Mixing Optics?

I've been reading a few posts lately about DIY LED lighting builds. The main questions are all the same. How many LED's, which optics and how far above the tank. It seems to me that to get a better spread why couldn't you mix and match your optics for a different spread? Let say you put 60's in the middle to disperse through the tank more and maybe 30's or 40's around the outside so less is lost out the side of the tank? Or you could even use a tighter beam (like the 30's or 40's) for more direct light where you know the water will be deeper (in the front of the tank / in front of the rocks in the open sand bed) and wider optics over the rocks so you don't scorch your coral's that are placed higher in the tank? Has this been done? If not, why?

 

Yup, definitely makes sense. That is really where the efficiency of LEDs comes from; it's the ability to direct lint exactly where you need it. This is especially true when you are designing your own custom fixture. A lot of people just don't think about it, or maybe don't understand the geometry enough to properly implement it. It certainly can be done though.


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Bump...

Really only one comment? I'll have to check the cost of optics to see if an experiment is economically viable. I don't think they could be that pricey.

 

Yes this is a great idea.I've been planning to do this for awhile now.swell as tilting the less around the perimeter.this will give me the optimal intank lighting I feel.im working on a control set up before I start on the leds themselves though.mage they'll come down in price little by the time im ready.planning storms and passing clouds, moon lights, red night viewing light...ect,this project is getting deep lol

 

Since, you really want a reply here is mine. This won't be much help though. I agree LEDs are the way to go for the future, IMHO this will only be true for FO tanks over the next few years. Personally I have seen way to many tanks, even ones using what are currently considered to be the better to best LEDs on the market, where the corals start to loose color, stop growing, or the opposite bleach out and are killed by too extreme of a light. Until the technology is ratified for corals correctly, I would estimate 5 years minimum, I wouldn't do it unless you are doing a FO or FOWLR tank. If you are doing a FO or FOWLR tank than it really doesn't matter get enough of them to light it up how you would like.

But based on the original question. I belive you are right and should be good doing wider spread in the center and tighter spread on the outer rim. The problem is then you would still need a few of the tighter spread lenses in the center if you have a deep tank from what I have read anything deeper than 18-24"

 

Well, being that I don't have (and have never had) a tank up and running I don't really know what the demands are as far as light goes. It seems that everyone is still waiting for someone to post pics of coral that has been growing under LED lighting... No one has posted PAR ratings of their LED's yet either as far as I can find.

 

No offense, but I don't think you've looked hard enough then.

Note page 10: http://www.3reef.com/forums/i-made/diy-dimmable-rapidled-kit-converting-mhs-96138.html

Most things have doubled in size (or more) since those photos.

 

No offense taken. I havent looked that hard! They look great!