A potential issue with todays LED tech for reef lighting is that it will become a VHS down the road.
No one will want to buy it off ya either, so youll be stuck wanting better and sticking the less (unless you have money).
same can be said with any technology. someday kids will be tossing around blu-ray discs and have 1TB flash drives. doesnt mean its not worth experimenting with now.
Seems to me that investing in an LED setup for a 10g tank is a bit wasteful. Why spend nearly $200 on something for a tank that small? I know the trend is to go bigger and bigger on tanks. I dont see an LED setup meant for a 10g working well on a 55g.
I'm setting up 18 LEDs on a 12 gallon, purely as an experimental system. I needed a tank for college and i want to try and advance the knowledge in the community if i can. And if it's awesome, and i want to upgrade, all you have to do is unscrew them from the heatsink and screw them back in for a new config. If anything they are the most versatile lighting system out there. You cant put your 70w HQI to use over a new like 180g tank.
Here is another issue with LEDs on a tank that small: If I am understanding correctly that LED color temp goes up as you near full power, then what happens when you find you have too much PAR (10g tank is shallow) and you need to decrease power? I am assuming that your color temp will drop down to the lower end. Possibly right where nuisance algae like it best? It may still be pleasing to our eyes (lots of blue will offset yellow easily) but wont the algae see the 5000k like its the only thing there?
Like i said, im not sure. I thought thats how it worked but its nothing more then an educated guess. I would be interested in any finding you have on the subject. So far in all my reading there has been no mention of feeding nuisance algae, so i have to imagine we are overlooking something.
LED lighting seems to be overkill for a small tank like this. I would still suggest t5 if SPS is desired and PC if no SPS is planned. PC will cost $65.00 and no doubt light up a 10g just fine. t5 may also be too much PAR, but will keep SPS happy.
True, these would be fine, but he was specifically interested in LED even after these options were given to him.
If you have the cash to invest in a new tech like LED, then you might as well invest in a larger tank too so you dont cook everything.
I dont have room for a 55 gallon in an apartment, but i want a sick amount of SPS. Such is life.
Its like getting a Ferrari to go to the grocery store IMO...
Matt