New led question

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

ok so tomorrow my Chinese 165w leds will be here. They have the 90 degree optics on them. My question is how high should I hang them and what percentage should I start out with? Tank is a standard 55 gal with the rock work at its highest in the middle of the tank. I am using glass lids as well.

McMullen · Mar 21, 2017

One unit? Hang it high full full coverage. I'm just speculating, but 15 to 20in

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

No my bad I have 2 units coming.

dave9905 · Mar 21, 2017

I had a similar setup years ago on a 90g. Had them 10" off water and had mostly acans on sand and some SPS up high and worked out great. Not sure if your lights are dimmable but mine were and never ran them higher than 60%ish

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

Yes they are dimmable both the so called full spectrum had a dimmer and the blues have a dimmer. Right now I have 3 corals in my tank a decent Zoa colony a torch and gsp. I will be putting in 3 more smaller frags of zoas a small acro and small trumpets from my qt tank.

Roy 9121 · Mar 21, 2017

I have my LEDs about 10" above my tank, and i started my whites at 40%, then bumped them to 45%. My blues and uv are at about 80%

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

Ok so would 40% white and 60% blue be good to acclimate the corals then move up? And do I turn them up every week?

Roy 9121 · Mar 21, 2017

Ksturg said:
Ok so would 40% white and 60% blue be good to acclimate the corals then move up? And do I turn them up every week?

I'd start there. You may want to tone down the whites while acclimating corals.

NHreefguy · Mar 21, 2017

Just be careful those lights can melt softies fast if they are turned up. Mine are about 10" or so above the water and my whites are at around 20%. No sps for me though

thejuice24 · Mar 21, 2017

Let us know it works out, also pic would be awesome. I'm on the fence about getting one for my tank 20 Gallon Long (First reef tank)

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

Ok and 10 inches off the tank with the 90's do you think will give a good spread in a 55

Roy 9121 · Mar 21, 2017

I

Ksturg said:
Ok and 10 inches off the tank with the 90's do you think will give a good spread in a 55

Have a 55 gallon, with only one hydra 52. It's 10" above and seems fine.

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

At 12" off the top of tank and 24" down is supposed to give me 242 par. But not sure at what % though.

Ksturg · Mar 21, 2017

thejuice24 said:
Let us know it works out, also pic would be awesome. I'm on the fence about getting one for my tank 20 Gallon Long (First reef tank)

I will post pics tomorrow after they get here and I get them hung.

Ksturg · Mar 22, 2017

Ok here are the new lights and I live them 10" off the tank

dave9905 · Mar 22, 2017

Looks good. Put the corals on the sand and see how they respond and go from there.

Ksturg · Mar 22, 2017

Ok I will do that I'm headed to pick up some new corals today!

saltyfilmfolks · Mar 22, 2017

I use a $14 lux meter on the tanks. The lux par conversion of most every led I have seen at a 1:1 white blue ratio is very close to 60.

So 30,000 lux / 60 =500 par
A higher blue ratio = a higher conversion number according to D riddle(it also has less spectrum)

From many reliable folks the slight color differences are irrelevant for the most part.(8h mh or 20k MH grows same coral) So set the color to eye, (make tank look great) then set intensity with the lux meter.

That light is pretty powerful. you Par choices are up to you really.
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/lighting-upgrade-with-a-lux-meter-saltyfilmfolks.248417/

thejuice24 · Mar 22, 2017

Awesome

Tooch · Mar 22, 2017

I have 2 SB Reefbright boxes above my rimless 75g, about 12" above. After 6 months, I found my corals are happiest now at 30% whites, 100% blues. Once I went above 40% with the whites, they said stop, so I settled back down to 30%.