Evening. Trying to figure out lights for my new 75 gallon. It has a canopy. I had done the cheap Chinese gu10 LEDs in the past on a 125 and loved them. But they were 12 inches off the water. If I did these in the hood they'd be 4 inches off the water. Is that ok, or should I go with t5's or something else? Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Light help 75 gallon with canopy
- Thread starter shanet75
- Start date
radbluesfan
New member
I am just starting on a refurb 125 project---don't even pick it up til Saturday. Been looking here and reading about the "Chinese lights". I am going to build a canopy but am not dead set on its design yet. My current idea for mounting 3 of these LED fixtures kinda goes like this: Most of them have the 4 mounting locations, one on each corner, designed for cables to hang the light. I am thinking of drilling four small holes in the top of the canopy, attaching a small cable to the attach locations, and then pulling the fixture up tight to the inside top of the canopy. Then using a hole saw to make holes that match up exactly where the cooling fans are on the LED fixture. Still have to figure out the power cord/power strip/timer stuff but as far as mounting the fixtures it seems like an easy way to do it inside the canopy, still have the fans cooling, and not a lot of excess light spilling. That is my idea today anyway!
BigCountry74
New member
check out my build thread, might help you guys with ideas. I know radblues has seen it. shanet can you hang/mount the existing canopy on the wall sorta like I did?
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2132815
radbluesfan
New member
Yes, BC, yours is nice looking. I saw a build here (I have the link on my home computer) that is a sit-on-the-tank style that uses a double hinging front and top. You can lift the face and small portion of the top up for quick access but also lift nearly the entire top up as well to access lights and such.
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1365166&highlight=diy+canopy -This might be it---my web filter at work blocks most photos.
radbluesfan
New member
Shanet, I am no expert, but the problems with too much light seem to have been when adding LEDs to existing tanks and the corals react poorly to the suddenly much brighter lights. I am not sure if this would be true on a new tank. I read some people decrease the light cycle and slowly raise it up over time when adding LEDs. Or a light with a dimmer might do well for you. Just my thoughts on your original question---didn't mean to go off subject before.
TimeConsumer
Active member
I'd go with a T5 system personally. But, if you want to go LED look into the Ecoxotic Panorama Pro Fixture, two of those over your tank would do well. You could even skip the fixture housing and just retrofit a bunch of the Panorama Pro modules to the roof of your canopy.
radbluesfan
New member
I considered T5 as well. The bulbs were $25 ea. and supposed to last 12 -18 months. I could almost buy another chinese led light for the cost of bulb replacement. Just my opinion.
How about this?
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Reef-Bright-p/56215.htm
http://www.aquatraders.com/LED-Reef-Bright-p/56215.htm
radbluesfan
New member
Most people are getting ones with 3 watt LEDs. Also did not see any fans on it. Search here for "Chinese LEDs" for a thread with that title. Its 30 pages long and has the types of lights and links to them that people are using, including BigCountry's lights. Many opinions there.
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