Leds for a 30" tall tank

sea of cortez · 10/22/2010, 06:52 PM

I am wanting to up grade from my 125 to a 180 or 240, but ran across a killer deal on a AGA 210, 72 X 24 X 30
And was wondering if LEDs would be effective at that depth of water
or should I stick to the 24" depth

widmer · 10/22/2010, 07:42 PM

They would be no problem. As would be the case with any other light source like halide or T5, you will need more wattage over the top if you really do want all that par at the sand bed. Depending on which lenses you want to use, you can make an extremely intense beam. Heck, you can see it in the air if you want to:

kcress · 10/22/2010, 07:49 PM

LEDs are better at 'deep' than any other common method. So yes!

Let me suggest that if you don't have some pathological need for deeper than 24" - don't go there.

I'm a psycho,(see my build in this forum if you need to confirm that), and want deeep. But, it brings a truck-load of headaches.

Suggestion. Get out a piece of wood and mount it somewhere across furniture or have someone hold it. Stick your arm over it and see how far you can actually reach over it. Think about the detailed ramifications of setup and maintenance what you discover with this little test. Don't forget that you also have to reach to the back of the tank.

westmoorenerd · 10/23/2010, 01:59 AM

I would agree with kcress...my tank is 36" deep, and to reach most things at the bottom I used a mask and snorkel.

nivenethan · 10/23/2010, 08:12 AM

I'm having good success with AI LED's on my 30" deep tank with SPS. Lights are suspended about 12" above water. Have SPS as deep as 25" below water.

sea of cortez · 10/23/2010, 02:35 PM

I had not thought about the reach problem
And Kcress that stand is pretty psycho

kcress · 10/23/2010, 08:14 PM

I built, out of masking tape, a duplicate of my tank's top. I was horrified by what little I could reach. And, that was with a RIMLESS design I was building. The plastic tank I ended up with, has the itty bitty set-back portals,[img] http://i42.*******.com/2zp6ucm.gif[/img] (again because of the depth), that further limits the accessibility...

Deep tanks = [img] http://i40.*******.com/2ql4z0p.gif[/img]

10/22/2010, 06:52 PM	#1
sea of cortez Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 105	Leds for a 30" tall tank I am wanting to up grade from my 125 to a 180 or 240, but ran across a killer deal on a AGA 210, 72 X 24 X 30 And was wondering if LEDs would be effective at that depth of water or should I stick to the 24" depth

10/23/2010, 01:59 AM	#4
westmoorenerd USN Avionics Technician Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: FPO/AP Posts: 334	I would agree with kcress...my tank is 36" deep, and to reach most things at the bottom I used a mask and snorkel. __________________ 540g 8'x3'x3', SRO-5000EXT, Neptune APEX, Koralia Magnums, Korallin C-1502 Calcium Reactor...Soon to be LED powered!

10/23/2010, 08:12 AM	#5
nivenethan Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Des Moines, IA Posts: 251	I'm having good success with AI LED's on my 30" deep tank with SPS. Lights are suspended about 12" above water. Have SPS as deep as 25" below water. __________________ Darren Current Tank Info: 300 gal *******, 8 AI Sol White, 100 g lps tank tied to main system w/ 2 Radions,BK SM300, Apex, Geo 624 Ca, Avast kalk stirrer, BRS jumbo GFO, BRS Jumbo Carbon, lots of ColeParmer peristaltic pumps, 2MP60ES, 2MP40ES, 250 gal MRC custom sump

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Is there a huge difference in a 24" tall vs a 30" tall tank	JaguarZax	New to the Hobby	21	07/07/2009 01:40 AM
Opinions on 30" tall tanks, please	paul_111	Large Reef Tanks	14	08/27/2007 03:51 PM
Lighting 30" Tall Tank	BigTankGuy	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	06/24/2007 06:44 PM
acrylic thickness for 30" tall tank?	manitou	Do It Yourself	21	04/16/2007 08:14 PM
Lighting for a 30" tall tank	lelenb	Lighting, Filtration & Other Equipment	3	01/05/2007 09:43 AM

10/22/2010, 07:42 PM	#2
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	They would be no problem. As would be the case with any other light source like halide or T5, you will need more wattage over the top if you really do want all that par at the sand bed. Depending on which lenses you want to use, you can make an extremely intense beam. Heck, you can see it in the air if you want to:

10/22/2010, 07:49 PM	#3
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	LEDs are better at 'deep' than any other common method. So yes! Let me suggest that if you don't have some pathological need for deeper than 24" - don't go there. I'm a psycho,(see my build in this forum if you need to confirm that), and want deeep. But, it brings a truck-load of headaches. Suggestion. Get out a piece of wood and mount it somewhere across furniture or have someone hold it. Stick your arm over it and see how far you can actually reach over it. Think about the detailed ramifications of setup and maintenance what you discover with this little test. Don't forget that you also have to reach to the back of the tank.

10/23/2010, 02:35 PM	#6
sea of cortez Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Oregon Posts: 105	I had not thought about the reach problem And Kcress that stand is pretty psycho

10/23/2010, 08:14 PM	#7
kcress Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Central California Coast. Posts: 5,383	I built, out of masking tape, a duplicate of my tank's top. I was horrified by what little I could reach. And, that was with a RIMLESS design I was building. The plastic tank I ended up with, has the itty bitty set-back portals,[img] http://i42.*****.com/2zp6ucm.gif[/img] (again because of the depth), that further limits the accessibility... Deep tanks = [img] http://i40.*****.com/2ql4z0p.gif[/img]