Switching to LED from T5"S

eric shelsy · 01/15/2012, 11:34 AM

I just ordered two AI Super Blue SOL Mods and a rail for my 48"x24"x18" 90Gal mixed reef tank mostly mushrooms and zoas, green torch, rose bubbles, kenya tree, daisies, cabbage leather, toad stool, frog spawns,ausie dunkin, and a candy cane as well as several fish and about 100LBS of live rock No Hanging kit as I figure I can make one with cables. Right now I have Wave Point 4x54 I will be controlling the LED's with a DA RKE if I can get it programed. My question is how high should I hang the lights to start? I think I should make a slow transition as not to harm the inhabitants of the tank. Any advice would be helpful. Thank You

ghostman · 01/15/2012, 12:11 PM

Light height with LEDs usually is a decision of personal preference to get the light spread that you want. You can always dim them if you mount them too low. The usual recommended height is at least 12" above the water line. Since you have softies, I would recommend a low starting level, in the 20% range for blues and whites.

heckeng · 01/15/2012, 12:11 PM

With two units, you are going to be pushing it to get enough light spread. Hang them parallel with the front glass for sure, and I would also recommend getting some 70 degree optics to use so you get better spread. I would also start around 30% power on all channels.

Mark Bianco · 01/15/2012, 02:25 PM

I have 4 on a 75gl Way overkill but as soon as I can find a deal on a 180 that is what I will use. Anyways I hung mine at 8" above the water line For programming I started off with these parameters
Blue and Royal Blue 400pm ramp up from 0 to 30% over a half hour time frame.
Whites 430pm ramp up from 0 to 25% over a half hour time frame
All three sets then run at those parameters until 1100pm then
1100pm ramp down the whites from 25% to 0% over a half hour
1130pm ramp down the bule from 30% to 0% over a half hour time frame
1130 pm ramp down the royal blue from 30% to 2 %over a half hour time frame.
1200 to 800am I keep the royal blue on at 2% for moon lighting. I imagine to get a good spread with two you would turn them sideways and you may want to start out at 12" above the waterline to the bottom of the module.

Hope that helps.
Mark

rtparty · 01/15/2012, 03:11 PM

Here is a general acclimation guide that might help out a little.

http://raisethereef.weebly.com/light-acclimation.html

eric shelsy · 02/07/2012, 03:24 PM

Thanks guys I received two more LED mods in the mail today. I now have 4. Still not programmed. Working by phone directly with Dan at Digital Aquatics to program my RKE re wired it again today with a multi meter got it right. We did a walk thru program on the phone. Still no luck. He's gonna do some more research and get back to me.

01/15/2012, 11:34 AM	#1
eric shelsy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lanesboro MA Posts: 14	Switching to LED from T5"S I just ordered two AI Super Blue SOL Mods and a rail for my 48"x24"x18" 90Gal mixed reef tank mostly mushrooms and zoas, green torch, rose bubbles, kenya tree, daisies, cabbage leather, toad stool, frog spawns,ausie dunkin, and a candy cane as well as several fish and about 100LBS of live rock No Hanging kit as I figure I can make one with cables. Right now I have Wave Point 4x54 I will be controlling the LED's with a DA RKE if I can get it programed. My question is how high should I hang the lights to start? I think I should make a slow transition as not to harm the inhabitants of the tank. Any advice would be helpful. Thank You

01/15/2012, 12:11 PM	#2
ghostman Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Spring Hill, Florida Posts: 1,629	Light height with LEDs usually is a decision of personal preference to get the light spread that you want. You can always dim them if you mount them too low. The usual recommended height is at least 12" above the water line. Since you have softies, I would recommend a low starting level, in the 20% range for blues and whites. __________________ When you die, you don't know you're dead. It's only difficult for the people around you. It's the same when you're stupid. Current Tank Info: 40IM Fusion, 40lbs of rock, and 20lbs of sand. Just a few fish and corals....for now.

01/15/2012, 12:11 PM	#3
heckeng Registered Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Columbia, MO Posts: 260	With two units, you are going to be pushing it to get enough light spread. Hang them parallel with the front glass for sure, and I would also recommend getting some 70 degree optics to use so you get better spread. I would also start around 30% power on all channels. __________________ 90 gallon Zoa/Ricordia tank, 6x54w ATI dimmable Sunpower, SRO 1000int

01/15/2012, 03:11 PM	#5
rtparty Raise The Reef! Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Utah Posts: 7,404	Here is a general acclimation guide that might help out a little. http://raisethereef.weebly.com/light-acclimation.html __________________ Ryan Click on my user name and check out my homepage! Current Tank Info: 50g Cadlights/Giesemann Spectra (250w Radium, 2 ATI Blue Plus, 2 ATI Actinic)/2 x Vortech MP10wQD/Skimz SN123/Eheim Compact 3000+

01/15/2012, 02:25 PM	#4
Mark Bianco In Memoriam Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Infinity and Beyond Posts: 2,445	I have 4 on a 75gl Way overkill but as soon as I can find a deal on a 180 that is what I will use. Anyways I hung mine at 8" above the water line For programming I started off with these parameters Blue and Royal Blue 400pm ramp up from 0 to 30% over a half hour time frame. Whites 430pm ramp up from 0 to 25% over a half hour time frame All three sets then run at those parameters until 1100pm then 1100pm ramp down the whites from 25% to 0% over a half hour 1130pm ramp down the bule from 30% to 0% over a half hour time frame 1130 pm ramp down the royal blue from 30% to 2 %over a half hour time frame. 1200 to 800am I keep the royal blue on at 2% for moon lighting. I imagine to get a good spread with two you would turn them sideways and you may want to start out at 12" above the waterline to the bottom of the module. Hope that helps. Mark

02/07/2012, 03:24 PM	#6
eric shelsy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lanesboro MA Posts: 14	Thanks guys I received two more LED mods in the mail today. I now have 4. Still not programmed. Working by phone directly with Dan at Digital Aquatics to program my RKE re wired it again today with a multi meter got it right. We did a walk thru program on the phone. Still no luck. He's gonna do some more research and get back to me.