How close to water do your lights need to be?

[chris124]

I have the SE Quad 48" Timer LED Aquarium Light Coral Reef Marine 64x 3W Snake Eyes. Right now I have them 12 inches above the water is that ok? I have had it for a little over a year and it seems pretty good just wondering if I have it at the right height?

 

[FishOfHex]

I have the SE Quad 48" Timer LED Aquarium Light Coral Reef Marine 64x 3W Snake Eyes. Right now I have them 12 inches above the water is that ok? I have had it for a little over a year and it seems pretty good just wondering if I have it at the right height?

You need to check out the recommend height from the company. If you cant find that you can always have someone hold the light above the water to see the spread in the tank. Most leds dont need to be that far off Id say 10-15 inches.

 

[chris124]

You need to check out the recommend height from the company. If you cant find that you can always have someone hold the light above the water to see the spread in the tank. Most leds dont need to be that far off Id say 10-15 inches.

Thanks.

 

[mcarroll]

I have the SE Quad 48" Timer LED Aquarium Light Coral Reef Marine 64x 3W Snake Eyes. Right now I have them 12 inches above the water is that ok? I have had it for a little over a year and it seems pretty good just wondering if I have it at the right height?

You don't need the mounting height from the manufacturer so much as you need the angle of the lenses they use.

You (and we) also need to know the dimensions of your tank. I presume it's 48"x__x__"H?

The lenses are what determines the spread of light from the individual emitters, so you can calculate the amount of surface area you'll cover using that information.

I took a quick look via google and I couldn't tell what lenses they use.

Guessing

• If they are literally building a fixture out of strips of those "eagle eye" LED's you see for sale (are "snake eyes" different?), then it seems like they might be 60º lenses.
  If so, then at 12" mounting height, your emitters each give about a 14" diameter of coverage at the water's surface.
  Including the fixture dimensions, this gives your fixture a total coverage area of about 55" x 16".
• However, a review I found of a related fixture indicates 30º lenses.....unusual for an aquarium light but possible (my DIY fixture uses 30º).
  If so, then at 12" mounting height, your emitters each give about a 6" diameter of coverage at the water's surface. (Almost twice the brightness though!)
  Including the fixture dimensions, this gives your fixture a total coverage area of about 51" x 12".

Either way, you'd have to measure the intensity with a light meter to see what your peak levels are and where.

Get a free lux meter app for your smartphone. ("galactica luxmeter" for IOS is one example.) It uses the camera's light sensor to compute a regular lux reading.

Take some readings at the water's surface and let us know what you get!

I'd really recommend spending the <$15 to get a handheld lux meter like the "LX-1010B". Better readings and safer to use around saltwater!

 

[mcarroll]

One more thought:
It looks like this fixture has legs that would place it about 6" off the water.....that would make the 60º lenses more likely IMO....still not guaranteed though.