Thanks for getting back to me. I think I'll try one out (it's only $275 including shipping directly from Eshine) and maybe contact you in the future about DIY for a new 6' tank I'm planning as soon as my house is finished being built. I really just want to feel the waters before I invest further into something I don't care for. A LFS had a cheap unit on display in the store last year and it gave me a headache to look at the tank for more than a minute or two, scared me off LED's a bit.

Can any one tell me how many 3w LEDs ( 1:1 cool white / royal blue ) I would require for a 96"L x 24"W x 30"D tank. I am thinking of using 12" x 12" heat sinks.

Any input would be greatly appreciated.

3W LEDs arent all made the same.

I can tell you that if you go with XP-E and XP-G CREE LEDs you will need about 150 total LEDs.

If you go with CREE XM-L CW and XP-E Royal Blue then you would need something like 90 Royal Blue and 30 Cool White.

Going with these, Cree Part Number: XPEWHT-L1-0000-00F01 & Cree Part Number:**XPEROY-L1-0000-00A01.

If I go with the 12 x 12 heatsink, I am thinking I will need 4, each should cover a 24" x 24" area.

Hey Grizz, have you checked out modularled.ca? They have an awesome website and they're right out of Red Deer.

Yep, that's who I am going with, Martin & I had a good visit last week.

Are you sure you got the Cool White correct? that is an XP-E not XP-G that most sell, didnt think anyone purchased the XP-E CW.

Both of those are about 82-85% as efficient as the recent XP-E RB and XP-G CW.

Taking that into consideration you can get away with about 180 on a mainly SPS tank.

I would recommend going with 60 NW and 120 RB though because that ratio is more aesthetically pleasing. In pods of 3 to do better color rendering.

Yes I am sure I have the cool whites correct, came right of the web site I am going with. Currently they don't have NW LEDs but I want to go with this company because they are local and I can see what I am getting before I buy, actually physically hold things in my hand. Screw it...... Going with MODULAR LED

Going with only 3 pods would only give me a 6' coverage on my 8' tank.

3 pods meaning that you take the color ratio and put them as close together as you can.

So you would take 2 Royal Blue, 1 Neutral White and have them touching. Then you spread these pods up to 4inches apart.

Ok gotcha on the pods thing, makes sence now.