180 Build Thread

[palvyre]

Lights are up. Moved 1 rock in that had some watermelon mushrooms on it. These lights are insanely bright, 100% is like a nuclear blast Running them max of 40% for acclimation. Also have my refuge in there, just need to add some pods.

 

[palvyre]

Move in weekend! 92 has been broken down and everything moved to the 180.

 

[poolkeeper1]

What optics are on those Led fixtures? It looks like you have 3 spotlights in the photo you posted. They may be too close to the water for the optics that are on them or is it an illusion?
Bill

 

[gmoney243]

Looks that way for sure

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

 

[palvyre]

Think they have 90, they are about 8 inches above the water, which is what they recommend. I don't have any more room to raise them higher because they are mounted in my canopy. They are definitely brighter in the area that you can see in the picture. They do throw light out to the side also, but it isn't as bright.

 

[mixer911]

Yea it looks very focused to me as well. I doubt they are 90 deg optics from what i can see in the pics. They look more like 60 or 70. 90s would be throwing light sideways and filling in more. I would agree that they may need to be raised up as well. Get the par meter and see what you got going on there. You could fry some corals.

 

[palvyre]

It doesn't really look that bad in person. Was taken with cheap camera phone on my iPhone 4. In person I have a hard time telling which areas are brighter, but you can tell if you look close. In any case, can I get the PAR meter for testing?

 

[palvyre]

First new occupant, bought a sailfin desjardini tang from AC.

 

[palvyre]

Looking at the light it makes a trapezoid shape. About half way down the tank the lights cross over from the fixture adjacent and you have full coverage. The top 12 inches of the tank between fixtures is darker and makes a triangle of low light at the surface. I would think most fixtures that penetrate as deep as these would have that issue. Guess if you DIY you could mix up your optics and use more LEDs.

 

[mixer911]

Deeper penetration comes from optics with more focus. From the pics it looks like your getting a good amount of light on the sand bed. For that penetration it would take optics like 40-50 or 60 Degree. There is not anything wrong with that, just make sure you acclimate any corals to it. LEDs can put out a lot of par and the optics can focus that pretty intensely.

 

[palvyre]

I called the manufacturer and he said they are 90 degree optics. However, he also said these fixtures put out enough PAR for SPS at 40" depth.

 

[palvyre]

Here is the contents of the email from the owner of Apollo Reef LED:

We are using 90 degree optics on all of our SolarBlasts. The way we've done our lights the 90 degree is perfect in balancing the spread and intensity. The light packs enough punch to produce enough PAR for SPS and clams at 40" depth while producing a spread for SPS of 30" x 30", even more for LPS and softies.

 

[palvyre]

I have noticed the red mushrooms I put on the sand bed and moved toward the front are unhappy with the intense light. I am hoping they acclimate. The lights are only at 40% intensity.

 

[gmoney243]

All my shrooms hate leds even after 7 months lol put them in a non direct light

Sent from my Vortex using Tapatalk 2

 

[poolkeeper1]

Here is the contents of the email from the owner of Apollo Reef LED:

We are using 90 degree optics on all of our SolarBlasts. The way we've done our lights the 90 degree is perfect in balancing the spread and intensity. The light packs enough punch to produce enough PAR for SPS and clams at 40" depth while producing a spread for SPS of 30" x 30", even more for LPS and softies.

Did he quote any par readings or just saying it was enough for SPS at 40" depth, That's a pretty vauge statement for 3W Led's to have that much par at 40" depth

 

[mixer911]

Did he quote any par readings or just saying it was enough for SPS at 40" depth, That's a pretty vauge statement for 3W Led's to have that much par at 40" depth

With the amount of light the pics show I think he is getting a lot of PAR. I talked to Derick at the meeting and he said he has them only running at 40%. I think that the design has them mounted close together and with 90 deg optics so they are going to penetrate deeper.

 

[palvyre]

Skimmer running for 2 days with live stock in the tank.

 

[pickupman66]

mmmm... Yummy tea!!!! nice color.

 

[palvyre]

Mushrooms perked up. Turned out they were getting too much flow. Moved them to a corner and they are doing great.

 

[palvyre]

Frogspawn down front and blue tang still laying around.