Need Lenses/Optics For LEDs

[brick-brothers]

Hey I got all the hardware I need to build my led fixture,just need the leds now. I have a 120g with a 23inch depth. What lenses/ optics should I used? 40, 60, 80? And did anyone used red leds for there fixture?

 

[brick-brothers]

anyone?

 

[ming]

depending on the height of the tank, how high off the tank the LED's will be, and how far you're spacing the LED's will depend on the type of optics

 

[brick-brothers]

I plan on having the light 6 to 10" off the top of the water. And the tank depth is 23"

 

[ming]

You could probably get away with 60 degree at 2" apart per LED.
or if you put the LED's closer like 1.5", then 40 degree.
This is only for even coverage on the sandbed.
The higher the rockwork/corals, the larger the optics or the closer the LED's should be or you'll see blue and white circles

 

[brick-brothers]

ok cool, i order the 60 optics but it only for the blue leds. I didnt see the optics for the CREE XP-G R5 Cool White. Do you know a site that might have the optics for them?

 

[ming]

The new Tina optics are pretty compact and fit perfectly over the XPG led's.
They're carried at cutter, but you may be able to find them other places for cheaper.
http://www.cutter.com.au/products.php?cat=Cree+XPG

 

[brick-brothers]

ok thanks. btw did you put optics on both your whites and blues?

 

[ming]

Yes, but I have more blues then whites to balance it out because the white's put out more lumens

 

[brick-brothers]

dam i wish i had of known that. lol i have dimmerable pucks. Do you think i can get away with dimming the whites to balances them out? i had order 24w and 24b.

 

[ming]

Yeah, you could do that instead.
I should correct my previous statement by saying the XPG white's are about 20% stronger then the XRE blue's which I'm assuming is what you have.

 

[brick-brothers]

yes i order the xre blues and xpg cool whites