Led vs T5 wattage?

[ShooterRick]

I was doing some research at various LED sites and seems a recommendation for wattage on LED cree 3 watt systems is 1 watt per gallon. Does this sound correct? Seems low to me but LED is such a different animal. I am looking at a dimmable 114 Watt system for my 72 bow front build and do not want DIY. The system in ? is the Key K3 dimmable.

[chrisfont23]

Thats interesting. In all the research i did on LEDs i found no clear cut ratio that would warrant a depth per gallon rule.

[ShooterRick]

Thats interesting. In all the research i did on LEDs i found no clear cut ratio that would warrant a depth per gallon rule.

This is what I found.
Third; "Watts Per Gallon? this formula is very outdated for comparing different light types, but can still be used once figured for a specific light system. This formula is for high end emitters used by TMC AquaRays in tanks under 24-30 inches in depth. This "Watts Per Gallon" formula is ONLY for Aqua Ray LEDs, not other low end LEDs (use 1/2 recommended watts for Fish Only):
*For a high light planted freshwater aquarium .6 to maybe .8 watts per gallon are required
*For a Reef Tank .8 to maybe 1 watt per gallon generally works:
See: Watts Per Gallon Comparison

[chrisfont23]

I dont know. That would make sense but its realy based on how the corals and other stuff in the tak react. There is no real evidence on the usefulness of LEDs so imo, everyone is just guessing....including me.

[ShooterRick]

I dont know. That would make sense but its realy based on how the corals and other stuff in the tak react. There is no real evidence on the usefulness of LEDs so imo, everyone is just guessing....including me.

This is what I am confused and also looking at. My 72 bow front is 48" wide and with substrate about 18" deep. Thisi is the light I am considering.
Aquarium KEY LED K3 Dimmable Dimming optics 7848-D-TC 7836-D-TC 5832-D-TC

Any thoughts? If I am reading correctly this is 4800 lumins.

[chrisfont23]

The spec says 5000, or about 40 lumens per watt.

Specifications:
Input Voltage: 220v
Max Power Output: 130 Watt
LED Configuration: 36 x 3 Watt LED(Blue18/White18)
LED High-Power Chips: USA
Nighttime: Moonlight(RGB-P)
Total Lumen: 5000 Lm
Lifespan: 50,000 Hrs
WaveLenght: 12K, Blue—460~465nm
Dimension: 78x27x4cm

And they can't spell wavelength either

Remember: Watts to run. Lumens for output.

If you go by me - which I am not recommending, here is how I did it in an attempt to make everything match. Right now on my 29g I have a Coralife Lunar HO T5. It's specced at having four total lamps - each are 31 watts - two 10,000k daylight & two actinic. That is a total of 124 watts. Knowing I have no magic formula to get a lumen to watt or vice versa, all I had to go on was the fact that every google search told me "A typical 54 Watt T5 HO (High Output) bulb produces 5000 lumens which is equivalent to 92.6 lumens per watt." So my current setup is about 2900 lumens or roughly 25 lumens per watt.

Now moving to the upgrade...I have six 20 watt 12k / 445 nm modules at a 2 to 1 split (12k to 445). So that's a total of 120 watts. I am also running a supplemental blue (453 I think) and magenta "stunner strip" on each side of my canopy. Small potatoes in the output category...more for effect. I am assuming it is about 120 watts in total. Using the above "logic" and applying it straight out, I figured I am increasing very slightly, based on the stunner strip. I also know the 10K (T5) to 12K (LED) will give me more blues, but my T5 was a 50/50 split but it's obvious the actinic is for effect more than anything. My LEDs are more of a 60/40. The 445 is a little more than royal blue - consider visible blue has a wavelength of about 475 nm and you can probably look up a spectrum chart to determine where your 460/465s fit in. I know my "royal blues" are really royal..so much I would question why they just didn't tag them as indigo and get on with it. I mean, ROYGBIV. RIght Anyway, I digress. So the deeper blue (445) across all 6 LED strips plus the 12k (over the 10k) is the wildcard in all this. I really can't say how everything will respond and was the one thing I was hung up on more than anything. There's no formula. No logic. I griped with it and gave up trying to determine if i'd be good. In the end it will be more blue. Which I like. At least you are only stuck on per watt lumens

That's a mouthful. Oh yeah, and a lot of free research And probably a lot of rolling the dice. But hopefully that points you in the right direction. Just buy ecoxotics already, and I can certainly help you!!

Good luck Rick!

[ShooterRick]

Oh now I am really buggy. The smaller one if I understand you would be about 42 lumens per watt. You were looking at the mid size one which I may choose in the end anyway. So with what you are running on a 29 gal , on a 72 gal the 4800 lumens seems reasonable If I am willing to forgo good coverage of about 6 inches on each side of the 48 wide tank. I think!

[chrisfont23]

My goal was to try to match my current t5 setup. I dont want to hamper growth of corals or kill them. Having said that, it might not be a good idea to base my approach against yours.

[chrisfont23]

Oh now I am really buggy. The smaller one if I understand you would be about 42 lumens per watt. You were looking at the mid size one which I may choose in the end anyway. So with what you are running on a 29 gal , on a 72 gal the 4800 lumens seems reasonable If I am willing to forgo good coverage of about 6 inches on each side of the 48 wide tank. I think!

Don't concern yourself with coverage. My LEDs lit up about a 6 inch perimeter on my floor/wall

[ShooterRick]

Don't concern yourself with coverage. My LEDs lit up about a 6 inch perimeter on my floor/wall

Cool. So I guess the question now, is 4800 total lumens enoeph light of the correct quality to support the mixed reef tank I desire. If I were buying T5 lighting I would want about 250-280 watts. How do I figure the comparison or is it not possible to compare.

[chrisfont23]

Cool. So I guess the question now, is 4800 total lumens enoeph light of the correct quality to support the mixed reef tank I desire. If I were buying T5 lighting I would want about 250-280 watts. How do I figure the comparison or is it not possible to compare.

I have 4x 31 w T5 for basically LPS and softies on my 29g now. Very limited SPS, and I don't plan on adding more SPS. So it depends on what you want to keep. Consider clams too. Both SPS and clams require strong light.

[ShooterRick]

I have 4x 31 w T5 for basically LPS and softies on my 29g now. Very limited SPS, and I don't plan on adding more SPS. So it depends on what you want to keep. Consider clams too. Both SPS and clams require strong light.

I have a 29 gal fowlr tank with 96 watts of T5. It is fish only of course and I assume your tank is also 30 inches wide as mine is.
Your 29 is a reef tank with 2900 lumens of T5. My new 72 gal is 18 inches wider and I am looking at 4800 lumens. That is 1900 lumens more for the 18 inches. Unless I am under thinking this it should be more than ample light using the higher par 3 watt LEDs.