Any electrical/led light experts out there?

[reefwithareefer]

Spec sheet shows 30 lumens per node

http://colorkinetics.com/support/dat..._SpecSheet.pdf

[mike31154]

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.

[reefwithareefer]

It seems that it is not worh finding out. I was hoping it would work, but no biggie. I will use them as patio lights. I could use them for red and green, since those colors are useless for corals other than making them "POP".

Thanks for all the input.

[mike31154]

I should mention that I run a couple of low power RGB strips to supplement the more powerful 10 watt multi chips. My build thread shows them near the end I think. My lights are on timers, not a controller or drivers able to ramp up/down the main LEDs, so the RGB strips are good as a rudimentary dawn/dusk substitute. You could do the same with a few of the modules you have. They'd also be good as fuge lights to grow algae (red & green spectrum), so not a total loss. Patio lights are cool too.