Rethinking lighting on my 120x36x30 tank (660 gallon display)

wmilas · 05/19/2010, 11:24 AM

Just looking for some opinions.

I used to have 2 sfigoli 12 bulb 4 foot fixtures over my tank. The T5 fixtures were great in the beginning then became a maintenance nightmare. Plus, I yearned for the shimmer that I was missing.

My tank has 3 holes in its acrylic bracing. I bought 3 lumenbright large reflectors and threw in 3 400 watt e-ballasts with 3XM 15k bulbs. The color is perfect but I'm getting light valleys even with the reflectors raised up. If I raise them up more I'm spilling too much light front to back.

I LOVE the simplicity of the MH's and I want to keep this look. I could supplement with a bunch of led's but the KISS philosophy I'm trying to go for with my tank would go out the window.

I was thinking I could do one of two things:

1) Put a 4th MH in. That would put 2 of the MH's directly over my braces. I'd have to make a DIY brace cover out of "junk" acrylic so I don't damage my braces. I'm still worried that I might not have enough light for my tank long term.

2) Change out the 400 watt ballasts and put in 1000W'ers. I'd raise the reflectors to cover the spread. I'd switch bulbs to 20k so that I don't incinerate my corals. I'm worried that I'd have TOO much light in this case.

I'm really on the fence here. any ideas?

tkeracer619 · 05/19/2010, 11:47 AM

IME you should have gone with full size luminarc reflectors. The lumen brights are more focused while the luminarcs are more evenly spread out.

If I could run 1000 watters I would do that in a heart beat.

I would run some t5 strips to try and balance out any of the shadows while keeping the halides off the braces.

wmilas · 05/19/2010, 12:14 PM

I can switch the reflectors, Its no big deal.

The problem I saw with the lumenarcs is they really didn't throw all that much more light at the "edges". Once you lift lumenbrights "up" to match the distance of the throw of the lumenarcs they are nearly the same with the added benefit you get to have the MH's off the water.

Running t5 strips isn't an option. I'm trying to keep the top as uncluttered as possible. Its SO much nicer when feeding the fish, staring top down into the tank, ect.

I used the following when choosing my reflector:
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

tkeracer619 · 05/19/2010, 12:18 PM

How big are the cut outs?

sedor · 05/19/2010, 12:24 PM

IMO the jump up to 1000w would be a bit overkill, but then again when has anyone ever listened to that

I think larger reflectors would probably give you the coverage your looking for. I tend to shy away from CoralVue, but i've had my eye on these reflectors for a while:

http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2253

wmilas · 05/19/2010, 12:24 PM

Fairly large. I'm not at home right now but If I life the lumenbrights high enough up so that I get an even spread of light the light cone doesn't hit the bracing.

I want to say the two middle bracing strips between the 3 holes are each 18" wide.

wmilas · 05/19/2010, 12:26 PM

sedor: those are the reflectors I have

wmilas · 05/19/2010, 01:24 PM

More I think about it, the more I think the jump will be overkill. I'll add another 400 then re-asses if I dont like the look.

05/19/2010, 11:24 AM	#1
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	Rethinking lighting on my 120x36x30 tank (660 gallon display) Just looking for some opinions. I used to have 2 sfigoli 12 bulb 4 foot fixtures over my tank. The T5 fixtures were great in the beginning then became a maintenance nightmare. Plus, I yearned for the shimmer that I was missing. My tank has 3 holes in its acrylic bracing. I bought 3 lumenbright large reflectors and threw in 3 400 watt e-ballasts with 3XM 15k bulbs. The color is perfect but I'm getting light valleys even with the reflectors raised up. If I raise them up more I'm spilling too much light front to back. I LOVE the simplicity of the MH's and I want to keep this look. I could supplement with a bunch of led's but the KISS philosophy I'm trying to go for with my tank would go out the window. I was thinking I could do one of two things: 1) Put a 4th MH in. That would put 2 of the MH's directly over my braces. I'd have to make a DIY brace cover out of "junk" acrylic so I don't damage my braces. I'm still worried that I might not have enough light for my tank long term. 2) Change out the 400 watt ballasts and put in 1000W'ers. I'd raise the reflectors to cover the spread. I'd switch bulbs to 20k so that I don't incinerate my corals. I'm worried that I'd have TOO much light in this case. I'm really on the fence here. any ideas?

05/19/2010, 11:47 AM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	IME you should have gone with full size luminarc reflectors. The lumen brights are more focused while the luminarcs are more evenly spread out. If I could run 1000 watters I would do that in a heart beat. I would run some t5 strips to try and balance out any of the shadows while keeping the halides off the braces. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/19/2010, 12:18 PM	#4
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	How big are the cut outs? __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

05/19/2010, 12:24 PM	#5
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	IMO the jump up to 1000w would be a bit overkill, but then again when has anyone ever listened to that I think larger reflectors would probably give you the coverage your looking for. I tend to shy away from CoralVue, but i've had my eye on these reflectors for a while: http://www.aquacave.com/detail.aspx?ID=2253 __________________ Ryan

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05/19/2010, 12:14 PM	#3
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	I can switch the reflectors, Its no big deal. The problem I saw with the lumenarcs is they really didn't throw all that much more light at the "edges". Once you lift lumenbrights "up" to match the distance of the throw of the lumenarcs they are nearly the same with the added benefit you get to have the MH's off the water. Running t5 strips isn't an option. I'm trying to keep the top as uncluttered as possible. Its SO much nicer when feeding the fish, staring top down into the tank, ect. I used the following when choosing my reflector: http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2009/1/review

05/19/2010, 12:26 PM	#7
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	sedor: those are the reflectors I have

05/19/2010, 01:24 PM	#8
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	More I think about it, the more I think the jump will be overkill. I'll add another 400 then re-asses if I dont like the look.