Hanging LED's vs Setting them on top of the Aquarium

[Big_Boss_77]

Hello All,

I've done a bit of digging to no avail and thought I would come ask the masters my question instead. I am wondering how hanging an LED above the tank varies from mounting it directly on top of the tank. To be more specific, I have a ReefBreeders Photon 48 and I'm wondering how this difference would affect the PAR? On a side note, if anyone has an accurate chart of PAR readings for the Photon 48 I would much appreciate it!

PS: On the other side of that side note, if anyone has used the Photon 48 in the past and has recommendations on channel settings they have used with success, I'd appreciate that info too!

[Hentz]

So here's the thing..... Reefbreeder Photon's are dimmable!!

That means, you can literally set it from .001 inches from your tank and still be fine! lol.

I hung mine, due to the fact I have a slide on/off canopy. Though I'm using 2 24", same theory lol.

A buddy has the 48 and had a friend custom make a little light rail that fits in his canopy that sits on his tank. Quite nice actually.

Though I like hanging best, personally. Gives me the control to either lower or higher the light. Granted, yes, our LED's are programmable. So at the end of the day, its COMPLETELY up to you!

EDIT**
- For channel settings sakes, I just switched over from T5 about 2 weeks ago. I'm still acclimating my SPS corals (SPS dominant) and they're peaking at 35% Blues with 30% Whites.

Ignore the piece of wood, it helps keep my lights straight across!

[Big_Boss_77]

I would've loved to hang mine, but the ceiling in my house has some old fashioned radiant heating wires in it and can't be drilled. I have mine set on a piece of glass I had cut specifically to fit the top of my tank. I'm getting my coral in a few days from a guy who runs his LED's fairly high so I'm thinking I can probably set mine "fairly" high. I've got the blue set at 50% and white at 45% during peak hours. I love the dimmable feature on the photons, the custom half hour cycle is GLORIOUS. Leaves me free to stare at my tank!

EDIT: I like the light cover, how did you make it?

[Hentz]

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

I would've loved to hang mine, but the ceiling in my house has some old fashioned radiant heating wires in it and can't be drilled. I have mine set on a piece of glass I had cut specifically to fit the top of my tank. I'm getting my coral in a few days from a guy who runs his LED's fairly high so I'm thinking I can probably set mine "fairly" high. I've got the blue set at 50% and white at 45% during peak hours. I love the dimmable feature on the photons, the custom half hour cycle is GLORIOUS. Leaves me free to stare at my tank!

EDIT: I like the light cover, how did you make it?

There is always hanging from the wall using the shelf holders! Or even Conduit works wonders also.

Agh if you're coming from LED's, you should be fine. Just start them at the bottom considering they're also now in a different tank environment. Classic rule I follow, all my SPS has done well so far!

Light cover, my canopy?

[Big_Boss_77]

That's true! I never thought about that, well I did, but I wasn't sure how it would turn out so I discounted it rather quickly. Canopy, is that what that's called? lol I guess that's what I meant...but yeah, is it custom or something I can go buy?

[Hentz]

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

That's true! I never thought about that, well I did, but I wasn't sure how it would turn out so I discounted it rather quickly. Canopy, is that what that's called? lol I guess that's what I meant...but yeah, is it custom or something I can go buy?

You can buy em. For $100-400. OR you can make one like mine for $30 lol.

I made a simple frame out of 1x2. I made it the EXACT length and width on my tank, enough so it could sit directly on my rim of my tank. Then took plywood, nailed down making sure it was 1 1/2 inches below the top of the tank so it covered the trim. I then took plasti dip and painted it $5 cans, takes half of one.

It's super super light, durable, and slides right on and off.

[tc2007]

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

That's true! I never thought about that, well I did, but I wasn't sure how it would turn out so I discounted it rather quickly. Canopy, is that what that's called? lol I guess that's what I meant...but yeah, is it custom or something I can go buy?

If your tank is 55G, get a Kessil A350 or A360W (Controller compatible) light which has a gooseneck and get rid of your current ones.

[Big_Boss_77]

Aww... can I not keep the one that has the controller built in?

[Hentz]

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

Aww... can I not keep the one that has the controller built in?

You can keep it. The Reefbreeders are AMAZING lights. Growing my SPS just fine and my buddies tank has SPS that just grows wild. Kessil are great lights too, but you already have the Reefbreeder which is great. Keep it!

[Big_Boss_77]

Originally Posted by Hentz

You can keep it. The Reefbreeders are AMAZING lights. Growing my SPS just fine and my buddies tank has SPS that just grows wild. Kessil are great lights too, but you already have the Reefbreeder which is great. Keep it!

Good lol cause I planned on it

[Big_Boss_77]

Update: I've put in two coral frags in my tank and they are thriving under my reef breeders. I'm so pleased with how well they are doing. They opened about ten minutes after acclimatization

[Dline Bullyz]

[Shaummy]

Originally Posted by Big_Boss_77

Update: I've put in two coral frags in my tank and they are thriving under my reef breeders. I'm so pleased with how well they are doing. They opened about ten minutes after acclimatization

So did you end up sitting them on top of the tank or something else? I've got a canopy on my 90G that would allow ~6" above the water surface, and I'm considering the Photon 32 or 48.

Is the light in the tank blended together or do you see more focused spots disco ball effect?

[Big_Boss_77]

uploadfromtaptalk1407556484205.jpg

I wound up cutting a piece of glass to fit the aquarium and just set them directly on top. Not sure if you can see in this picture, but the glass lights up with the blue leds and looks neat lol I'm happy with it!

[Big_Boss_77]

Here's a picture with the lights on



EDIT:
You all are the first people besides family and my buddy who helped me set it up to see my tank lol

[Windirmere]

I would just watch out to make sure the LED's can breath, resting right on class with high wattage lights makes me think FIRE danger

[Dline Bullyz]

Totally agree Windirmere. This is why I did not mount in my canopy.....

[Big_Boss_77]

I agree and that reminds me that I need to go get a couple of rubber bumpers. But I haven't noticed the cooling fans kicking on but that's a very good idea all the same

[Pnyanjia]

HAHA , great DIY~~

Originally Posted by Hentz

So here's the thing..... Reefbreeder Photon's are dimmable!!

That means, you can literally set it from .001 inches from your tank and still be fine! lol.

I hung mine, due to the fact I have a slide on/off canopy. Though I'm using 2 24", same theory lol.

A buddy has the 48 and had a friend custom make a little light rail that fits in his canopy that sits on his tank. Quite nice actually.

Though I like hanging best, personally. Gives me the control to either lower or higher the light. Granted, yes, our LED's are programmable. So at the end of the day, its COMPLETELY up to you!

EDIT**
- For channel settings sakes, I just switched over from T5 about 2 weeks ago. I'm still acclimating my SPS corals (SPS dominant) and they're peaking at 35% Blues with 30% Whites.

Ignore the piece of wood, it helps keep my lights straight across!

[Big_Boss_77]

Originally Posted by Shaummy

Is the light in the tank blended together or do you see more focused spots disco ball effect?

Sorry, didn't see your question earlier! I've even tried to RECREATE the disco ball effect just to see what people were talking about but I really can't notice any diffusion, it's all pretty well blended. I do notice a bit more purple if I'm looking down into one of the caves in the live rock. It seems to me that as long as it's open sand bed you're looking at its okay. But even then the light I see in the caves strikes me as "semi natural," like something you'd see on one of those diving videos

[Shaummy]

sounds great BB77...tank is really coming together!

Thanks for the info.

[Rogerscody17]

The light fans don't kick on till you turn up your brightness to at least 35% or more(Depending on manufacture). Fans are not needed with leds at that low of a percent. On my 75g, I have the hung 6 inches off the surface at 40%. I keep SPS,LPS,Softies. Take care.

[Big_Boss_77]

I went and got some 1/4 inch grommets to lift it off the glass just to be safe