Lighting 150 DD

[Ron Popeil]

Hi there! Help me choose my lighting arrangement for my 36 x 36" 150 gallon Deep Dimension system:

Here is an example of what I am thinking:


2 x 250w halides in Lumen Max Elite reflectors side by side
with
2 x AI Sol for supplement

or

1 x 250w (or 400w?) halide in Lumen Max Elite reflector
with
3 x AI Sols for supplement

This will be an SPS heavy system. Thanks for your input!

[sneeyatch]

I had the exact setup a few years back. I used a single 250 over it and had the light about 15" over the top. I was using a reeflux at one time and then I think it was a 14k ushio. Although the lighting was great, I would say I'm not sure if you'll be happy with the very sides all around if you use a single lamp. It was dimmer obviously around the perimeter but I used that to my advantage and placed lower light corals there.

If I were to do that system again, I would probably go with either a single 400 or with 2, 36" fixtures either led or t5. I can probably drum up some pics if you want to see.

[sneeyatch]

Also, depending on what ish you want to keep, please make sure this system is right for,you. It's a big tank, but it's actually small. The 36" dimensions made me think the fish were cramped and weren't able to zoom,around the tank if they wanted. Obviously a great tank,for,small fish. I did keep one small tennenti tang in there for about a year and a half. Then I got tired of the limits of the system, sold it and took a break from the hobby.

[Ron Popeil]

I certainly would, thank you!

[sirreal63]

If you change from a spotlight reflector to one that is designed to spread, you can easily use a single MH. The Elite is too much of a spotlight to cover 36"x36".

[sneeyatch]

Here's a few:

The dimmer area is toward the back where it was blacked out. I'm sure that had something to do with the dimming too.











And before it was even filled:



Hope these help.

[smoothdog]

I mounted a single 250w mh in the middle but rotated 45deg. This left enough space in the 3 corners opposite the overflow to mount supplemental LEDs. I built my own, but there is enough room for most pre-built fixtures. Par 38s would work well too.

DSC_2073.JPG by ksw2005, on Flickr

DSC_0039.JPG by ksw2005, on Flickr

DSC_0269.JPG by ksw2005, on Flickr

Originally Posted by sneeyatch

Also, depending on what ish you want to keep, please make sure this system is right for,you. It's a big tank, but it's actually small. The 36" dimensions made me think the fish were cramped and weren't able to zoom,around the tank if they wanted. Obviously a great tank,for,small fish. I did keep one small tennenti tang in there for about a year and a half. Then I got tired of the limits of the system, sold it and took a break from the hobby.

I found this to be just the opposite, my fish cruise all around the tank in all directions instead of just racing back and forth in a skinny tank. You obviously wouldn't be able to comfortably keep sailfins and nasos but those wouldn't work in a 6ft 150 either.

[Ron Popeil]

great idea smoothdog, thank you!

[nickg]

Following to see the final product! I love DD tanks!!

[smoothdog]

Originally Posted by Ron Popeil

great idea smoothdog, thank you!

Hope it helps, I looked at it 20 different ways trying to figure out how to supplement light on the edges when it finally dawned on me to rotate it.

[sneeyatch]

Originally Posted by smoothdog

Hope it helps, I looked at it 20 different ways trying to figure out how to supplement light on the edges when it finally dawned on me to rotate it.

Wish I would have thought of that. It's funny how you can miss the simplest ideas. I may have been happier with my set-up if I did it that way.

[hobbzz]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

If you change from a spotlight reflector to one that is designed to spread, you can easily use a single MH. The Elite is too much of a spotlight to cover 36"x36".

This

[Ron Popeil]

any suggestions on a reflector designed for such a large foot print?

[sirreal63]

I use a Lumenmax large to cover my 40x40 tank but I doubt you will find one, they are getting scarce. Hamilton does make large reflectors still, either the Cabo Sun or the Cozumel Sun would do it. If you can find a used large LumenArc it would also do the job.

[smoothdog]

Originally Posted by sirreal63

I use a Lumenmax large to cover my 40x40 tank but I doubt you will find one, they are getting scarce. Hamilton does make large reflectors still, either the Cabo Sun or the Cozumel Sun would do it. If you can find a used large LumenArc it would also do the job.

I contemplated this, but after reading Sanjay's article below I opted for the Lumenmax Elite and higher par numbers in the middle with supplementation at the edges. Honestly, the tank is only 35" inside, plus if you leave a couple inches from the edge of the glass to allow for cleaning you're really only covering about a 30"x30" area. I actually had to move some blastos off the rock at the edge down to the sand because they were getting burned up.

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

[sirreal63]

Those higher par numbers are in a tiny little area, look at the % distribution and you will see the bulk of the light is in a small area in the center and goes away rapidly as you move from the center. This means part of a colony can be getting very high par and the rest of it is getting much less. The bulk of your par is in a small area, not spread out. This is great if you don't want to evenly light as large of an area as possible, but it isn't ideal for lighting a large area as evenly as possible. It is working for you because you have added in the LED's to fill in the loss of par on the edges.

Now look at the LA and LM Large, higher par number are covering a larger area without that small "hotspot" in the center, the hotspot covers a large area. I use VHO actintics around the edges for supplements but T5's would also work wonderfully as well as BML or ReefBrite supplements. You can either add more par with higher par supplements or not. I use the VHO strictly for me, the tank would be just fine without them, the single 250 Radium would be enough because the reflector is designed to cover the area.

It will depend on the goal, cover the whole tank with the least amount of electricity or add extra par at the edges to recover par lost due to reflector design. Either way will work, one just requires less equipment. Bacon is optional but always a good idea.

[Ron Popeil]

so here is what i went with, but i am growing increasingly less satisfied. while all my corals are growing very well and have great color....i dont feel the tank is fully illuminated like i would prefer. in the near future, i will probably swap out the 250w for a 400w radium. and as finances allow, ill probably replace the three AI sols for their Hydra 52s, or maybe their Hydra 26.

...and clean up my wires.