I'm pretty new to Reef tanks, but coming from my experience with hi-tech planted tanks... I am a firm believer that people use way too much light these days (With the exception of many SPS corals that of course need much higher light) That being said, I agree that the 12 watt fixture might be too little. I have an 12x3w full spectrum PAR38 with 6 blue 4 white and 2 UV hanging about sixteen inches off the top of my 20 Long that supported the tank alone for a while (mostly softies at that time) Now I built my own little fixture to go with it using two 10w blue/white hybrid multichip LEDs from ebay that I got for $12. Using an old PC power supply, the PC heatsink, a pair of lenses from ebay and some resistors I fashioned up a little fixture that compliments the PAR38 bulb. It kicks on for about 4 hours midday and all my coral are healthy and already showing signs of growth.
Par38 Led light
in Product Reviews
Posted
I'm pretty new to Reef tanks, but coming from my experience with hi-tech planted tanks... I am a firm believer that people use way too much light these days (With the exception of many SPS corals that of course need much higher light) That being said, I agree that the 12 watt fixture might be too little. I have an 12x3w full spectrum PAR38 with 6 blue 4 white and 2 UV hanging about sixteen inches off the top of my 20 Long that supported the tank alone for a while (mostly softies at that time) Now I built my own little fixture to go with it using two 10w blue/white hybrid multichip LEDs from ebay that I got for $12. Using an old PC power supply, the PC heatsink, a pair of lenses from ebay and some resistors I fashioned up a little fixture that compliments the PAR38 bulb. It kicks on for about 4 hours midday and all my coral are healthy and already showing signs of growth.