orthokardia
Well-Known Member
What is the current recommendation for 3W LEDs per square foot of surface for a 16" deep frag tank?? What color combination?
thx,
-bart
thx,
-bart
How many LEDs for a 16"deep frag tank??
- Thread starter orthokardia
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Depends on the tank size, there is no golden rule
OP
OP
orthokardia
Well-Known Member
16" deep
OP
OP
orthokardia
Well-Known Member
tank depth is the primary driver. any light energy from a point source such as MH or LED is reduced by absorption through a medium (air-very little / water-quite a lot) related to path length and the spread of the light (optics or not). The amount of light, intensity per sq inch, at a given point (close to the bottom for a frag tank) required for growth drives the number of 3w LEDs required. Tight optics will give a small increase in the light that makes it through the waters surface due to the less reflection off the surface (angles closer to 90d reflect less and this is color dependent) . The thing about intensity is the side to side and front to back dims of the tank do not matter as it is a per sq thing. for example a 3w illuminating 1"x9" is 0.33w/sq (minus losses from reflection and absorption) in as is the same 3w illuminating a 3"x3" area. tighter optics set higher above a tank will yield more power on the bottom as the reflection loss is larger than the absorption loss from the greater path length through air.
so that is how it works, but i still need to know what people have found to be the best color ratio and intensity to grow frags. assume the light must penetrate 10" of water. thx-bart
so that is how it works, but i still need to know what people have found to be the best color ratio and intensity to grow frags. assume the light must penetrate 10" of water. thx-bart
Onedesign1
Active Member
Length times width divided by 16 will get you coverage.....number of LEDs. Use 90 degree optics and dimming capability to control intensity.
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
Wouldnt 90 degree optics spread the light out? I would think 60 degree woudl be better for penetration.
Bart, FWIW, the 126 LED's above my tank with mixed optics are growin my coral quite well even with 1/2 of them at 80%. the tank is 24" deep and is 72x 24.
Bart, FWIW, the 126 LED's above my tank with mixed optics are growin my coral quite well even with 1/2 of them at 80%. the tank is 24" deep and is 72x 24.
Onedesign1
Active Member
I think 60s on a 16" deep tank with the coverage as i suggested is too much. I run 90's on a 24" deep tank with the fixture 9" above the water and I'm growing acros and Milli's on the sandbed.
As you know it's a combination of things that effect the outcome. Lens angle, height, coverage, drive current, color temp etc. I just recommended the coverage and lens angle for what I personally know works well. But there's a number of ways to skin a cat.
As you know it's a combination of things that effect the outcome. Lens angle, height, coverage, drive current, color temp etc. I just recommended the coverage and lens angle for what I personally know works well. But there's a number of ways to skin a cat.
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OP
orthokardia
Well-Known Member
so 12"x12"/16=9LEDs /sq ft surface area.
Onedesign1
Active Member
Works very well....
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OP
orthokardia
Well-Known Member
thank you very much
