weizen]

I'm reading that they are barely comparable to a 250W MH and drop off after the first 8" of water... anyone have a LED setup in a 24" or deeper tank?

The 40* optics will render as much or more PAR than a 400 watt MH. The 60* optics will be similar to a 250 watt halide, with the MH having better punch for depth and a wider coverage.

The only problem with LEDs IMO are that their coverage is limited, especially when using PAR 30/38 bulbs.

Ny 125 is 22" deep and the bulbs are mounted 4-5" above the water line. I am growing Monti Caps 1" off the bottom with great growth in the month I have been using them.

 

[batt600]

You can go to reefledlights.com and buy a Deluxe 36 LED Kit it well only cost you $360 and it replace a 175 to 250 MH