LED help for 38 gallon

[Mopar32985]

so my friend is giving me a 38 gallon tank with 20 gallon sump. The whole led thing is new to me but I def love the look and idea of them. I was wondering if you guys could help point me in the right direction with what I should go with. For christmas my mom is going to vet the light for me. I would like to keep a 14k to 20k color to it. The thing is I don't know if I should go with the diy kits or get the pre made ones for standard light fixtures. I def want to do the one that will save me money. I think if I were to go with the diy kits I will be fine I'm into Rc cars and airplanes. So I have done my fair share of soldering.

 

If you guys could link some good stores to deal with or kits you would suggest that would be great. The tank is about 36 long and 12 deep. I would like to be able to keep sps and lps. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Also if you guys have twitter add me I just set one up Reefer1985

[Guest thefishman65]

Chek out reefledlight.com I think it is and nano tuners.

[Mopar32985]

Hey thanks man will check them out now

[Saltwaterworx]

ecoxotic led is pretty cool

[trockafella]

Rapidled.com is a good place. Ive ordered from there and was pleased.. They offer pre drilled heatsinks which is a nice thing, as well as competitively priced LED retro kits.. Ecoxotic makes very nice products and they look good. They have the panorama fixtures, modules and a retro version, as well as PAR38's, I think they are a nice quality product at a reasonable price.. The Maxxspect fixtures arent bad either.. A nice 24" T5 fixture would also be energy effienct, cost effiecent and you can grow whatever you want.. Or if your moms got deep pockets ask for the AI LED modules, they are top of the line.!

Edited November 30, 2010 by trockafella

[BowieReefer84]

I would make sure you do NOT use cree xp-g led's. That tank is very shallow and xr-e's would be plenty. I would do rapidled.com (I used them as well), and get a kit with cree xr-e's (50/50 cool white to royal blue gives a crisp white looking tank. if you want it more like 14-20K I would say 2 blues to 1 white). Make a diagram of the surface of your tank, and put a dot every 2.1/2" in each direction. That is how many LED's you need for full coverage imo. Also, don't get optics as you do not need them.

[Mopar32985]

Thanks man for all the info sorry above o think I typed it wrong it's 12 inches wide 36 long not sure how deep. Thanks for the info about spacing will check that out.