Arduino Project With Cree LEDs for my Aquarium!!!

Projects General Guidance
1

Hey guys! I have posted this question of a reef forum but I figure that for the Arduino guidance I would probably find it here!
This is what I am trying to accomplish and hopefully get help here =)

  1. Power and control an array of LEDs at different amperage
  2. Cut down on the number of drivers I need for my LEDs
  3. Simulate natual environment in my fish tank (Optional/Down the road)

Hardware
LEDs:
Combination of white/blue http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/cree-xt-e-3up/
Viotlet http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/true-violet-led-420nm/
OCW http://www.ledgroupbuy.com/ocean-coral-white/

Drivers: Meanwell ELN-30-48D http://store.bravoelectro.com/ledpowersupp...able-p-211.html

Here is the original post:

Alright guys!
Noob here, I just got a crazy idea and I would love some inputs!
I am getting ready to setup my first tank and straight up upgrading the LED system
The current setup comprises of:

4X NW needing 700mA or .7A
8X RB needing 700mA or .7A
2X Violets needing 500mA or .5A
1X OCW needing 500mA or or .5A

And will be needing 4 independent drivers, I was recommended the Mean Well ELN-30-48D
LED Driver, which would deliver a .63A
Using a potentiameter I would be able to dim all the leds individually

First Issue:
The Mean Well ELN-30-48D should do fine with both NWs and RBs, even if I crank the POT all the way up it still wouldnt damage or blow up my LEDs...
But what if I crank out the POT for the Violets and the OCW???

Second Issue:
The 4 different drivers deal... I live in a 10 X 10, really not trying to put anymore that needs to be there, I would really want one master driver to controle them all!

This is the proposed solution, I have a very elementary understanding or arduino, minimal electrical background, no experience with LEDs and ZERO experience with reefs LOL so bear with me
Have a Master Driver that would be rated for at least 3A, to be able to provide for all LEDs at the same time, from the driver it would go into an Arduino, the Arduino would be programmed to allocate the max amp to the appropriate LED and between the Arduino to the LED have some kind of controller/POT to dim the LEDs

This would:
Reduce the amount of Drivers from 4 to 1
I would never worrie about blowing the OCW and Violets
And maybe down the road I would programe the Arduino to perform other various tasks, txt me is the Temp/pH or other parameters goes to wack, program it to play with the LED to mimick sunrise, noon, sunset, moonlight etc etc...

What do you guys think? is this crazy?

So can this be done???

THANKS A MILLION

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2

You can't use just Arduino alone to distribute power. You will still need 4 LED drivers. But, if you don't mind turning all lights on and off or dim them together, only one drive can drive the whole thing in series. You need the P type for arduino to control/dim with PWM, not the D type to be used with a potentiometer. I recommend you get all the LEDs, one driver, one arduino and a starter kit, try controlling/dimming one LED with arduino. If you find it doable, chain all LEDs, have some precaution not to blow up the small amperage LEDs, and move on to create your artificial day cycles. All are doable. Every once in a while one or more fish tank fellow comes along for similar projects here.