96x36x12 - How many LEDs and layout?

[ronnie]

Help me out guys - There will be 11.5 inches of water or so. How many LEDs to light it?

Plan is to have SPS in the center, LPS farther out, and then any low low light stuff out towards the edges.

pardon the mess -

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Bump for you bro!

 

[ronnie]

Thanks Rev! This thing is gonna be a beast!

 

[ronnie]

help? PA PA PA PLEASE!?!?!?!?

 

[macawmagic]

I would use 4x reefkoi fixtures. should be enough light for that tank. The lights should cover that width with that little depth. I run 3 over a 6'x2' tank.

 

[ronnie]

Alas - I should have mentioned I want to DIY, huh?

Sorry for that....

 

[macawmagic]

sorry. I can't help with DIY. No experience, but I'm sure someone on here does.

 

[wld1783]

ronnie

I would approach it in a modular fashion. Three 12"x4.23" Heatsinks and 12 LEDs each and 80 degree optics will give you great results.

For growth go with 6 Cool White and 6 Royal Blue on each Heatsink. If you need more PAR toss in 12 XP-G and split them on the three Heatsinks.

Looks like the LEDs will be in a Humid Sump so I would use LED Seal to make them water resistant.


Bill

 

[macawmagic]

By the way...I really want that fragtank! LOL

 

[ronnie]

Bill,

So I can light an eight foot tank with 36-48 LEDs since it is only one foot tall? That would be pretty sweet if so!

 

[ronnie]

By the way...I really want that fragtank! LOL

It is pretty sweet - I'm excited to get it up and running.

Flow will be provided by a dart with an OM 4 way. May stick a couple powerheads in there as well. I'm shooting to have this tank be electrically efficient so I don't see a huge spike in my bill.

 

[Jerad]

A general rule for growing SPS is Length*Width/18= total number of 3w Cree bulbs. But I am not too sure how I would do it with a shallow frag tank or a deep display tank. Do you plan on having the whole area covered with corals? If so, I think that I personally would try to raise the fixture up like 1.5' off of the water. Then use Length*Width/20 and either no lenses or 80 degree lenses.

 

[ronnie]

I want it to be progressively dimmer as it gets to the edge, so that I can tier coral without having to raise or lower the fixtures/corals since the tank is so shallow.

 

[wld1783]

Bill,

So I can light an eight foot tank with 36-48 LEDs since it is only one foot tall? That would be pretty sweet if so!

The LEDs would be closer so you would have more PAR closer. Upon a second look. I thought the tank was 12" wide and 36 tall based on the picture.

My bad you would need 2-3X more

 

[macawmagic]

I was gunna say...seems like not that many led's for such a big tank...but you're the led expert. LOL

 

[ronnie]

Still, though - 150ish LEDs isn't too bad. Good to know - thanks Bill!

 

[wld1783]

Ronnie

Another option would be a light rail. I used one on a 72x36x18 Frag tank with 48 LED fixture a for few years when we were growing frags for local frag swaps. You might want to have it all lit to FOWLR standards and use this for grow.

Bill

 

[ronnie]

Bill,

Looking at the light rail option, would I be able to do a 24" heatsink? For a 40B, that is the size listed for heatsinks, so I was just wondering.

If that is the case, then I could do a 48 LED kit on the light rail, possibly a 36 LED kit? I'd think if I went 36 LEDs and ran it 8-12" off the surface, it would probably do okay?

Plus, I found the light rails on amazon for $100 or so - definitely a great idea. I appreciate it!