New Lumen Bright Reflector. ... any info on them - Page 14

Poppy828 · 11/19/2007, 07:16 AM

Any help would be appreciated.

Although the pictures are great, I don't feel it shows Mike's tank 100%. It's just that nice in person in my opinion. The colors of his corals are simply amazing.

I know first hand from seeing Mike's tank and now having my own LB's, that the color of the tank is more crisp. Once I get my water issues sorted out, I hope to achieve what Mike has with the coloration of corals.

Jim, great pics, I just looked at them again....I am jealous...

bubbletip2 · 11/19/2007, 10:17 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by drudude
does anyone have pics of reflux 12k without the blue background. (mikes tank). black background would be ideal. i am trying to compair it with the iswasaki 14k 175w.

Does the 250w reeflux 12k bulb make the coral floresant? (sp)

Here is a shot with a black background - it is under 400w however.

einsteins · 11/19/2007, 11:21 AM

Hi all

I have been following along for this whole thread.
Great job to everyone who contributed.

I wanted to show how I mounted my LB's thinking it might help the others who were asking about mounting. Rather than wood I opted to use an aluminum "U" channel and then used adjustable hight hangers to suspend the whole thing. These pics were before I read here about the optimal 16" hight. I think they are about 12" off the water in the pictures.

Hope this might help someone in the future....

einsteins

drudude · 11/19/2007, 02:09 PM

thanks Jim, that tank looks amazing.

Does the bulb really help with the color of the coral that much?

drudude · 11/19/2007, 02:16 PM

thanks Jim, that tank looks amazing.

Does the bulb really help with the color of the coral that much?

bubbletip2 · 11/19/2007, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by drudude
thanks Jim, that tank looks amazing.

Does the bulb really help with the color of the coral that much?

Thanks drudude!

Coral color is possibly dependent on several different things. Proper feeding is certainly a big factor in coral color along with lighting.

I use a 250w 12K Reeflux over my cube and have to say that my coral has been changing color since I started using this bulb. For example, I have an Acropora Nobilis that was a greyish brown color. Within a week I had ice blue tips and now half of the coral is ice blue up the stalks and coralites and it has doubled in size since I got it a couple months ago. I also had a green staghorn that is now turqouise with green polyps. I beleive these bulbs have really helped my tanks, especially with color.

bubbletip2 · 11/19/2007, 07:54 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by einsteins
[B]Hi all

I have been following along for this whole thread.
Great job to everyone who contributed.

I wanted to show how I mounted my LB's thinking it might help the others who were asking about mounting. Rather than wood I opted to use an aluminum "U" channel and then used adjustable hight hangers to suspend the whole thing. These pics were before I read here about the optimal 16" hight. I think they are about 12" off the water in the pictures.

Hope this might help someone in the future....

Thanks for posting your set up einsteins.

I am sure it will help some of those asking questions on how to mount their LumenBrights

bubbletip2 · 11/19/2007, 08:16 PM

In the spirit of bringing a thread back to its theme, I thought I would expand on some thoughts I expressed in the beginning of this thread in relation to the spread of a LumenArc being useful only a foot away from the bulb. The graphs that Sanjay provided sync up with the photo I am about to show. Just to refresh everyone's memory of the graph I listed:

At the surface of the water 18" away from a 400w XM DE 10K bulb showed very little light. My argument is that our coral does not sit on the surface of the water but obviously below it. If you have a 24" deep tank, there will be little light on the bottom 12"-18" away from the bulb. This something that seems to be a non-issue when using the LumenBrights as shown in the PAR tests on several tanks so far.

This photo was taken at a local LFS that has 22" Diamond Light reflectors(much bigger than mini or large Lumenarcs - original design). This particular reflector housed a 400w XM 20K bulb and the bulb was 18" off the water. If you figure it this way the measurements were taken 1" above the surface and 8" below the water. If this bulb had to penetrate 16"-24" of water, I am sure it would not be optimal for an SPS dominant tank.

You will notice that 12" away from the bulb, there is a significant loss of light and 18" away shows absolutely no usable light. This is the point I tried to make to Hahn. The Lumenarcs or Diamond Lights really only provide diffused aesthetic light if spread is important to you. It is very noticeable that the spread from the LumenBrights is more than adequate for most applications. Also, it is important to note that raising the LumenBrights only helps spread and allows for intense lighting where raising a Lumenarc to 16" will not be optimal for SPS Dominat tanks. Lumenarcs must be closer to the surface of the water to provide the intensity that is necessary. Again, this will prove to evaporate more water, heat up you tank quicker, put more UV onto your coral,, leave less room in the canopy for maintenance as well as air circulation. Beign able to raise LumenBrights and still get more than adequate PAR ratings is the real beauty about these reflectors.

Here you go:

I am planning on doing some side by side testing with a Diamond Light and LumenBright to show further the 16% increase that has been claimed by the manufacturer. It will be in the near future. Not sure exactly when I will be able to get everything set up.

cweder · 11/19/2007, 09:05 PM

I know this thread is about the LB's but do any of you Reeflux users know how the bulb would work on a Galaxy ballast. I need 15 feet from reflector to ballast and it does not sound like the Coralvue ballast was designed for this distance.

I am sold on the LB's, they rock.

craftytony · 11/19/2007, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hahnmeister
Your composite illustrates what I was talking about before. The lumenbright creates such a hot spot in the center, with peaks in the 600+ range, and then drops off to 110 rapidly.

Very few corals like light levels higher than 300, and even the most light loving SPS need/want 450 microMol/m2/s. Perhaps the only exception being some yellow porities corals which can get up to 700, and of course crocea clams... but thats it.

Id rather give my whole tank a spread of 300-400 at the top so I dont overexpose and bleach anything.

All those corals in the 600+ range in your tank are going to suffer.

Hahn, have your thoughts changed at all regarding the lumenbrights?

glxtrix · 11/20/2007, 01:18 PM

drudude - for what its worth, sanjays testing shows that the iwasakis 175's work better with the ARO ballasts, and a lil bit better with the EVC's....I think those were 250W ballasts tho running the 175W bulb. My conclusion on that tho because I couldnt find a 175W EVC ballast. In any matter, I run the 175W Iwasakis powered by the ARO ballasts and LB reflectos and I LOVE it! Will be getting new bulbs after thanksgiving and shouild be able to get a PAR meter around then too...man I cant wait to see how these things perform with my bulbs.

drudude · 11/20/2007, 01:54 PM

Glxtrix,
I am super interested in what your par is looking like. I just had an epifany why talking to Mike, in that im not sure how many sps i actully have access too so i might not need 250w bulbs. the 175w might be the choice. i got to do some research.

DaveIrks · 11/20/2007, 02:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bubbletip2

This photo was taken at a local LFS that has 22" Diamond Light reflectors(much bigger than mini or large Lumenarcs - original design). This particular reflector housed a 400w XM 20K bulb and the bulb was 18" off the water. If you figure it this way the measurements were taken 1" above the surface and 8" below the water. If this bulb had to penetrate 16"-24" of water, I am sure it would not be optimal for an SPS dominant tank.

Bubbletip, I spoke to the patent owner of the lumenarc, Tom, and they have never made a 22" version. He thinks you have the lumenmax or some variation of it. Do you have a picture of this reflector?

bubbletip2 · 11/20/2007, 04:54 PM

He would be correct and my mistake. The picture listing a 22" Diamond Light is incorrect. That is actually a LumenArc III recently purchased that measures 19.5"x19.5" as I just called the LFS and confirmed with the store owner. Sorry about that guys

Just Jim · 11/20/2007, 08:00 PM

anyone have one of those fancy par displays for the 250w bulb? I have a 24" tank that I just installed this over and they're really, really bright. It hurts my eyes (not joking) just looking at my tank up close for a while. I wonder how high the par ratings are on the bottom sand....

JRaquatics · 11/26/2007, 09:17 PM

Here is a new shot of the reflectors mounted 15 inches bulb to the water and 12 inches from reflector to the water.

drudude · 11/26/2007, 09:23 PM

jr your light looks really blue

JRaquatics · 11/26/2007, 09:24 PM

It's the camera I didn't adjust the white balance. Getting lazy I guess.

JRaquatics · 11/26/2007, 09:36 PM

Here is a better side view.

drudude · 11/26/2007, 09:38 PM

jr that light looks amazing and cool rock work

JRaquatics · 11/26/2007, 09:45 PM

Thanks. I thought I would go for a open rockwork look this time. This lighting combo is by far my favorite one yet. I can't get over the intensity of the light and the way it wraps around ever crevis and nook. My corals are going to look great under these lights for sure.

JACOXVIII · 11/26/2007, 10:50 PM

JRaquatics so you are useing the BL 14k?

JRaquatics · 11/27/2007, 09:04 AM

I am using Reeflux 12k on the 180 and BL 14k on my 90gal. I still like the Reeflux bulbs better than all my previous bulbs.

glxtrix · 11/27/2007, 10:59 AM

lookin good man! My new bulbs get in friday. Hopefully I can get my clubs PAR meter so I can test these 175's.

burton14e7 · 11/27/2007, 10:54 PM

Are these actual pendants? The picture is the same as the reflectors so I can't tell.

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...ath=28_395_396

11/19/2007, 07:54 PM	#332
bubbletip2 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 736	[QUOTE]Originally posted by einsteins [B]Hi all I have been following along for this whole thread. Great job to everyone who contributed. I wanted to show how I mounted my LB's thinking it might help the others who were asking about mounting. Rather than wood I opted to use an aluminum "U" channel and then used adjustable hight hangers to suspend the whole thing. These pics were before I read here about the optimal 16" hight. I think they are about 12" off the water in the pictures. Hope this might help someone in the future.... Thanks for posting your set up einsteins. I am sure it will help some of those asking questions on how to mount their LumenBrights __________________ 3-250W 12K Reeflux-CV Bllsts-3 Mini LB's,2 54w T5's,Advncd. ballast,2 - VTech MP40Ws,Reeflo Dart & Orca 200,Eshopps 37gsump, Ltrmtr + 1 - top off/alk-ca,RK 2 & AC JR,2 TLF Phosban Rctors,4 Orion fans Current Tank Info: 156G Oceanic SPS Dominant Reef System(L60.5 x W24.5 x H25) - 30g Cube plmbed into DT - 1 LG LB Pndt. - 250w EVC 14K(EVC Ballast) - Panworld(790gph feed)

11/19/2007, 08:16 PM	#333
bubbletip2 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 736	In the spirit of bringing a thread back to its theme, I thought I would expand on some thoughts I expressed in the beginning of this thread in relation to the spread of a LumenArc being useful only a foot away from the bulb. The graphs that Sanjay provided sync up with the photo I am about to show. Just to refresh everyone's memory of the graph I listed: At the surface of the water 18" away from a 400w XM DE 10K bulb showed very little light. My argument is that our coral does not sit on the surface of the water but obviously below it. If you have a 24" deep tank, there will be little light on the bottom 12"-18" away from the bulb. This something that seems to be a non-issue when using the LumenBrights as shown in the PAR tests on several tanks so far. This photo was taken at a local LFS that has 22" Diamond Light reflectors(much bigger than mini or large Lumenarcs - original design). This particular reflector housed a 400w XM 20K bulb and the bulb was 18" off the water. If you figure it this way the measurements were taken 1" above the surface and 8" below the water. If this bulb had to penetrate 16"-24" of water, I am sure it would not be optimal for an SPS dominant tank. You will notice that 12" away from the bulb, there is a significant loss of light and 18" away shows absolutely no usable light. This is the point I tried to make to Hahn. The Lumenarcs or Diamond Lights really only provide diffused aesthetic light if spread is important to you. It is very noticeable that the spread from the LumenBrights is more than adequate for most applications. Also, it is important to note that raising the LumenBrights only helps spread and allows for intense lighting where raising a Lumenarc to 16" will not be optimal for SPS Dominat tanks. Lumenarcs must be closer to the surface of the water to provide the intensity that is necessary. Again, this will prove to evaporate more water, heat up you tank quicker, put more UV onto your coral,, leave less room in the canopy for maintenance as well as air circulation. Beign able to raise LumenBrights and still get more than adequate PAR ratings is the real beauty about these reflectors. Here you go: I am planning on doing some side by side testing with a Diamond Light and LumenBright to show further the 16% increase that has been claimed by the manufacturer. It will be in the near future. Not sure exactly when I will be able to get everything set up. __________________ 3-250W 12K Reeflux-CV Bllsts-3 Mini LB's,2 54w T5's,Advncd. ballast,2 - VTech MP40Ws,Reeflo Dart & Orca 200,Eshopps 37gsump, Ltrmtr + 1 - top off/alk-ca,RK 2 & AC JR,2 TLF Phosban Rctors,4 Orion fans Current Tank Info: 156G Oceanic SPS Dominant Reef System(L60.5 x W24.5 x H25) - 30g Cube plmbed into DT - 1 LG LB Pndt. - 250w EVC 14K(EVC Ballast) - Panworld(790gph feed)

11/20/2007, 04:54 PM	#339
bubbletip2 Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 736	He would be correct and my mistake. The picture listing a 22" Diamond Light is incorrect. That is actually a LumenArc III recently purchased that measures 19.5"x19.5" as I just called the LFS and confirmed with the store owner. Sorry about that guys __________________ 3-250W 12K Reeflux-CV Bllsts-3 Mini LB's,2 54w T5's,Advncd. ballast,2 - VTech MP40Ws,Reeflo Dart & Orca 200,Eshopps 37gsump, Ltrmtr + 1 - top off/alk-ca,RK 2 & AC JR,2 TLF Phosban Rctors,4 Orion fans Current Tank Info: 156G Oceanic SPS Dominant Reef System(L60.5 x W24.5 x H25) - 30g Cube plmbed into DT - 1 LG LB Pndt. - 250w EVC 14K(EVC Ballast) - Panworld(790gph feed)

11/20/2007, 08:00 PM	#340
Just Jim Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: berks county PA Posts: 1,660	anyone have one of those fancy par displays for the 250w bulb? I have a 24" tank that I just installed this over and they're really, really bright. It hurts my eyes (not joking) just looking at my tank up close for a while. I wonder how high the par ratings are on the bottom sand.... __________________ Big tanks are only big to people who don't have them. Current Tank Info: 240g Double sided DT, 45g sump, 55g fuge, and now a 150g new reef

11/27/2007, 10:54 PM	#350
burton14e7 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Keller, Tx Posts: 2,009	Are these actual pendants? The picture is the same as the reflectors so I can't tell. http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/cat...ath=28_395_396 __________________ Go Lakers! Current Tank Info: Currently awaiting relapse.

11/19/2007, 07:16 AM	#326
Poppy828 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,026	Any help would be appreciated. Although the pictures are great, I don't feel it shows Mike's tank 100%. It's just that nice in person in my opinion. The colors of his corals are simply amazing. I know first hand from seeing Mike's tank and now having my own LB's, that the color of the tank is more crisp. Once I get my water issues sorted out, I hope to achieve what Mike has with the coloration of corals. Jim, great pics, I just looked at them again....I am jealous...

11/19/2007, 11:21 AM	#328
einsteins Premium Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Davenport, IA Posts: 1,087	Hi all I have been following along for this whole thread. Great job to everyone who contributed. I wanted to show how I mounted my LB's thinking it might help the others who were asking about mounting. Rather than wood I opted to use an aluminum "U" channel and then used adjustable hight hangers to suspend the whole thing. These pics were before I read here about the optimal 16" hight. I think they are about 12" off the water in the pictures. Hope this might help someone in the future.... einsteins

11/19/2007, 02:09 PM	#329
drudude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tropical Island Posts: 114	thanks Jim, that tank looks amazing. Does the bulb really help with the color of the coral that much?

11/19/2007, 02:16 PM	#330
drudude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tropical Island Posts: 114	thanks Jim, that tank looks amazing. Does the bulb really help with the color of the coral that much?

11/19/2007, 09:05 PM	#334
cweder Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 550	I know this thread is about the LB's but do any of you Reeflux users know how the bulb would work on a Galaxy ballast. I need 15 feet from reflector to ballast and it does not sound like the Coralvue ballast was designed for this distance. I am sold on the LB's, they rock.

11/20/2007, 01:18 PM	#336
glxtrix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 882	drudude - for what its worth, sanjays testing shows that the iwasakis 175's work better with the ARO ballasts, and a lil bit better with the EVC's....I think those were 250W ballasts tho running the 175W bulb. My conclusion on that tho because I couldnt find a 175W EVC ballast. In any matter, I run the 175W Iwasakis powered by the ARO ballasts and LB reflectos and I LOVE it! Will be getting new bulbs after thanksgiving and shouild be able to get a PAR meter around then too...man I cant wait to see how these things perform with my bulbs.

11/20/2007, 01:54 PM	#337
drudude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tropical Island Posts: 114	Glxtrix, I am super interested in what your par is looking like. I just had an epifany why talking to Mike, in that im not sure how many sps i actully have access too so i might not need 250w bulbs. the 175w might be the choice. i got to do some research.

11/26/2007, 09:17 PM	#341
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Here is a new shot of the reflectors mounted 15 inches bulb to the water and 12 inches from reflector to the water.

11/26/2007, 09:23 PM	#342
drudude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tropical Island Posts: 114	jr your light looks really blue

11/26/2007, 09:24 PM	#343
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	It's the camera I didn't adjust the white balance. Getting lazy I guess.

11/26/2007, 09:36 PM	#344
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Here is a better side view.

11/26/2007, 09:38 PM	#345
drudude Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Tropical Island Posts: 114	jr that light looks amazing and cool rock work

11/26/2007, 09:45 PM	#346
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	Thanks. I thought I would go for a open rockwork look this time. This lighting combo is by far my favorite one yet. I can't get over the intensity of the light and the way it wraps around ever crevis and nook. My corals are going to look great under these lights for sure.

11/26/2007, 10:50 PM	#347
JACOXVIII Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: KC MO Posts: 248	JRaquatics so you are useing the BL 14k?

11/27/2007, 09:04 AM	#348
JRaquatics Awaiting Email Confirmation Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: On RC Posts: 3,609	I am using Reeflux 12k on the 180 and BL 14k on my 90gal. I still like the Reeflux bulbs better than all my previous bulbs.

11/27/2007, 10:59 AM	#349
glxtrix Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: ATL, GA Posts: 882	lookin good man! My new bulbs get in friday. Hopefully I can get my clubs PAR meter so I can test these 175's.