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

[melev]

Yes, if you used large ones, kept the bulbs at 18" off the water and spaced them accordingly. You'd basically use one reflector per 30 x 30 area, thus the height is very important.

Do you plan to use any actinic supplementals, like T5s? That would curb any potential dark area. My tank is 72 x 30, and three does the job perfectly without shadows.

FTS:

[sly fox]

i wasnt planning on using any actinic...400w se radiums

[melev]

The PAR will be less intense with Radium/20,000K bulbs. That being said, you should see good growth in the hot spots, and you can orient less light-demanding corals in the other areas.

Here's a few PAR numbers. The middle bulb is 400w and a Radium:

[sly fox]

quite a difference there...... very interesting pic tho

[sly fox]

i was wanting a clean look, and have decided i cant justify to the wife spending a ton on a sfiligoi or giesemann fixture... i would like t5 suppleentation, but just cant think of a way of doing it 'cleanly'... i was planning on suspending the pendants...

[Fuzznutz]

Originally posted by sly fox
i was wanting a clean look, and have decided i cant justify to the wife spending a ton on a sfiligoi or giesemann fixture... i would like t5 suppleentation, but just cant think of a way of doing it 'cleanly'... i was planning on suspending the pendants...

Make a floating canopy.

[sly fox]

hmmmm.... that is a idea, anyone got any pics of one theyve made that looks cool?

[GlassReef]

Been following the thread for a while now. Lot’s of good info. Thought I’d post a couple of pics of the light rack I built for my four LumenBrights with 400W ReefLux 12K bulbs:







If your interested, you’ll find construction details in my build thread (red house).

[sly fox]

wow...thats awesome, will check it out

[JRaquatics]

Originally posted by GlassReef
Been following the thread for a while now. Lot’s of good info. Thought I’d post a couple of pics of the light rack I built for my four LumenBrights with 400W ReefLux 12K bulbs:







If your interested, you’ll find construction details in my build thread (red house).

How much would you say (materials) the light rack cost to build? Time involved? You really did an impressive job on it.

[GlassReef]

Originally posted by JRaquatics
How much would you say (materials) the light rack cost to build? Time involved? You really did an impressive job on it.

The rack, by itself, was approx. $260 - $280. If I add the stainless steel chains and sliding channels on the ceiling - probably $360 for everything.

[JRaquatics]

Originally posted by GlassReef
The rack, by itself, was approx. $260 - $280. If I add the stainless steel chains and sliding channels on the ceiling - probably $360 for everything.

More than I thought. But looks well worth it. Best light rack I have seen yet.

[A sea K]

Originally posted by GlassReef
The rack, by itself, was approx. $260 - $280. If I add the stainless steel chains and sliding channels on the ceiling - probably $360 for everything.

I dropped off a drawing to the local welder for a similar rack for a three reflector set-up yesterday. I figured it was simple enough and never bothered to ask what he thought it would cost. Going buy your material cost I have a bad feeling I'll be in for an unpleasant surprise.

BTW, I ordered 3 retro LB kits from Mike at Reef Specialty and it was a great experience. The kits are here but I have run into some difficulties with the canopy build so it may be a while before they are on the tank. I'll have some before and after pics when the canopy is done and installed on the tank.

[GlassReef]

A sea K - your welder probably won't charge you as much as you might think. When I said "the rack itself", I was quoting an all up cost with stainless steel hardware, rivets, shed80 electrical boxes, 2sqft of 3/8" acrylic, etc. If you're just talking the frame with doubled up long sides - the way I did it - $180 would probably cover it. Less with single sides.

[A sea K]

Good news. I thought your material cost was for the aluminum only. I'll find out soon enough though, he felt he would have it ready this afternoon.
Part of my canopy issues were due to a much higher cost than expected using a cabinet maker to build the front panel and doors to match my existing stand. It was high enough that I can buy the tools and all needed materials for the complete canopy and still come out cheaper.

[GlassReef]

Originally posted by A sea K Part of my canopy issues were due to a much higher cost than expected using a cabinet maker to build the front panel and doors to match my existing stand. It was high enough that I can buy the tools and all needed materials for the complete canopy and still come out cheaper.

Any acceptable reason for buying new tools (read: toys) is always good.

[melev]

Originally posted by GlassReef
A sea K - your welder probably won't charge you as much as you might think. When I said "the rack itself", I was quoting an all up cost with stainless steel hardware, rivets, shed80 electrical boxes, 2sqft of 3/8" acrylic, etc. If you're just talking the frame with doubled up long sides - the way I did it - $180 would probably cover it. Less with single sides.

That rack looks super clean. You mentioned acrylic, so I wanted to ask about that. Is each reflector standing on a square sheet of acrylic? Did you create a small gap between the acrylic and the reflector to let heat exit?

What you did is similar to what I was considering originally, but with tempered Starfire glass. At that time, I felt I'd have to put a 1" spacer between the glass and reflector to avoid overheating the space within the reflector.

I ended up going with the finished-looking Lumenbrights that had their own glass included. They don't get as hot as I expected, and the outer black shell has vents cut out.

I really like how you assembled the rack with the black Tee connections.

[VaderWS6]

Originally posted by melev
The PAR will be less intense with Radium/20,000K bulbs. That being said, you should see good growth in the hot spots, and you can orient less light-demanding corals in the other areas.

Here's a few PAR numbers. The middle bulb is 400w and a Radium:

I can't believe how crappy the PAR on the Radium bulb is! I wonder what the PAR of my 250 watt SE Radium is with my Lumenbright reflector/HQI ballast? Around 20? I feel like sending it back now..

[melev]

It isn't that the bulb is bad. PAR is always less with a 20,000K bulb, which the Radiums are (generally speaking). That is why I use a 400w bulb.

If you had a PAR meter, you could find out definitively. More importantly though: How does your tank look? How is your livestock doing? If good on both counts, I wouldn't get too caught up in the situation. Remember you have an excellent reflector to boost the PAR of that bulb.

[GlassReef]

Originally posted by melev
You mentioned acrylic, so I wanted to ask about that. Is each reflector standing on a square sheet of acrylic? Did you create a small gap between the acrylic and the reflector to let heat exit?

The aluminum tubing I used has a 3/4" flange along the side. The reflectors are sitting on that flange. I originally had a 1/8" thick 3/4" wide strip of HDPE on the flange - I thought it might possibly keep the tube from getting too hot. Turns out the amount of heat involved was less than I anticipated. I think that aluminum is just such a good heat transmitter that the heat can't build up. In any case, I took the HDPE back off. I've test run the lights 8 hours at a time, and the frame only gets warm - never hot - to the touch.

The acrylic I mention is pieces of black 3/8" sheet that I riveted to the frame. I then placed T5 mounting hardware, and SS suspension hardware, etc. on them.

[sly fox]

my ceiling above the tank is cathedral...about 30' or so tall, i just dont think i could hang something that heavy in any way as id have to use a wall mounting

[sly fox]

how heavy are those al. tubes... ? i guess mine would be a lot smaller and lighter

[GlassReef]

The light rack weighs approx. 40lbs. - the tubes alone, less than 10lbs.

[sly fox]

actually thats much less than i anticipated

[klviper]

I am not happy with my current T5 setup on my 375 and am planning on switching to halide. I have a line on two new dual PFO hqi ballasts and I was thinking of going with (4) Reeflux 12k bulbs and LumenBright reflectors. The tank is 96 x 30 x 30. The question is since PFO will no longer be selling halide is this a bad idea. Warranty issues? Also opinions on this setup is appreciated. I want to do this next setup right so I don't have to explain to the wife exactly what is wrong with the lights I already have.