DIY LED Lighting Question

greydmv · 04/29/2012, 08:46 PM

I have been looking all over Reef Central and Rapid LED, but I need assistance in making a decision on what I need to light my tank.

My tank is a 56 Gallon 30Lx18Wx24H. I assume the canopy I will build will provide a mounting height of 6 inches above the tank. I will be housing softies, anemones, LPS and SPS so I need to ensure that I have a lighting system that can accommodate all of these creatures. And lastly I would like moonlights as well.

Thanks,
Grey

Rapid LED · 04/30/2012, 02:05 PM

I'd go with a 24 kit and would add 4 LEDs/lenses a la carte so that you're maxing out each driver (14 per driver). I'd go with 60 degree lenses if you can get the lights about a foot off the water.

The 6" x 20" heatsink would work well on your tank.

greydmv · 04/30/2012, 06:41 PM

RapidLED,

So in my application I wont be able to get the light a foot off of the water, at max the height off of the water would be approximately 4-8 inches. With that said, I can easily use 3 of the 6x9 heatsinks to spread out the LED distribution which should help with the inability to obtain the 12 inch mounting height. In this configuration would you add more LEDs such as the 36 kit or change the Lens angles or both?

Thanks,
Grey

greydmv · 05/01/2012, 07:29 PM

bump

Rapid LED · 05/03/2012, 05:26 PM

At 8" off the water I'd adjust the lenses to the 80's.

04/29/2012, 08:46 PM	#1
greydmv Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ellicott City, Md Posts: 8	DIY LED Lighting Question I have been looking all over Reef Central and Rapid LED, but I need assistance in making a decision on what I need to light my tank. My tank is a 56 Gallon 30Lx18Wx24H. I assume the canopy I will build will provide a mounting height of 6 inches above the tank. I will be housing softies, anemones, LPS and SPS so I need to ensure that I have a lighting system that can accommodate all of these creatures. And lastly I would like moonlights as well. Thanks, Grey

04/30/2012, 02:05 PM	#2
Rapid LED RC Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,589	I'd go with a 24 kit and would add 4 LEDs/lenses a la carte so that you're maxing out each driver (14 per driver). I'd go with 60 degree lenses if you can get the lights about a foot off the water. The 6" x 20" heatsink would work well on your tank.

04/30/2012, 06:41 PM	#3
greydmv Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ellicott City, Md Posts: 8	RapidLED, So in my application I wont be able to get the light a foot off of the water, at max the height off of the water would be approximately 4-8 inches. With that said, I can easily use 3 of the 6x9 heatsinks to spread out the LED distribution which should help with the inability to obtain the 12 inch mounting height. In this configuration would you add more LEDs such as the 36 kit or change the Lens angles or both? Thanks, Grey

05/01/2012, 07:29 PM	#4
greydmv Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Ellicott City, Md Posts: 8	bump

05/03/2012, 05:26 PM	#5
Rapid LED RC Sponsor Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 1,589	At 8" off the water I'd adjust the lenses to the 80's.