New Lumen Bright Reflector. ... any info on them

[bubbletip2]

great minds think alike

[tinnghe]

hey guys

I really needed your help I got this buzzing noise from my coralvue ballast that sound louder than my skimmer I sent it back to coralvue what do u think is wrong? I tried switching from outlet to other outlet to different house to check but all make buzzing sound what is the best time to contact coralvue been calling them everyday

[summer6]

Originally posted by Macimage
summer6,

Why did Mike say not to get the dimmable ballasts?

Joyce

He said it wasn't necessary since I'd be using the LB at the higher (proper) distance from the water. Mike mentioned that people who use the dimmers usually have MH much closer to the water, so they can cut down on heat when needed.

[summer6]

Originally posted by bubbletip2
Marc is correct in saying that if you are using SE bulbs you really don't need the glass. It is really meant for the double ended bulbs. With these reflectors being mounted so high, I have not had any issues with salt spray. If I had to clean them 1x/ yr I don't think that is a big deal. I have many other things I have to do maintenance wise so again I don't see this as a big deal. For me I feel it is more to maintain the glass on the pendant as being at the bottom of the reflector you would have to clean them more often than the inside of the reflector. To each their own I guess. I have not had any loss of PAR based on the menial salt spray that does occur. With my old LumenArcs at 10"-11" I had to really clean them out after only one month or so of use before selling them. They were covered.

By having a floating canopy people are not going to see the reflector really so I would just stick with regular LB's. If you had them hanging on their own then maybe consider the pendants as they will look nicer. If they are not going to be seen, I think it is kind of expensive to pay $35-$45 extra for each pendant and then to have to pay the shipping on each too. Just my opinion.

As far as dimmable 250's, I am starting to feel in an SPS dominant tank that this maybe unnecessary unless you had a small shallow tank(20" deep or less) and could benefit from less par. Or if you were growing softies or something. If you have a 24" to 30" deep tank, dimming 250's may not provide enough PAR for really high light demanding coral or clams on the bottom of the tank. There is a risk here if you are not sure how much you are adjusting them. I think dimmables are more important for 400's as the increased PAR can be modified to best suit the situation. 400's are really strong. Without a PAR meter you really don't know how much you are dimming or overdriving them so you would be adjusting your lighting blindly and may take out too much light or may be overdriving them to the point of burning them out too fast. In my opinion if you want dimmables you should really have a PAR meter. Dimmable 250's are really a luxury and are probably not necessary for 90% of the tanks out there. I think this is what Mike was trying to convey. He is just not as long winded as me.

Thanks so much for the great info. I feel better good about ordering the regular retro LB's since I'm going to be figuring out how to hide them and the ballasts in the floating canopy with the walk around tank.

[summer6]

JR - thanks to you also for all the well thought-out answers to my questions.
Lisa

[nickts40]

So will I fry my corals that I will move from my 90G to the 220G with the 400s? I almost lost 40 frags/colonies when I switched my Hamilton 14K with Ushio 10K in the Coralife fixtures. The fixture is only 4-5 inches off the water surface but I moved the frags a foot below the surface. After 3 months I had practically bleached every coral before I switched back to the Hamiltons. Its taken 5/6 weeks but the corals are finally colored and growing again.

[tinnghe]

Originally posted by tinnghe
hey guys

I really needed your help I got this buzzing noise from my coralvue ballast that sound louder than my skimmer I sent it back to coralvue what do u think is wrong? I tried switching from outlet to other outlet to different house to check but all make buzzing sound what is the best time to contact coralvue been calling them everyday

someone please help, this rather important

[JRaquatics]

Just cut your photo period down and slowly aclimate them to the new lighting. I would start by applying no more than 6hrs a day and go up from there.

[ganjero]

Whats the "coverage" area for the small ones? 2x2 or 2.5x2.5?

[JRaquatics]

I'd say 2x2

[giants4pc]

Thanks for the heads up on the plastic over the top piece of reflector. I can't believe I overlooked that piece on both reflectors. Fortunately, even after I have fired them up four times for 3 hours a shot, I was still able to peel them off. Lucky...for once.

[Macimage]

Thanks for all the great info everyone!

Joyce

[melev]

Originally posted by tinnghe
someone please help, this rather important

I don't know the answer, I'm sorry. Where did you buy them?

[Flatlander]

Originally posted by JRaquatics
In all reality the dimmable 250 ballast are an unnecessary extra cost on larger tank 100+gal. IMO At first I though it would be useful for many things and would be used. Truth is I have not touched them since I installed them. I can see dimmable ballasts being useful with 400 watters or 250s on smaller tanks because of how extremely powerful they can be in these cases.

I also can't see why everyone wants glass on the SE pendants. To protect the reflectors?... come on guys these are not parabolic reflectors at -8 inches above the water surface. Think about it guys, If you place glass in the reflectors you are cutting down the room inside your canopy and have the glass actually being parallel to and closer to the water surface increasing your chances for salt spray. Meaning you will have to clean the glass more often than not. I have had my reflectors up since November of 07 and have not yet cleaned them, nor do they need to be cleaned at this point. I guess it is as each your own but why add to your tanks maintenance?

I love the dimming capability on mine, although I agree about its necessity. However, I run Lumenarcs, closer to the water, instead of the CV relectors, as mine is run over an open top type set up and the height of the CV,s would spill to much light on me.

I,m impressed with the CV ballast so far though. With my lower height, the dimming will be handy when switching bulbs. Cant say so much with the Reeflux {250w}, 12K, as some of you guys are.

Plus its neat to give the tank the blue look now then. One wonders if its harms the bulbs life?

[Lagger]

Originally posted by JRaquatics
I'd say 2x2

At what height?

better to go with 2 - Large or Mini over a 120?

[dja1980]

I'm setting up a 120 also... definitely 2 x Minis with the bulb height at 16".

[Lagger]

Cool.....16" bulb height puts bottom of the reflector around 12" to waterline?

[JRaquatics]

Originally posted by Lagger
Cool.....16" bulb height puts bottom of the reflector around 12" to waterline?

On the minis, that is correct.

[burton14e7]

Originally posted by JRaquatics
I also can't see why everyone wants glass on the SE pendants. To protect the reflectors?... come on guys these are not parabolic reflectors at -8 inches above the water surface. Think about it guys, If you place glass in the reflectors you are cutting down the room inside your canopy and have the glass actually being parallel to and closer to the water surface increasing your chances for salt spray. Meaning you will have to clean the glass more often than not. I have had my reflectors up since November of 07 and have not yet cleaned them, nor do they need to be cleaned at this point. I guess it is as each your own but why add to your tanks maintenance?

I have my glass at 13" above the water and I have water marks on my glass from drops of water hitting it at about 3 months of usage so far. I was just looking at them the other night trying to figure out how. Maybe some weird combination of the wave box hitting the return flow.

[JRaquatics]

Yea, I understand what your saying but the actual reflector is more perpendicular to the water surface at a much greater height leaving less chances for water to come in contact with the reflector. As the compared to the glass being parallel to the water surface at 13" it has a greater likelihood of coming into contact with surface splash. The only thing I every worry about coming into contact with water is the MH bulbs. But like I stated before everyone setup is different and have different viewpoints when it comes to equipment/tank maintenance.

[melev]

Because I turn off my return pump every night when I feed my tank, so that all the food stays in the reef where my livestock is, the returns sputter and spray all kinds of water during the restart. I'm currently trying to come up with a solution to that to keep the glass clean on my reflectors, because they really catch quite a bit over time.

[JRaquatics]

I have the same problem as you Melev. With the power of my Dart coming out of 2 3/4 outlets I too get a huge splash. Yet, never seems to touch my reflectors. I use to worry about the splash hitting my reflector or even worse my hot MH bulbs, but now I don't even think twice about it.

[AcroporAddict]

I just got my two Mini Pendants/CV 250 Watt ballast/Reeflux 12Ks today. Hardest part will be redoing my hanging system for the Minis. Tell you, Mark at Reef Specialty has the BEST customer sercice, bar none!

Got a Reeflo 200 coming tomorrow! Tired of dealing with my Beckett.
Dave

[tonyf]

Originally posted by AcroporAddict
... Tell you, Mark at Reef Specialty has the BEST customer sercice, bar none!

Dave

I had great service from ReefExotics in procuring my LumenBrights and some e-ballasts

Tone

[Lagger]

Originally posted by AcroporAddict
I just got my two Mini Pendants/CV 250 Watt ballast/Reeflux 12Ks today. Hardest part will be redoing my hanging system for the Minis. Tell you, Mark at Reef Specialty has the BEST customer sercice, bar none!

Got a Reeflo 200 coming tomorrow! Tired of dealing with my Beckett.
Dave

what size tank will these be going on?

Thanks