Placing MH lights partially over glass cross bracing

ReefEnabler · 03/11/2009, 12:45 PM

Hello

I am currently running three MH lights on a 72" tank using Lumenmax Elite reflectors. My tank has two cross braces about 8" wide which are in between the halides. Made of 1/2" glass.

I love the Elites because they are very low profile (take up way less room then lumenarcs), and they focus alot of light into the tank; however, they don't spread the light as wide as I had hoped they would!

The spread does converge at the bottom of my sandbed (~24" down), but what I am left with is "dim spots" between the MH lights where the beams haven't quite converged.

I dont want to switch to lumenarcs because they are taller and would limit my access.

I can think of two options:

1) Add a fourth halide. Downside here would be that the reflectors would be partially over the cross bracing, about 6-8" above it. The bulbs themselves wouldn't be directly over it.

Would that be an issue or could I pull it off? I am not really worried about shadow artifacts since the hammered aluminum seems to diffuse that effect. I'm more worried about the silicon holding the bracing together since the braces are double layered on the edges.

2) Add some LED supplements in between the MH reflectors, like this:

This 12w bulb puts out enough PAR to increase my dim spots to the intensity of being directly under a halide.

The downside here is simply the messyness of adding so many different kinds of lighting, colors not quite matching.

What do you guys think? 4 halides of more supplements?

reefscape15 · 03/13/2009, 06:32 PM

I'd go with the supliments. I feel that a varied supply of different types of lighting is best for corals, and more natural appearing

03/11/2009, 12:45 PM	#1
ReefEnabler Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 3,760	Placing MH lights partially over glass cross bracing Hello I am currently running three MH lights on a 72" tank using Lumenmax Elite reflectors. My tank has two cross braces about 8" wide which are in between the halides. Made of 1/2" glass. I love the Elites because they are very low profile (take up way less room then lumenarcs), and they focus alot of light into the tank; however, they don't spread the light as wide as I had hoped they would! The spread does converge at the bottom of my sandbed (~24" down), but what I am left with is "dim spots" between the MH lights where the beams haven't quite converged. I dont want to switch to lumenarcs because they are taller and would limit my access. I can think of two options: 1) Add a fourth halide. Downside here would be that the reflectors would be partially over the cross bracing, about 6-8" above it. The bulbs themselves wouldn't be directly over it. Would that be an issue or could I pull it off? I am not really worried about shadow artifacts since the hammered aluminum seems to diffuse that effect. I'm more worried about the silicon holding the bracing together since the braces are double layered on the edges. 2) Add some LED supplements in between the MH reflectors, like this: This 12w bulb puts out enough PAR to increase my dim spots to the intensity of being directly under a halide. The downside here is simply the messyness of adding so many different kinds of lighting, colors not quite matching. What do you guys think? 4 halides of more supplements? __________________ - Ryan B "that is enough skimmate to ruin lives." - GSMguy Current Tank Info: 220g Display, 70g sump, 35g frag, 50g fuge, 2x250w MH, 1x400w MH, 2x80w T5, 2x140w VHO Actinic

03/13/2009, 06:32 PM	#2
reefscape15 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Elmira Heights, NY Posts: 2,812	I'd go with the supliments. I feel that a varied supply of different types of lighting is best for corals, and more natural appearing __________________ A new beginning........... JIM Current Tank Info: 5g standard softie/zoa tank, just starting a 20H