DiscoStuart
Active Member
I need some help thinking about light placement - is that silly? Shouldn't it be obvious? :face-with-tears-of-joy:
First reef tank (explains a lot!). 4' wide, 100 gallon DT. 2x Reefi Uno 2.1 Pros. Plenty of power for whatever I want to put in the tank. Current plan is a mixed reef, SPS will of course be a way into the future.
Aquascape below - but effectively I've got two peaks toward the sides with a valley in the middle. I initially set up the lights at 12" high equally spread at the midpoint of each half. So they were slightly to the inside of each peak. And running the default LPS settings on the lights, with the whites ramped up as I don't love the deep blue look all day - I was getting 190ish par at the top of the rocks and 120-190 on the sand. Not nearly enough separation.
So, I moved the lights down two inches (so now 10" above the water) and slide them toward the sides an inch or two. (so now they are ~11" from each side with 26" between them) This had the intended effect and I'm now getting 240-270 on the rock peaks, 160-180 mid rocks and 70 (partial shade) to 150 on the sand (and 180-190 right at the edge of the glass on the sand in a few places due to reflections, I can only assume).
All seems logical and I think on target for par.
Coming here to ask:
1. Anything sound crazy based on the above? Stupid beginner mistakes I'm not aware of, etc?
2. Now, normally the answer is "if you don't like it later, just move em!", but,I'm planning to get a custom top that will have light mount cut outs and I'd like to avoid having to try to tweak it later if I don't like the placement. I suppose I could have them cut a bit wide and just get a bit of mesh and/or egg crate or something to prevent a daredevil fish from escaping? Or I could do a D&D jumpnet and then do the acrylic top later. Or am I unlikely to have an issue and I'm over thinking it?
Thanks!
And top down view, if helpful
First reef tank (explains a lot!). 4' wide, 100 gallon DT. 2x Reefi Uno 2.1 Pros. Plenty of power for whatever I want to put in the tank. Current plan is a mixed reef, SPS will of course be a way into the future.
Aquascape below - but effectively I've got two peaks toward the sides with a valley in the middle. I initially set up the lights at 12" high equally spread at the midpoint of each half. So they were slightly to the inside of each peak. And running the default LPS settings on the lights, with the whites ramped up as I don't love the deep blue look all day - I was getting 190ish par at the top of the rocks and 120-190 on the sand. Not nearly enough separation.
So, I moved the lights down two inches (so now 10" above the water) and slide them toward the sides an inch or two. (so now they are ~11" from each side with 26" between them) This had the intended effect and I'm now getting 240-270 on the rock peaks, 160-180 mid rocks and 70 (partial shade) to 150 on the sand (and 180-190 right at the edge of the glass on the sand in a few places due to reflections, I can only assume).
All seems logical and I think on target for par.
Coming here to ask:
1. Anything sound crazy based on the above? Stupid beginner mistakes I'm not aware of, etc?
2. Now, normally the answer is "if you don't like it later, just move em!", but,I'm planning to get a custom top that will have light mount cut outs and I'd like to avoid having to try to tweak it later if I don't like the placement. I suppose I could have them cut a bit wide and just get a bit of mesh and/or egg crate or something to prevent a daredevil fish from escaping? Or I could do a D&D jumpnet and then do the acrylic top later. Or am I unlikely to have an issue and I'm over thinking it?
Thanks!
And top down view, if helpful
