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Old 01-09-2015, 05:51 AM
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mike31154 mike31154 is offline
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These LEDs are designed for a purpose other than specifically lighting up a reef tank. It doesn't matter how much they cost originally, without actually measuring PUR/PAR & knowing exactly what spectrum & intensity each node puts out, you're working with an unknown. Wouldn't be advisable to experiment with a tank full of valuable specimens. May be great at lighting up buildings or bridges at night, but perhaps not a reef tank.

FWIW, 30 lumens per node is diddly. Depending on the colour spectrum, the cheap Chinese 10 watt multi chips I used for my DIY fixture put out anywhere from 200 to 900 lumens each at their rated maximum current & I have 27 of these babies mounted over my 77 gallon tank. Mind you I don't run them at full power, but definitely get more than 30 lumens. I have mostly softies in my tank, but also a BTA & several monti caps that are doing very well.

By all means, if you have the controller & can get your rig working over a tank, give it a try, but as at least one other responder has mentioned, you may be better off looking for a fixture built for our hobby.

EDIT: After having a look at the link you provided, I see that each node is a simple RGB LED array running at 1 watt max each. No UV, or some of the other colours provide by quality reef fixtures these days.
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DIY 10 watt multi-chip LED build http://www.canreef.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=82206

Last edited by mike31154; 01-09-2015 at 06:06 AM.
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