LEDs for coral growth??

[nubz]

With Christmas fast approaching, I'm looking to upgrade my reef tank!! I'm thinking of going from a 10 to a 20 gallon long. My only barrier, is lighting, I'm using PCs on my 10, works great on softies, if I went 20 I was thinking about getting a t5 or halide, but LEDs caught my eye, the light gives the crispness, and harshness of the halide, minus the heat, but are they just for supplement? Or can I use LEDs as my primary light? Will I be able to grow lps? Clams? Do the "watts per gallon" principles apply,? I'm researching, bur hearing first hand from other reefers rather than the guy selling them, thanks guys!!!!

[FireWater]

There are plenty of threads on here in regards to using led lighting. Just use the search function.

I can tell you that with the right led system you can grow what ever you would like. I plan on running 2 of these - http://www.evolutionledlight.com/ - on my 120 to start with and might up it to 3 later. I know there are several people either running them or planning to. Names that pop in my head are txg8gxp, ramsey, neogenix, ismvel.

[ismvel]

I am starting to see my SPS with growth tips all over the place with the lights John just mentioned. I picked up a coral from John when he broke down his big tank and that is the one that is seeing the most growth. I really like the Evolutions even though I would wager to say those are at the entry level price range of LED lighting. I have never had any other LED to compare these to, but I like these lights.

[txg8gxp]

I personally believe leds can grow anything you want, and the watts per gallon do not apply with led's. If you followed that rule you would be able to grow anything you want in a 6'+ tall tank. I'm now running 144w of leds and my growth is way more then when I was running 234w of t5's.

[nubz]

So how many watts for a 10 gallon?

[txg8gxp]

6-3w leds or 24-1w would be plenty or one par38. If you want to go with tons of par 12-3w

[nubz]

Here's what I was thinking, how about two of these on a DIY system?

http://www.rapidled.com/servlet/the-100/5-LED-PAR30-Bulb/Detail

[Europhyllia]

nanotuners has a great sale this weekend on the PAR38 lamps
http://www.nanotuners.com/product_info.php?cPath=78&products_id=701