Lumen Bright Minis and 125 Tank

[mattiej]

I have a standard 125 (72 x 18 x 24) that I am looking at setting up as a SPS reef. I also have three lumen bright mini pendants to use as lighting. The problem is that the tank has the brace in the middle of the frame and I am not sure I want to modify that. Could two LB minis cover most of the center four feet of the tank? I was thinking about centering each LB over the two openings on the tank. I realize these pendants are made to concentrate light into deeper tanks but any idea about their general spread? I could deal with the outer edges of the tank be dimmer but do not want a dim spot in the center of the tank.

[karsseboom]

No I don't think 2 lumenbright mini would cover an tank that size.

[sbeason]

I agree w Karsse....I have three of them on my 210(72" long) and they cover approx 2 feet per pendant.

Thanks, Steve

[bretcummings]

+1 on 3 for a 72"long tank. I have 3 Lumenmax and coverage is perfect.

[mattiej]

I could go with the three but am not sure how to handle the brace in the center of the tank. I could off-set the center pendant

[tinkerman]

If you doing a mixed reef I think it might work if you put the 2 closer together. If you are doing a sps dominated I would agree with the others. I have not checked the spread with the par meter yet, but one will light about half the tank, 125. I think there are some things that would come into play like mounting height, aquascape.

[mattiej]

The tank will be mostly sps. I have thought about it and am considering ordering another lumen bright and ballast. This way I could have two lights on each side of the brace and not have dim areas. My only concern would be if 250 watters would be over kill on a tank this shallow. I have considered using two 250w and two 175w. I have the ones over my 265 at about 18 inches but have read that at lower heights the spread is a little more then at the recommended height.

bretcummings, how is your tank designed? Does it have one brace or two (or any at all)? Just wondering how to deal with the center brace blocking the light.

[tinkerman]

Have you decided on bulb or ballast that you want to run yet? I run 3 250 watt radiums on hqi ballast with lumenbright mini's and think with 4 it would be really hard to have anything that likes lower light. I have very few places for chalices and other lps that don't like really high light.

[mattiej]

I have been using Reeflux 12K on CoralVue ballasts and like the growth and color I am getting. I will probably stick with this combination for now. Does anybody know if Reeflux can be run on mag ballasts? I think I read somewhere that they are pulse start and will not operate peroperly on probe starts but I'm not sure if that is right.

[mattiej]

Just to cover all bases but if I decide to replace the center brace, which replacement method would any body recommend? I am looking at either siliconing glass to glass or bolting an acrylic piece to the brace itself.

[tinkerman]

I don't think they are supossed to be run on mag ballasts. The only bulbs I know that are SE bulbs and spec for hqi ballasts are radium, ushio, and phineox. If you mess with the center brace I would make sure you use the proper silicon, momentive rtv 100 series with glass on glass. Is this an old oceanic tank? Thats the only brand I know of that uses glass braces and plastic trim. I don't think I would do the bolting.

[karsseboom]

If your gonna do radiums make sure you buy the right ballast.

[mattiej]

The tank is only a year old and is made by All Glass. The frame and bracing is all black plastic, there is no glass in the frame at all. I have already finished the replacement with acrylic and plastic bolts. I was able to get a hold of 1/2" sheets and a two part epoxy specific to plastics. I could still go the route of glass on glass bracing if needed. Where do I purchase momentive rtv silicone? I should mention that the tank is empty at present.

[tinkerman]

I found momentive at a local place called Fastenal. I think I remember others said it can be found at Grainger. It should run about $10-15 a tude for a silicon gun. Could you order a top frame for a aquonean tank so it would break up into 3 2'x18" sectintions? I tried googling allglass and couldn't find anything are they even a bussness yet?

[mattiej]

I believe the tank is a Perfecto (or whatever they are called now). I purchased it last year from That Fish Place. The frame on the tank does not need replaced as I would have to cut out the center brace anyway. Guess I am use to all the tanks from TFP as being All Glass Aquariums, now I believe all they carry is Perfecto/Aqueons.