Acrylic and LED light penetration

[reeferdale]

I am getting ready to do my DIY LED build and the only thing I have not seen much debate or info on is how the LEDs perform over the bracing on the top of an acrylic tank. I have a 270 gal that is 72 long x 36 wide x 24 Tall. The top bracing is massive over the center of the tank - there are basically 2 clear openings on the left and right but the center of the tank (18") is all thick acrylic. Just wondering how this acrylic will impact the LEDs that will need to be placed above it. I plan on putting an acrylic splash shield over the fixtures but I may leave it off of this section. Will I need to use different optics in this area? Will I lose PAR? any body have LEDs over acrylic bracing that can share their experience?

thanks

 

[LegoZ81]

Can you craft covers for the openings of the tank and place the fixtures right on top, running no optics?

 

[reeferdale]

Can you craft covers for the openings of the tank and place the fixtures right on top, running no optics?

I am going to have clear net covers on the actual open areas, but I do not want the fixtures to rest on the tank. several others have posted that they do not have nay issues with LEDs over acrylic braces. Since I do not really have a choice, I will set the center up as a low light coral area and if I need more penetration I can work with some tghter optics on some of the LEDs - thanks

 

[revhtree Verified Admin]

Are you going to do 3 led fixtures or one long fixture? If you do three seperate you could use a dimmable ballast on the middle and then ramp up the intensity to match the left and right side.