Importance of Proper Installation- Very important! Improperly installed optic can result in overheating of the LED which causes reduced lifespan and premature failure.
Optic Selection- Please note the below recommendations are subjective, and is the distance from the LEDs to the surface of your sandbed.
-For tanks up to 30 inches deep with enclosed hoods, no optics are necessary - only optional.
-For tanks less than 30 inches deep, 90° will be ideal
-For tanks deeper than 30 inches, 60° will be ideal
-For tanks deeper than 34 inches, 45° will be ideal
-For tanks deeper than 38 inches, 30° will be ideal
-For tanks with enclosed hoods, optics are not required, because LED light is very reflective, meaning it will reflect on the inside of your tank glass down to the sandbed, with a negligible amount actually escaping outside of the aquarium. Remember that the Law of Reflection states that the angle of reflection equals the angle of refraction.
-For tanks with no hoods, where the LEDs will be mounted more than 12" above the water, consider using at least 60° optics and for distances greater than 20" inches above the water, use 30°