150 or 250 DE's for a 72 bowfront?

[MadTownMax]

I'm in the process of upgrading my system after having it established for 1.5 years. I'd like to get some maxima's in there eventually, and will get lights accordingly.

I assume that maxima's will do "OK" under the 150's and "Well" under 250's, but I am concerned primarily about 1) heat, and 2) how much electricity those 250's would suck up.

this would be on a 72 bowfront, with 2" of sand, so about 22" of water column.

To deal with the heat I'm planning on installing two (2) 3" or 4" variable speed fans on either side of the canopy, blowing in (auto top-off of course to deal with crazy amounts of evaporation) --- I really, really, really don't want to get a chiller .

I'll be placing the lights on a bracket on top of the stock hood, so they'll be about 8" off of the water surface.

Any and all comments welcome

 

[Mrbeachbum2]

Wattsx HRS Ran/1000= your bill (thats what it is here in minnesota? cost 1.80 cents per day with the 150 and 3.00 per day with the 250's (thats if you run 12 hrs) i would think that the 150's would be fine or if you could get the 175's.

 

[Medaka]

250

Heat should be no problem whatsoever...

 

[Mrbeachbum2]

Ya 250's i was thinkinh about it too

 

[MadTownMax]

thanks, quelling the worst of my worries (heat) :bum:

anyone else with similar setups?


maybe I should have setup a poll

probably going to run less than 12 hours, maybe 6hrs or 8hrs if I go with 250's




note: these are double ended bulbs, not single ended, so 175's are out of question..... but thanks for the info, I really want the best environment for my denizens:smokin:

 

[James Yeung]

I'm running about 10 hrs on 2x250watt DEs on my 72G tank.

Definately go with 250watts and one less issue to worry about if something goes wrong with Crocea and Maxima clams.

BTW, my Giesemann fixture is about 13" above the water. When I hung it up with no fan, it heated the water 8F (at the time, 72G display and 20G sump) in 10 hours and that was before I built a sliding front door and wall to hide the light.

I added a regular 6" fan blowing at the water and hood... The temp fluctuates less than 0.5F. I currently have a 75G sump and 72G refuge. However, even with just the display tank and 20G sump, the temp don't fluctuate more than 1 degree anyway with the fan!

Note the 2x48" actinics. I also have another pair behind the Giesemann.

Note the fan:

Go here if you want to see current pics and what kind of creatures 250x2 watts in a 72G tank can keep with zero worries about lighting. But beware if you have dial up (probably over 1.5 meg of images to load)! I'm hoping in 2 or so years, the SPS corals will be around 12" and would make my tank look very dense. Now I need to work on more different coloured SPS.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=306212

James

 

[MadTownMax]

WOW, james that's a great setup, beautyful pics, and no worries about dial-up, I'm a cable-modem guy all-the-way

how often do you have to change those bulbs? -- I heard that geissmann DE's last a little longer than others

 

[James Yeung]

Thanks!

I just got this system 3 months ago. The original Giesemann DEs are about 1 1/2 years old and still potentially bright enough to sun burn my arm. From what I've read, it should go kaput any time. Arrgh!!

James

 

[MadTownMax]

ok, so that sounds about average - 18mo. By the way, are those clams attached to your tank's bottom?

 

[James Yeung]

I think about 1/2 of them are attached.

James

 

[DT's_Reef]

James, nice fixture. Is that a 230 Eco? I'm having a 230 plus (2x250+PC) light delivered Tuesday.

Have you thought of using the new 13k Giesemann bulbs? Supposedly they're more white/blue and not yellowish like the BLV 10k.

 

[James Yeung]

Thanks!

You be very happy with your purchase!

I'm pretty sure it's the 230 Eco minus the PC light. They make really nice light fixtures! My only beef is that they run a little hot (well, the whole fixture is hot enough to burn fingers). But, no surprise considering there is no fan! Anyhow, the system is super bright. I had to build a sliding door to cover it up since my eye balls can't stand the stray light. But I show it off when people come over.

The current Giesemann bulb is 10K. It looks like pure white to me. WHen it comes time to replace it, I'll take the 13K into consideration!

James

 

[DT's_Reef]

Yes, definitely try the 13k Giesemann (Megachrome). I read a post from a guy that has used both the 250w 10k BLV and the 13k and he said the 13k is less yellow.

Does your 230 Eco have electronic ballasts?

I should probably put Yellow in quotes, as it's all relative. I had an Aquaspacelight and the 10k AB bulb looked white to me. But if you look at another tank with a bit more blue in it, then I could suddenly see the yellow in the spectrum.

 

[James Yeung]

Good question. I wondered that myself. I don't know if it's electronic or not. LOL!

At any rate, it's possibly electronic. When I turn off the light, I have to wait around 10 mintues to turn it back on again otherwise, it'll just make a buzzing noise.

I have nothing to compare right now. I'm pretty good at distinguishing colour, so I'm sure I'll experience the same thing as you!

I tried to look up the model #, but there is no model # on the fixture.

James

 

[DT's_Reef]

I don't know if the ballasts are housed inside the unit or not, but if they are, and the unit weighs a *lot* (like 40 lbs.) then they're magnetic. If the unit weighs about 15 lbs. and then they're electronic.

If the ballasts are housed outside the unit, and they're large heavy boxes, then they're magnetic. If they're electronic, they'll be small and weigh about a pound or so.

 

[DT's_Reef]

Just a crazy suggestion here, but have you thought about using ozone at low levels to clarify your water? Not that it looks cloudy or anything, but ozone will get rid of the yellow in your water which will make the light whiter.

I added an ozonizer to my system a few months ago and I love it. I use it with an ORP controller which I feel is important to have for safety and consistency.

My tank is acrylic, but I'd like to get a starphire tank. It'd look so nice with perfectly clear water.

Nice tank, James. I think you need more clams -- not!

If I get a new tank, I'm tempted to replace it with a 120 because it's so nice to have the 24" front-to-back. I think the fish really enjoy the extra space too.

 

[James Yeung]

The ballasts for my Giesemann are housed inside the fixture. The entire fixture feels like 40 lbs. If you think it's possible that magnetic ballasts can fit inside my fixture, I probably have magnetic.

If I were to take a guess, the fixture weighs around 15-20 lbs so 20-25lbs goes to the ballasts.

James

 

[DT's_Reef]

The 230 Eco is basically a really, really nice Aquaspacelight. The Aquaspacelight has magnetic ballasts housed within the fixture and it weighs about 40 lbs.

It doesn't really matter whether the ballast is magnetic or electronic, except that I was told electronic ballasts make the bulb run a bit bluer.

Where did you get your light from? I've been waiting for over a month for mine.

 

[James Yeung]

I actually have an OPR controller made or distributed by Poisson Filters & Accessories Inc. and a Sander model 50 ozonizer. The Sander is definately busted and I'm missing the probe for the OPR controller that I salvaged before my parents retired from the fish business. Both units are probably 15+ years old and was used 24/7 with the display tank I have now which was the main reef display tank in the store.

Right now, the water looks crystal clear. LIke you said, it's all relative. For the time being, I'll have to do without ozone.

BTW, I also have a CO2 tank, guages and soleniod. All I need is a Ca reactor (maybe I'll DIY). For the time being, dripping limewater is maintaining levels very well. Looks like I just need to adjust for calcium once a week (thanks to the 10 clams I added!).

BTW, I'm shocked that you have to wait 1 month for your Geisemann! You guys in California have access to all the best things, including getting clams for cheap!

James

 

[James Yeung]

This would explain my lack of knowledge.

I got everything from an old customer friend and unfortunately passed away. His wife basically gave me everything for free. He bought the light from a LFS in Toronto.

He was a very good friend and fish buddy to boot! I used to take him to the wholesaler a few times a year. I still remember the first time I took him to the wholesaler. The look and satisfaction he got was priceless! I gave him some goodies I didn't use (ie PH controller and probably the OPR probe by accident). The wife doesn't know where the goodies I gave him went. Oh well... No big deal.

As you can see, I have solved the PC lighting problem by adding 4x48" actinics.

James