Lighting my tank... What would you do???

[grouper therapy]

sailfish;334304 wrote: Don't need those VHOs with the helios bulbs.

3, 400s is not over kill if you run 20k bulbs well at least not for an sps tank.

Joe

True in one sense,not for color for sure but the fish are freaking out with the par of those helios on them at once
I'm very pleased with these bulbs . Best upgrade ever to my system!!

 

[grouper therapy]

I am contemplating removal of all the vho's!

 

[rockdog]

I like that option, just use a 400 in the middle and 250s on the outside. than load up the t-5s..

Jason

 

[harleyguy]

OK so that's settled... I will go with 3 MH's down the middle... I think I'll go 400's mainly because I am going to run 20K bulbs... As for the reflectors... I have it narrowed down to Lumenbright and Lumenarc III... If I go Lumenbright it will be the large ones... if I go Lumenarc III should I go Large or Mini...

Thanks,

Shane

 

[acroholic]

Harleyguy;334451 wrote: OK so that's settled... I will go with 3 MH's down the middle... I think I'll go 400's mainly because I am going to run 20K bulbs... As for the reflectors... I have it narrowed down to Lumenbright and Lumenarc III... If I go Lumenbright it will be the large ones... if I go Lumenarc III should I go Large or Mini...

Thanks,

Shane

Shane,
The LB larges are 20" wide, so you'll need a clear 60" in your canopy to use them. I agree that you should use them over the LB minis if they will fit. Wider dispersion for any lower light front or rear areas. Only reason for using the LB minis would be if you might change to four reflectors in the future, as 4 LB Minis would fit your footprint (front to back) and 4 LB larges would not.

I hope you get what you want the first time. I had three different light systems on my reef before I found what I wanted!

Also, I can't remember if you told me you were going to use a canopy or not, but if you go with LB reflectors, they come as finished pendants or just the reflectors. You only need the reflectors if you have a canopy. They cost less than the pendants as well.
Dave

 

[harleyguy]

Acroholic;334488 wrote: Shane,
The LB larges are 20" wide, so you'll need a clear 60" in your canopy to use them. I agree that you should use them over the LB minis if they will fit. Wider dispersion for any lower light front or rear areas. Only reason for using the LB minis would be if you might change to four reflectors in the future, as 4 LB Minis would fit your footprint (front to back) and 4 LB larges would not.

I hope you get what you want the first time. I had three different light systems on my reef before I found what I wanted!

Also, I can't remember if you told me you were going to use a canopy or not, but if you go with LB reflectors, they come as finished pendants or just the reflectors. You only need the reflectors if you have a canopy. They cost less than the pendants as well.
Dave

According to

 

[smoothie]

3x250mh & t-5's like mad

 

[harleyguy]

Smoothie;334509 wrote: 3x250mh & t-5's like mad

I think this is a good idea... the way I look at it, I can get the 250's and if I feel they don't have the par I need I can move the ballasts bulbs to my frag tank and just get 400's (the reflectors will be the same... that is unless I go with 250DE bulbs...).

 

[smoothie]

26in deep 250's will be just fine, and with the t-5's you will be able to accomplish whatever color you want and fill dead spots. Maybe even go 10k on the mh

 

[acroholic]

Harleyguy;334504 wrote: According to https://www.dtpetsupplies.com/catalog/product_info.php?language=en&currency=USD&products_id=7196">this</a> site they are 18.5 inches wide. [/QUOTE]

This site (got mine here) has the LB large measurements at 20" wide, if it makes any difference.

[IMG]http://www.reefspecialty.com/Lighting-Reflectors-%7C-Pendants/c14_28/p57/CoralVue-Lumen-Bright-Reflectors/product_info.html">http://www.reefspecialty.com/Lighting-Reflectors-%7C-Pendants/c14_28/p57/CoralVue-Lumen-Bright-Reflectors/product_info.html</a>

 

[harleyguy]

I guess when all else fails go to the manufactuor... You are correct, the Large reflectors are 20" wide... I guess the other site has a broken tape messure...

 

[acroholic]

Well....better to find out now than after you order and they possibly don't fit in the canopy!:yes:

 

[harleyguy]

OK so I have decided what I'm going with... I have decided that I will start with 2 x 400W 20K MH's in LumenarcIII (large) reflectors, and I will also have 4 x 60" T5's.

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My thought here is... If I need more light I can just add another 400W mh... and if I need more Dust/dawn I can add more T5.

It seems to me that it would be easier to add stuff then to try and sell stuff later.


Thoughts???

 

[smoothie]

Gonna be cool!

 

[jaustin]

4x400w MH and 2xVHO super actinics

 

[grouper therapy]

Good forsight good call

 

[darren24]

My tank is 60 x 24 x 25 and I have 2 250W Radiums / Coralvue Dimmable Ballasts with 2 large Lumenbrite pendants. They light it up well....

 

[harleyguy]

Well I ordered my stuff from Tim tonight.... here is what I got.
2 Reef Optix IV reflectors

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2 Galaxy 400w ballasts

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2 400w Radium bulbs
http://www.aqualightsonline.com/catalog/8341_1_120_1.JPG" alt="" />[IMG]http://www.aqualightsonline.com/catalog/8341_1_120_1.JPG" alt="" />

4 60" T5 reflectors
[IMG]http://rc.marinedepot.com/IMD/250/SL2711/SL2711_99.jpg alt="" />

6 Giesemann actinic +
http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/files/products/D-D-Giesemann-T5-Bulbs-Verp.gif" alt="" />[IMG]http://www.theaquariumsolution.com/files/products/D-D-Giesemann-T5-Bulbs-Verp.gif"></a>


I'm excited... :D

 

[acroholic]

I have one reef optix 4 on my chalice tank.

 

[harleyguy]

Acroholic;336130 wrote: I have one reef optix 4 on my chalice tank.

<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">How do you like it? Does it give you a good spread with good par? </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana"> </span></span>
<span style="color: black"><span style="font-family: Verdana">I also opted for the Glass and I'll likely go with the cooling system later on if the tank starts running a little hot....</span></span>