LED bulbs?

So I have been trying to find the best solution to improve my lights and DIY LED seems like a reasonable option. dbosman has helped me narrow it down to what parts I should get on my budget ($100). Thank you for that.

I was about to start ordering stuff but I just saw these LED bulbs by Cree. 3x3W LED in each bulb, 500 lumens, 6000K. In my current canopy I have 4 fixtures for CFL's so all I would have to do is just screw them in. I checked and with 60 degree optics it would give me good coverage? My tank is 24" deep but with the amount of sand in there the lights will be sitting at about 25" from the substrate level.
Is it fair to compare those to 12 3W LEDs on the DIY kit? I read somewhere that its the right amount to cover 12"x36" footprint.


Question is will it give me medium level light? I have a lot of Java Fern in there now and it grows perfectly under my current abysmal 18W T8. There are also some crypts in there that are making a come back. only other thing I would want to add would be moss on the rocks and Dwarg Sag to hopefully have it carpet the whole substrate. So I am not asking for much I guess.

Are there better bulbs out there? And if so are they $10 each?

Please share your thoughts.

all those views and no input?

I did order them just to give them a try and they just got delivered. so bright its blinding. I will put them over the tank tonight and post pics so you can see.
I have a feeling I will have to find a way to dim them somehow.

I will find out soon enough I guess.

If these are indeed 3W LEDs and 6000K then how would they be different from DIY projects people are doing? I just had to try it.

pictures coming later tonight.

OK, so the bulbs are in. at least 3 of them since one of the sockets crapped out but I think its a major improvement over the 18W T8 I have in there now.
I realized I have to move the fixtures a bit to the front and probably to the middle from both sides.

First one is with the fluorescent light on and the second with LED (darker area over the java fern is where the fixture is missing)

yeah, I think its an improvement over the light I had. I do like the shimmer effect on the substrate. Time will tell but I am happy so far.

One thing I need to mention is that they do get a bit hot.