Is this lighting 'idea' possible? Mount light 60" above the tank?

[Seancj]

I didn't get much input on my last thread so I'm hoping for more advice/help with this one.
My desire is to mount tank single source light 'recessed' in the ceiling to create an 'invisible' source of lighting for the reef. The tank will be a 60" diameter by 20" tall shallow cylinder. The ceiling is 60" above the water surface. I'm wanting to get close to 400+ par just below the water surface for my anemones and SPS with around 200+ par at the sand bed for clams.
My original plan was to use a single Orphek Amazonas 960 but I've learned that at this mounting height, it won't likely put out the PAR I am wanting.
I also thought maybe the Kessil A500X's but I don't think those would have to be mounted much lower to put out the PAR I need, and I would need several to cover the 60" diameter.
I've just recently researched the Maxspect Commercial LED floodlight, but the lack of color spectrum control has me pausing, but it should put out the PAR I am needing.
Does anyone know of any other option? Should I just skip this idea and go with lower mounted, more conventional lighting, like Radions, Kessil's, etc..?
I'd love to hear other options from those with the experience/knowledge.
Thanks!
Illustration not to scale, just to give an idea of what I'm thinking:

​

 

[Sleeping Giant]

no idea, sounds pretty far from the tank to make enough par for the tank though

 

[Mr_Knightley]

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Check out their stuff. They make commercial floodlights for aquariums and museum applications and sell several 'reef spectrum' lights. Not sure what the quality will look like, but they'll definitely have the punch you need.

 

[areefer01]

My desire is to mount tank single source light 'recessed' in the ceiling to create an 'invisible' source of lighting for the reef. The tank will be a 60" diameter by 20" tall shallow cylinder. The ceiling is 60" above the water surface. I'm wanting to get close to 400+ par

So if I read it correctly light is 60" above surface (water line) and the display is another 60" tall? So 120" total? Here is a tank similar to what you are considering. First couple of minutes should give you information on their lighting.

BTW Kessil a500 allows the use of a narrow lens and it is included with this model.

Edit: the video needs some context. Owner is of the opinion that keeping a reef requires a lot of fish poo. Part of his story is that he takes on fish that others would kill due to deformities. He keeps them in and provides them with care, food, and in turn they live respectfully decent lives while doing what he needs - pooping.

 

[ti_lavender]

I believe you could get 60 degree reflectors on a reefi uno pro 2. Contact Daniel the owner of Reefi and he can confirm if that’ll work.

 

[Seancj]

So if I read it correctly light is 60" above surface (water line) and the display is another 60" tall? So 120" total? Here is a tank similar to what you are considering. First couple of minutes should give you information on their lighting.

BTW Kessil a500 allows the use of a narrow lens and it is included with this model.

Edit: the video needs some context. Owner is of the opinion that keeping a reef requires a lot of fish poo. Part of his story is that he takes on fish that others would kill due to deformities. He keeps them in and provides them with care, food, and in turn they live respectfully decent lives while doing what he needs - pooping.

No, the tank is 20" tall. 60" in diameter.

 

[areefer01]

No, the tank is 20" tall. 60" in diameter.

Ah, got it. I missed a few details. Sorry about that.

 

[oreo54]

No, the tank is 20" tall. 60" in diameter.

Did you contact Orphek?
They have these beasts..

Amazonas 500 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 500 LED light solution is developed specifically for public aquariums and venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

Introducing the Orphek Amazonas 500w LED

Orphek Amazonas Designed as a direct replacement for metal halide systems 1,000 watts and over, the Orphek Amazonas is the perfect LED solution for very deep coral reef aquariums or large freshwater displays. The Amazonas has a 360° three...

www.reef2reef.com

Dimensions​

Diameter: 17.5″ (445mm)
Height: 10.8″ (275mm)
Weight
Light Unit Weight: 33 lbs (15kg)
Power Supply Weight: 11 lbs (5kg)

Yea I don't see any color tuning but believe you could build a good spectrum.

 

[areefer01]

Did you contact Orphek?
They have these beasts..

Amazonas 500 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 500 LED light solution is developed specifically for public aquariums and venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

Introducing the Orphek Amazonas 500w LED

Orphek Amazonas Designed as a direct replacement for metal halide systems 1,000 watts and over, the Orphek Amazonas is the perfect LED solution for very deep coral reef aquariums or large freshwater displays. The Amazonas has a 360° three...

www.reef2reef.com

Yea I don't see any color tuning but believe you could build a good spectrum.

But at the end of the day one always has to ask how much light is really necessary...

 

[oreo54]

Should I just skip this idea and go with lower mounted, more conventional lighting, like Radions, Kessil's, etc..?

​

Really depends on the $$'s you want to spend and overall coverage.
Like I mentioned in the last tread you probably can have a fair area of the targeted par with the 30 degree Orphek.
Just physically won't cover the whole surface area.
43" dia circle at the floor (80"). Soo more of an "island" style tank.
Now to fulfill "the dream" at money is no option, 4 30 degree 960's in a square pattern about 20" on center spread..
You could probably grow corn..

Rough idea, circle is the tank. Squared the diode spread at the surface (60") rest is self explanatory.
cost used to be about 4k for 4. not sure about current prices but believe it is quite a bit more. Shouldn't really pay mor than 3-4$/watt in "my" opinion.

There are smaller "like" units where you give up channel control but those used to be a lot cheaper..
It should keep you around $1-2K

Think about what it would take to light a 60x60 square tank. 12 small lights each covering 18" x 18"
3600 sq in vs
2827 sq in

Anyways I was bored..

Orphek could (or should be able) to add more precision to this.

You could probably tightly pack 4 Kessils with the narrow lenses.

Plus lenses, and one more light.. $2k-ish.Only 360 watts total.

I also would love to see a reasonable solution, just out of curiosity..

Actually you could go with one 960 and 4 "satellite" smaller single "color" narrow lensed lights in a "dice' like pattern.
Cost probably around 3.5K total.

 

[MoshJosh]

Can it be done. . . probably. I image lenses would be a big component/factor. Can it be done with comercially available reef lighting. . . NO IDEA! That said:

Cannon PRO 160w LED Light 460nm Blue

Emitting a deep blue wavelength peaking at 453nm blue, the Cannon PRO 160 46nm Blue is built for live coral systems and deep/wide reef tanks to encourage strong coral growth and color. It’s also ideal in ocean tanks or marine exhibits for pointing the light at tank walls for the “infinite” ocean...

current-usa.com

 

[Seancj]

Really depends on the $$'s you want to spend and overall coverage.
Like I mentioned in the last tread you probably can have a fair area of the targeted par with the 30 degree Orphek.
Just physically won't cover the whole surface area.
43" dia circle at the floor (80"). Soo more of an "island" style tank.
Now to fulfill "the dream" at money is no option, 4 30 degree 960's in a square pattern about 20" on center spread..
You could probably grow corn..

Rough idea, circle is the tank. Squared the diode spread at the surface (60") rest is self explanatory.
cost used to be about 4k for 4. not sure about current prices but believe it is quite a bit more. Shouldn't really pay mor than 3-4$/watt in "my" opinion.

There are smaller "like" units where you give up channel control but those used to be a lot cheaper..
It should keep you around $1-2K

Think about what it would take to light a 60x60 square tank. 12 small lights each covering 18" x 18"
3600 sq in vs
2827 sq in

Anyways I was bored..

Orphek could (or should be able) to add more precision to this.

You could probably tightly pack 4 Kessils with the narrow lenses.

Plus lenses, and one more light.. $2k-ish.Only 360 watts total.

I also would love to see a reasonable solution, just out of curiosity..

Actually you could go with one 960 and 4 "satellite" smaller single "color" narrow lensed lights in a "dice' like pattern.
Cost probably around 3.5K total.

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this detailed reply and the illustration!!!
Orphek provided the below illustration/graph when asked if a single Amazonas 960 could adequately illuminate the tank.
With the 60 degree optix, per the numbers below, its par output at only 36" high, averages only 175 PAR dead center of the tank. I would assume it would be half that at 60".
Orphek recommended I could go with the 30-degree optics to almost double the PAR at the expense of spread. The 30-degree optics cuts spread down to 48" of usable light.

 

[Seancj]

Did you contact Orphek?
They have these beasts..

Amazonas 500 Aquarium LED Lighting • Orphek

Orphek Amazonas 500 LED light solution is developed specifically for public aquariums and venues displaying reef or freshwater aquariums.

orphek.com

Introducing the Orphek Amazonas 500w LED

Orphek Amazonas Designed as a direct replacement for metal halide systems 1,000 watts and over, the Orphek Amazonas is the perfect LED solution for very deep coral reef aquariums or large freshwater displays. The Amazonas has a 360° three...

www.reef2reef.com

Yea I don't see any color tuning but believe you could build a good spectrum.

Thank you for the recommendation! I contacted Orphek about the 500 watt LED and it certainly has the punch in terms of PAR, but unfortunately, this unit does not have spectrum control/wifi control. You can control intensity via separate "dimming drivers where you can dim the lights with an PWM (pulse wave modulation)."
I really want full spectrum and timing programmability via wifi or a nice controller like my Kessils have.

 

[oreo54]

Thank you very much for taking the time to provide this detailed reply and the illustration!!!
Orphek provided the below illustration/graph when asked if a single Amazonas 960 could adequately illuminate the tank.
With the 60 degree optix, per the numbers below, its par output at only 36" high, averages only 175 PAR dead center of the tank. I would assume it would be half that at 60".
Orphek recommended I could go with the 30-degree optics to almost double the PAR at the expense of spread. The 30-degree optics cuts spread down to 48" of usable light.

Yea currently I cannot see any 1 light solution. Now one 30 degree 960 and 4 "satellites" that is about the only possibility.
Did they mention the current cost of the 960?

 

[Seancj]

Can it be done. . . probably. I image lenses would be a big component/factor. Can it be done with comercially available reef lighting. . . NO IDEA! That said:

Cannon PRO 160w LED Light 460nm Blue

Emitting a deep blue wavelength peaking at 453nm blue, the Cannon PRO 160 46nm Blue is built for live coral systems and deep/wide reef tanks to encourage strong coral growth and color. It’s also ideal in ocean tanks or marine exhibits for pointing the light at tank walls for the “infinite” ocean...

current-usa.com

Thank you for the link to the Cannon Pro's! I'm researching them now.

 

[PeterErc]

Just throwing this out there

Daylighting, Skylights and Ventilation Systems | Solatube Skylights

Solatube brings natural light and fresh air into homes and businesses worldwide. Contact us today to learn more about our daylighting and ventilation solutions.

solatube.com

 

[Seancj]

Yea currently I cannot see any 1 light solution. Now one 30 degree 960 and 4 "satellites" that is about the only possibility.
Did they mention the current cost of the 960?

Around $1K shipped for a single 960. I think that's a great price.

 

[oreo54]

Around $1K shipped for a single 960. I think that's a great price.

Soo 4 for $4K .. Done..
Might get away with 3 in a triangle pattern.

 

[Seancj]

Just throwing this out there

Daylighting, Skylights and Ventilation Systems | Solatube Skylights

Solatube brings natural light and fresh air into homes and businesses worldwide. Contact us today to learn more about our daylighting and ventilation solutions.

solatube.com

I would love to do something like this, but there is finished living space above this room.

 

[Seancj]

Soo 4 for $4K .. Done..

I wish I could afford that.