How many PAR 38 LEDs for my tank?

[maximus]

Hi friends,

Didn't pick up the 70 W mh I was planning for in fear of intense heat...wanna go the LED way.

Have decided to go for PAR 38 leds .

Can anybody let me know how many PAR 38 LEDs I will require for a 24 inch (L) X 15inch (W) X12 inch (H).

I am aiming for softies and LPS only with some.

My main concern are my LPS .So please help me ...

[Eniram]

refrence link to how many par38 you should use, although this reefer keeps sps

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1805886

[FuEl]

Minimum you need is 2, 3 units if you have the budget.

For SPS you probably need 6 units to fully bring out the colors (provided you want SPS everywhere).

[maximus]

6 units!!! Oh my God...that's too much for my poor pocket.

I was thinking of 2 over 2 islands I have .And have sps on the top of the 2 islands..

Please advice..

[BFG]

The Par 38 is designed as a spot light so even 2 of these might not illuminate your tank. If you want to fully illuminate the entire tank, you need to look at Maxspect led lighting.

[poomoon]

agree, the maxspect led will be good for you. and you may want to consider 160w model. will also give 'some' control over the leds compared to the PARs, and single mounting / plug compared to multiple for PARs.

[Eniram]

6 units!!! Oh my God...that's too much for my poor pocket.

I was thinking of 2 over 2 islands I have .And have sps on the top of the 2 islands..

Please advice..

Bro base on your tank dimensions you can still use 2 par38. Just look at our fellow reefer FUEL, tested and proven method. So yes you can use 2 par38.

Link to his 5 gallon pico tank

[FuEl]

Bro base on your tank dimensions you can still use 2 par38. Just look at our fellow reefer FUEL, tested and proven method. So yes you can use 2 par38.

Link to his 5 gallon pico tank

Will be adding one more. 2 does'nt seem enough.

[Eniram]

Will be adding one more. 2 does'nt seem enough.

Hahaha. Add 4 to make it even for CNY. You going to mount the par38 on track lights?

[divinesloth]

Your tank size for LPS, 2 will be enough but 3 will be better.

Get the 60degrees optics PAR38.

With 2, you will get shadows on the sides.

Not a bad thing if you plan to have sun corals and sea fans there

Am running 1 for my sump and 1 for a nano. Doing great!

[maximus]

Thanks so much for all the replies..

Well I would go with 2 and as divinesloth mentioned, place my sun corals on the 2 sides..Well that has been an inital plan ..lets see..

Now the problem lies in getting two of them shipped to India as I am from India

Let me search over the net if there's any seller in Malaysia as my friend will be travelling there in a month..