How do you deal with a crossbar making your light?

Patroklos · 08/20/2012, 07:40 PM

So I am putting together an MH system for my 36"Lx18"Wx12"D and I was going to go with a single 400W single end due to the depth to the sand bed for clams. It's going to be an SPS tank.

Anyway, I noted that I have a black plastic crossbar that will pass directly under my bulb and its 1 1/2" thick. Will this drastically affect the light that will make it into the tank?

Would going with two 250Ws on either side of the cross bar be to much for a 36"? Is that even necessary?

kingfisher62 · 08/20/2012, 08:06 PM

Have you considered T5's or LED's?

Chihuahua6 · 08/21/2012, 05:29 AM

Your tank is only 12" high and you want to use a 400 watt halide? Considering the brace issue and the shadow it would cast I would personally get a 2x 150 watt fixture and suspend it above the tank. 400 watt halides no way. 2x 250 watt halides no way.

headstrong · 08/21/2012, 06:05 AM

I had a 37 gallon with a 250 halide about 6" over the crossbeam and there was minimal shadow directly under the crossbeam. It certainly wasn't enough to want to "split" the lighting around the brace.

passion4reef · 08/21/2012, 12:09 PM

as stated i would also go with a 2x150 halide setup. that way you dont need to worry about the center brace. if all elso fails you can cut out the center brace and replace it with acrylic and use nylon bolts to bolt it to the old cross brace. i think the 2x150 fixture would be a better wat to go. not only are you using less watts but your light will be more evenly distributed.

Patroklos · 08/21/2012, 07:08 PM

Thanks.

I also miss typed, it's 24" deep.

08/20/2012, 07:40 PM	#1
Patroklos Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 272	How do you deal with a crossbar making your light? So I am putting together an MH system for my 36"Lx18"Wx12"D and I was going to go with a single 400W single end due to the depth to the sand bed for clams. It's going to be an SPS tank. Anyway, I noted that I have a black plastic crossbar that will pass directly under my bulb and its 1 1/2" thick. Will this drastically affect the light that will make it into the tank? Would going with two 250Ws on either side of the cross bar be to much for a 36"? Is that even necessary?

08/20/2012, 08:06 PM	#2
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	Have you considered T5's or LED's? __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

08/21/2012, 05:29 AM	#3
Chihuahua6 Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Hempstead, NY Posts: 2,124	Your tank is only 12" high and you want to use a 400 watt halide? Considering the brace issue and the shadow it would cast I would personally get a 2x 150 watt fixture and suspend it above the tank. 400 watt halides no way. 2x 250 watt halides no way. __________________ Leah Amanda Current Tank Info: First salt tank 1985, current tank 150 g acrylic

08/21/2012, 06:05 AM	#4
headstrong Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 32	I had a 37 gallon with a 250 halide about 6" over the crossbeam and there was minimal shadow directly under the crossbeam. It certainly wasn't enough to want to "split" the lighting around the brace.

08/21/2012, 12:09 PM	#5
passion4reef Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Posts: 157	as stated i would also go with a 2x150 halide setup. that way you dont need to worry about the center brace. if all elso fails you can cut out the center brace and replace it with acrylic and use nylon bolts to bolt it to the old cross brace. i think the 2x150 fixture would be a better wat to go. not only are you using less watts but your light will be more evenly distributed.

08/21/2012, 07:08 PM	#6
Patroklos Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 272	Thanks. I also miss typed, it's 24" deep.