AI led placement

[jabel]

I'm wondering if it makes a difference whether the unit is mounted long ways front to back or side to side. I have a 5 ft tank and am hoping to get away with 3 units. I just recieved my 1st and am very impressed by the light footprint so far. 2x2 is no joke. With the rail system it seems like the light was intended to be mounted with the long ways front to back. Has anyone mounted the otherway? What did you use?
Thanks,
Jeff

 

[ludiNano]

My lfs has one mounted on a 37g tall (same foot print as 30g) going that way but it looks like its a custom job hanging it.

 

[jabel]

anyone else hang these with the long side of the light going side to side instead of front to back?

 

[NatureNerd]

I have three sol blues hanging over a 48" 75g. I mounted them on a single 48" rail that is hung from the top of my canopy using short earthquake straps. They are mounted parallel to the front glass. The straps allow them to always face down toward the water surface even when I swing the canopy top open. Seems to work great so far. 5 weeks of experience at this point.

 

[jabel]

Do you think you get better spread from side to side that way?

 

[snorvich]

I hang mine front to back except near my overflow where the one is hung side to side. Eight foot tank, 7 modules, no shadows hung about 10 inches from the water.

 

[NatureNerd]

Do you think you get better spread from side to side that way?

I think so. I did not take PAR reading but, I set it up both ways and it looked more evenly lit with better coverage at the sides with the lights mounted on the long axis as shown. Note that I have very few acros at the very back glass and I have an open swimming area at the front, so this seemed to be the best setup for me. I also was restricted to hanging my Sol's only 6-7 inches off the water surface.

Here is how I mounted them (tank shown with lid canopy raised):

 

[jabel]

Nice, thanks for the pic. I just wish the slotted T had 4 sides instead of 2. Would make it easier to mount to the top of the canopy. Anyone else notice better side to side coverage when mounted this way?

 

[Malster1]

Running mine lengthwise on a 5ft 100g tank. 3 units at about 12" above tank. Also running two unit's lengthwise on a 4 foot tank at the same height. both tanks are only 18" wide. Coral's are growing well