LED lighting needs for zoas?

[c333davis]

I recently added red mushrooms (Actinodiscus sp.) to my previously-FOWLR tank. They seem to be doing well, and my g-s puff hasn't nibbled at them (as far as I can tell). It's encouraging me to try some other softies, specifically, zoanthids.

After reading posts here and on other sites, I learned that I needed to upgrade my lighting from the standard 20w T8 hood that came with my 36gUS bowfront. I found what seems like a great deal on a modular LED light fixture made by Aqueon, same brand as my bowfront. For $53, I got the fixture with one included white LED strip, 24w total, and a built-in blue diode to simulate moonlight. The fixture has slots for two additional LED strips, so I bought one additional white strip, which would take the total wattage up to 48w.

I had the impression from some articles and posts that zoas are low-light corals, and I thought I'd be good with the one or two LED strips. Now I'm wondering, though, because I came across a SW tank calculator that suggests I need a minimum of 4w per gallon in the tank, and by that standard, I'd need 144w. This fixture only holds a max of 72w from 3 LED strips. Wondering whether I need to take it back and save for a higher-wattage fixture... what do you think, y'all who have experience with zoas?

[Pufferpunk]

I don't think you'll be happy at all with only white lights. The spectacular colors from LED lighting comes from their blues & pinks.

[c333davis]

I don't think you'll be happy at all with only white lights. The spectacular colors from LED lighting comes from their blues & pinks.

Aqueon also sells a "colormax" LED strip for my fixture, and it has red and white diodes, so I could exchange the all-white one I bought and get that one. I'm still concerned about providing too little wattage for zoas to thrive (and while I'm thinking about it, is there such a thing as too much wattage for my g-s puffer?)

Edited to add: My tank's 21" tall, 30" wide.

You have T5s for your corals, right, PP? What do you estimate your wattage-per-gallon to be?

[Terrance]

Hello. I do not recommend this light fixture. It provides low light and not enough of the needed spectrum. You can tell how much light the fixture is providing by getting a PAR meter. Every tank is different due the amount of light produced and the height the light hangs above the aquarium, which is why wattage-per-gallon is outdated. If you join a local aquarium club, then they might have a PAR meter for members to borrow.

You can do better with Chinese built LEDs. Cost a little less than $200. If you can still return your Aqueon lighting, then I can recommend you some better bang-for-your-buck LED fixture that might be able to grow SPS corals (according to the reviews). Otherwise, you might have end up spending much more to provide enough LED lighting for your corals with the Aqueon.

[Tim]

In regards to those chinese LEDs. People over at reefcentral seem quite excited about http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi ... escription

I was gonna get 3 of these, but then I splurged on something a bit better still.

[Pufferpunk]

I have 6 x 54wt T5s over my 90g reef.

[Terrance]

Comfortably, I think at least 150 and can go as high as 4xx if you acclimate very slowly. Test each part of your tank since PAR reading is different is each part of your tank.