Halides on a desktop 20 long without spillover - bent reflector?

alizarin · 05/27/2006, 06:58 PM

I'm setting up a 20 long (30" x 12" x 12") on my desk in my home office. I really want the shimmer effect of halides but I'm having trouble working out how to avoid a spotlight in the middle of that long tank without trading that for suspending the light high and squinting from the spillover light all day.

I could do 2x70w halides but that's 100-140$ a year in bulb replacement costs, poor choice in bulb colors, and from pictures I've seen the reflectors for 70's seem really crappy. It's mostly the cost though.

I'd really like to get away with a single 150w/175w mounted maybe 10-12" above the tank but manage to spread the light a bit. BTW I'm also hoping my 15 gallon refugium will ofset heat problems with a lower bulb.

So, my big halide-newbie idea/question is:
Is there a reflector that shapes the light footprint closer to 30"x12" vs. the typical 24"x24"? Could I just take a plain aluminum parabolic reflector, turn it (and the bulb) 90 degrees to the tank, and stretch/flaten the parabola out a bit? And I suppose add some reflection to the ends of the bulbs.

BTW I don't keep SPS but I probably will in the future.

alizarin · 05/28/2006, 11:26 AM

Bump

05/27/2006, 06:58 PM	#1
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	Halides on a desktop 20 long without spillover - bent reflector? I'm setting up a 20 long (30" x 12" x 12") on my desk in my home office. I really want the shimmer effect of halides but I'm having trouble working out how to avoid a spotlight in the middle of that long tank without trading that for suspending the light high and squinting from the spillover light all day. I could do 2x70w halides but that's 100-140$ a year in bulb replacement costs, poor choice in bulb colors, and from pictures I've seen the reflectors for 70's seem really crappy. It's mostly the cost though. I'd really like to get away with a single 150w/175w mounted maybe 10-12" above the tank but manage to spread the light a bit. BTW I'm also hoping my 15 gallon refugium will ofset heat problems with a lower bulb. So, my big halide-newbie idea/question is: Is there a reflector that shapes the light footprint closer to 30"x12" vs. the typical 24"x24"? Could I just take a plain aluminum parabolic reflector, turn it (and the bulb) 90 degrees to the tank, and stretch/flaten the parabola out a bit? And I suppose add some reflection to the ends of the bulbs. BTW I don't keep SPS but I probably will in the future.

05/28/2006, 11:26 AM	#2
alizarin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 869	Bump