I've run DIY with an open tank, looks ok... Not exactly pro. After a year+ of researching LED's I've yet to find an LED setup that provides great coverage over the entire tank (mine is 30" front to back). Most of the units are a 12x6 piece that sits in the center and spotlights downward, not providing any light to the back or the front of the coral (where you view it from), this makes the coral dull from the sides and epic from the top, which is pretty much useless. The thing that separates the most epic LED lit tanks on this forum (Aquattro, Cuz and Dez for example) is they have great coverage over the entire tank, the corals get light from all sides and the colour/growth of their corals is proof of this.
My 2 cents... If your looking at good coral growth, I'd prioritize in this order... Water quality, Coverage (with proper intensity) and spectrum.
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