How far off the tank DIY LED/T5

[Isoprene]

I have a DIY LEd/T5 Cree 3w Blue/RB/W 24 chip on two heat sinks and 2 T5 24 inch ice cap ballast driven bulbs on a 55 bow front. The fixture is stationary , I can not adjust the height unless I re-screw the hanging mounts into the wall.

I am currently 10 inches off the water with the fixture. I have had it running like this for some time, have sps in there but not getting the light I need. How close to the surface should I be in your opinion? Is this too high off the tank? I still want room to get in there with my hand obviously without having to tear the thing off each time. I plan to add optics to the LED's and reflectors to the T5's this should help with lighting par values problem also.

Should I wait on putting these before deciding to lower it at all, should I even lower it?

 

[Isoprene]

is what im working with

 

[j3st3r]

I would say add the optics and reflectors before moving it down. optics are cheap so get 90's and 60's and see which give you the best coverage, your par will increase a good bit by adding them. obviously the 60's will give you more par than the 90's but might not give you the coverage.


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