Most Coverage Halide Reflector

[ryshark]

What is the best Metal Halide reflector as far as coverage at about 10" - 12" high, retrofit in a canopy? I am looking for the best coverage because I want to try to use only 2 halides over a 6' tank.

[GSMguy]

Lumenarc

[ryshark]

Which Lumenarc?

[Canarygirl]

most canopies are only tall enough for the mini. You'd need an open top or really tall canopy to accommodate the full size LA

[ryshark]

My canopy is 12" So I will have to go with the mini. So is the Lumenarc better in my situation than the others like Lumen Bright or Lumen Max?

[stumpyid]

I have a 12" canopy on a 30 x 72 x 28 H tank and used 3 Lumenmas 2 with 400w Radiums on Galaxy ballast. Has full coverage.

[Canarygirl]

from what I've read the LA's have a wider distribution of light than the lumen brights

[obiwanthegoby]

Check out this forum for info on the Lumen Brights. The thing about the lumen brights is that you can move them up off the water enough to eliminate heat issues when using larger watt bulbs, and still get a huge amount of PAR in the tank.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh...=Lumen+Brights

[DarG]

Originally posted by ryshark
My canopy is 12" So I will have to go with the mini. So is the Lumenarc better in my situation than the others like Lumen Bright or Lumen Max?

The Lumenarc mini is over 12" wide, actually 14.5" I believe. They sell a version that is basically just the internal reflector itself but I am not sure how wide that is. I think it is still over 12" but it may not be.

Lumenmax 2 or 3 is 11.5" wide. If you only have 12" of width it will be the best reflector that will fit inside your canopy and they are great reflectors. They are really made for 2 foot square coverage as are the Lumenarc minis. But there are reefers who use them and the Lumearcs minis for 3 foot coverage. At at mounting height of 12" high, you should get decent coverage at the extremes of the 3 foot area you are looking to cover. You can always go with two and if you need the third, add it later but you may be fine.

[kdblove_99]

For that canopy i personally would get teh Lumenmax Elite over the Minis. The elites are very lightweight low profile and distribute the heat alot better than the lumenarcs

[DarG]

Originally posted by kdblove_99
For that canopy i personally would get teh Lumenmax Elite over the Minis. The elites are very lightweight low profile and distribute the heat alot better than the lumenarcs

They are too wide if he only has 12" of width. The Elites are 14.5" wide.

[kdblove_99]

Oh i read it wrong. Read it as the canopy is 12" off water, still early, Red Bull is still kicking in

[Canarygirl]

on the subject of heat distribution....is it a good idea or a bad idea to put the glass shield on a luminarc mini when it's running a 400 watt bulb? This will be inside a canopy.....

[ryshark]

Originally posted by kdblove_99
Oh i read it wrong. Read it as the canopy is 12" off water, still early, Red Bull is still kicking in

Sorry for the miscommunication. I did actually mean it is 12" off the water surface. My canopy should be done and ready for pick up soon, but I'm assuming with the way my canopy opens I think I have about 24" of width to work with.

[DarG]

Originally posted by ryshark
Sorry for the miscommunication. I did actually mean it is 12" off the water surface. My canopy should be done and ready for pick up soon, but I'm assuming with the way my canopy opens I think I have about 24" of width to work with.

If you have 24" of width, you can fit full size lumenarc reflectors which will definitley cover 3 feet each. You wont have much room for supplemental flourescents if you wanted to add those as well.

The Lumenmax elite is a good choice if you want to add flourescent suplements. It is 14.5" wide and at 12" mounting height, two should provide pretty good coverage for your 6 foot tank. I use the Lumenmax 2 and 3 over an in wall tank. Right now, my pendants are about 12" high over the tank and they throw a lot of light past the tank. Its only a 90 gallon at 18" wide. My point is that at 12" high the coverage of the Lumenmax 2 and 3 would be better than 2 feet eventhough they really are meant for 2 foot coverage. The Lumenmax elite is a little bit larger and is supposed to provide a bit wider coverage than the Lumenmax 2 and 3 so it should be a good choice for your application if you are wanting to spare some room to add supplemental flourescents. If you are running halide only, the larger, full size lumenarc or full size lumenmax will provide the widest coverage.

You can also go with the mini lumenarcs if adding supplemental flourescents. The Lumenbrites have many fans but I think they are meant for mounting higher than 12".

[ryshark]

I am planning on putting 2-VHO bulb in the canopy. One in the front and one in the back with the halides in the middle. So I will look into the Lumenmax Elite and the Lumenarc mini. Thanks.