LED lights in canopy

[jcharrsn]

I am wondering if anyone has experience with mounting LED fixtures inside an enclosed canopy above a tank? My LFS has several fixtures over topless tanks and informed me that LEDs would not work properly because light emitted from an LED is too focused to mount that close to the water. I have a 48x18x24 75 gallon and I would like to grow zoas softies and maybe a few LPS in my fairly timid predator tank (reef safe triggers and dwarf lions). I like the shimmer and bulb longevity that LEDs provide but I am discouraged at this point because I don't want to go topless or rip apart my canopy. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Boogie]

How tall is your canopy?

 

[ReefLEDLights]

if you are going DIY just omit the optics if you are going to be within 6" off of the water. You will need a shield to protect your LEDs and additional LEDs because with optics you get a performance increase of 2/3rds

Another idea I have yet to test is optics in the center but no optics on the LEDs around the edges I figure that could avoid the spot lighting issue.

 

[jcharrsn]

7-8 inches and the lights would probably be 4-5 inches above the water.

 

[Zombie]

Just cut out the top of the hoods to set the fixtures in so the heat sinks are above an outside the hood, light in the hood. This also gets the lights up higher. The fixtures need airflow from all sides to cool the units.

 

[Chameleon]

+1 from me that is what im doing

if you are going DIY just omit the optics if you are going to be within 6" off of the water. You will need a shield to protect your LEDs and additional LEDs because with optics you get a performance increase of 2/3rds

Another idea I have yet to test is optics in the center but no optics on the LEDs around the edges I figure that could avoid the spot lighting issue.