LED Supplementals For A 500g Reeftank (Pics)

64Ivy · 07/24/2012, 12:50 PM

One of the changes I'm planning as I continue to get things back together [after the crash] is the addition of some blue supplemental LED strip lighting to my current 400W Sfiligoi Twin Infinity pendants [x3]. And while recommendations are certainly welcomed, it turns out that my biggest problem is one of design. Hopefully, these pictures will demonstrate better than I can describe:

Here is a shot of the back of my tank with the MH pendants in the up position. At this point, they are about 24" from the top of the tank. As you can see, the far side of each pendant is pretty much touching the wall, thereby my problem. No room to conventionally attach the strips.

Since what I DON'T want to do is drill brackets into the fixtures themselves, perhaps there's some sort of doohicky I can affix to the wall and have the strips attached to those. But in this position, I'll need them to swivel in their brackets, kind of like Reefbrites. Also, I'm concerned that there may be a heat issue with 800 watts of halides per pendant basically right on top of them when in the down position.

This next shot is my current pulley system for the pendants, still in the up position. Another (hopefully smaller) issue is that I'll obviously need the near side row of the LEDs to also pulley up and down, but I'm guessing not necessarily swivel...or is there a completely different solution to this side altogether?

Shot 3: Pendants in the down position, now about 12" from the top of the tank. Note that when in this position, the pedants actually do touch the wall. The 'doohickey' will have to be mounted below them.

Shot 4: Still down position, different orientation. By the way, each of the tank openings are approx 25" by 25". Overall tank length is 96".

Shot 5: FTS from the front showing new 'scape and test frags. Not really germane to the post but strangely unfulfilling without it.

Again, any and all thoughts on how to configure these supplementals would be more than welcomed. So would recommendations on brands of strip lights. And should it help, because everything is behind a wall, aesthetics can thought of as secondary...kinda.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

rgulrich · 07/25/2012, 09:36 AM

With your space issues in front of the halide fixtures, you might want to try and mount them on the fixture ends and between your halides - attaching them to the fixtures themselves. With some good lenses you should get pretty decent spread, depending on the LED wattage/lens combination you use.
Cheers,
Ray

EricSIny · 07/25/2012, 09:58 AM

Not so sure if this is going to help or not but for the LED layout I would see if a design like this would be feasible for you.

The squares represent your pendants and the blue lines your LEDs. Note only one long LED strip in the back since the front doesn't appear to be an option.

As far as how to mount them, maybe a pulley system similar to your current pendant setup?

WingoLED · 07/25/2012, 09:59 AM

I believe your tank is about 36" deep. If so, get 4 fixtures of LED bar you can get Actinics, 12,000K or RGB depending on what you what to supplement. Put them in between the MH. You can even order custom lens and extra lens to make sure you have the right spread.

07/24/2012, 12:50 PM	#1
64Ivy B'rer Reefer Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 3,194	LED Supplementals For A 500g Reeftank (Pics) One of the changes I'm planning as I continue to get things back together [after the crash] is the addition of some blue supplemental LED strip lighting to my current 400W Sfiligoi Twin Infinity pendants [x3]. And while recommendations are certainly welcomed, it turns out that my biggest problem is one of design. Hopefully, these pictures will demonstrate better than I can describe: Here is a shot of the back of my tank with the MH pendants in the up position. At this point, they are about 24" from the top of the tank. As you can see, the far side of each pendant is pretty much touching the wall, thereby my problem. No room to conventionally attach the strips. Since what I DON'T want to do is drill brackets into the fixtures themselves, perhaps there's some sort of doohicky I can affix to the wall and have the strips attached to those. But in this position, I'll need them to swivel in their brackets, kind of like Reefbrites. Also, I'm concerned that there may be a heat issue with 800 watts of halides per pendant basically right on top of them when in the down position. This next shot is my current pulley system for the pendants, still in the up position. Another (hopefully smaller) issue is that I'll obviously need the near side row of the LEDs to also pulley up and down, but I'm guessing not necessarily swivel...or is there a completely different solution to this side altogether? Shot 3: Pendants in the down position, now about 12" from the top of the tank. Note that when in this position, the pedants actually do touch the wall. The 'doohickey' will have to be mounted below them. Shot 4: Still down position, different orientation. By the way, each of the tank openings are approx 25" by 25". Overall tank length is 96". Shot 5: FTS from the front showing new 'scape and test frags. Not really germane to the post but strangely unfulfilling without it. Again, any and all thoughts on how to configure these supplementals would be more than welcomed. So would recommendations on brands of strip lights. And should it help, because everything is behind a wall, aesthetics can thought of as secondary...kinda. Anyway, thanks in advance. __________________ Be Kind To The Elderly. Life Without Parole Means Nothing To Us. ToTM 3-03 Current Tank Info: Between tanks. Searching for a home

07/25/2012, 09:36 AM	#2
rgulrich greybeard Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: MD Posts: 893	With your space issues in front of the halide fixtures, you might want to try and mount them on the fixture ends and between your halides - attaching them to the fixtures themselves. With some good lenses you should get pretty decent spread, depending on the LED wattage/lens combination you use. Cheers, Ray __________________ The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination. Albert Einstein Current Tank Info: 360 degree walk around 300 DD island–4 300W & 2 165W ViparSpectra, 4 Kessil A350W, 2 A360WE, 3 XF150, 1 XF250, 1 XF350 Gyre along with 2 PP40 and 2 IceCap 3K gyre for robust current. Basement 150 gallon RubberMaid sump, SKIMZ skimmer, DCP18000

07/25/2012, 09:58 AM	#3
EricSIny Moved On Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 440	Not so sure if this is going to help or not but for the LED layout I would see if a design like this would be feasible for you. The squares represent your pendants and the blue lines your LEDs. Note only one long LED strip in the back since the front doesn't appear to be an option. As far as how to mount them, maybe a pulley system similar to your current pendant setup?

07/25/2012, 09:59 AM	#4
WingoLED Registered Member. Join Date: Jun 2011 Posts: 258	I believe your tank is about 36" deep. If so, get 4 fixtures of LED bar you can get Actinics, 12,000K or RGB depending on what you what to supplement. Put them in between the MH. You can even order custom lens and extra lens to make sure you have the right spread.