DIY LED LED configuration. To Cluster or not to cluster...

[BBoley24]

I am moving my tank soon thus I have a chance to rebuild my lights. There are many things that I do not like about my current configuration namely placement of the LED colors.

This is what I have picked up thus far:

If I were to cluster:
-Spotlight effect
-MH light shadows

If I were not to cluster:
-Disco color shadows
-T5 like shimmer


After I figure that out, then it's on to dispersal. Those of you that have DIY, did you mimic that of a popular design that I am not seeing here?

I have 10 different colors on different APEX channels over a 75g rimless tank.

 

[ReefLEDLights]

I just have mine evenly mixed with 45-60 degree optics.

My Lights are 18" off the water and with a Depth of 30" I dont have that disco effect some talk about.

Bill

 

[TJ's Reef]

I run 96 3w emitters without optics in a full spectrum mix that are spread out on approx 54" x 19" over a 60"x24"x20" 125g DT . Love the overall look and coverage to my Reef, though in future will probably build or purchase more of a puck/cluster style setup with optics to go over a deeper display.

Cheers, Todd

 

[BBoley24]

Why would you do that? That's what im after.

 

[TJ's Reef]

With my current configuration I get individual spotlighting effects if running with optics, without its really well blended. I'm thinking with a deeper tank (30-32") that I'd need to cluster the mixed emitters with optics to blend the spectrum better. I will definitely need to do some R&D testing to get it right before hand. Will probably still have plenty of clusters spread out over entire tank to not get a single-point light source look. Maybe see if I can recreate the Kessel type reflector ???

Cheers, Todd