I am just wondering but for those of you with 30+ deep tanks what about these 100w plant lights? http://www.specialty-lights.com/902380.html I think with the right spectrum maybe a 14k bulb these would work. What do yal think? Any feed back helps.
Has any one thought about 1000w Lights like this?
- Thread starter MOFelix25
- Start date
grimmjohn
New member
one day a customer of ours that works for the local sheriff dropped off 4 X 1000W mogul metal halide set ups that were confiscated from another kind of "reefer" lol. Being nerds we ordered a 20K bulb to replace the 6K or whatever and took it to the biggest tank we maintain...a 1000g 40 inch deep show tank. It was nuts, lit up the whole lobby through the glass, crazy stuff, but way too much light and completely unneeded
steve the plumb
In Memoriam
I guess it would be nice if your tank was wide enough and big enough 8ftx8ft or 10ftx10ft to get a nice full coverage,you would then only need one bulb.
robcampman
Premium Member
hang it in a tree, make yourself a margharita, get the old sunchairs out and save yourself expensive trips to the tropics.. it's in your backyard and you can invite your friends
hmmm, i used to run 1x1000w SLS ballast with Ushio 20k bulb, Hamilton 14K and Ushio 10K even with the radium on SLS electronic ballast still not as bright like most of you folks described. I must have done something wrong....
BTW, my tank is 4x4x2 using Lumenmax reflector and LAIII large reflector. You will cover 3x3 area. I have to use the Light mover....
BTW, my tank is 4x4x2 using Lumenmax reflector and LAIII large reflector. You will cover 3x3 area. I have to use the Light mover....
jnarowe
New member
Well I guess I should chime in. I actually have one of those switchable 1000W ballasts and used it on my reef until it died. There's no reason to spend the extra money on the switchable unit though. I am trying to repair it and when I do, I will use it as a burn-in ballast.
Now to get the the topic at hand...I run 3 x 1000W Ushio 20K lamps with Blue Wave V ballasts on my tank, with the two end lamps on movers front to back and the center in a dish. My tank is 35" deep and I run the lamps a litle over 12" from the water surface.
I have to say that I love these lamps. So do my corals.
Also, with regard to the amount of light, I mitigate it somewhat by moving the end lamps and using a sub-standard dish in the center.
To quantify my results:
1. Less electrical usage than a comparable reef with 14 x 400W lamps.
2. Wicked light at the bottom of the tank. My clams and anemones are VERY happy to be on the bottom and my anemones have never moved up the tank sides. In fact, they nestle into the rockwork very nicely.
3. I have a tough time with ricordia and most LPS. I have never been able to keep ricordia alive. I do fine with the usual hammers, frogspawn, fox coral, and open brain. Torches are a no-go.
4. Replacement costs are lower than a similar sized tank since I only have to replace 3 lamps per year.
5. Tank access is easier since I don't have a bunch of lights in the way, and since all of my lights are on tracks (even the dish) they slide out of the way individually.
6. Coral coloration is great. So is growth.
7. No supplemental lighting!
8. I never have to heat my tank...
You can see plenty of pics on my web site.
Now to get the the topic at hand...I run 3 x 1000W Ushio 20K lamps with Blue Wave V ballasts on my tank, with the two end lamps on movers front to back and the center in a dish. My tank is 35" deep and I run the lamps a litle over 12" from the water surface.
I have to say that I love these lamps. So do my corals.
Also, with regard to the amount of light, I mitigate it somewhat by moving the end lamps and using a sub-standard dish in the center.To quantify my results:
1. Less electrical usage than a comparable reef with 14 x 400W lamps.
2. Wicked light at the bottom of the tank. My clams and anemones are VERY happy to be on the bottom and my anemones have never moved up the tank sides. In fact, they nestle into the rockwork very nicely.
3. I have a tough time with ricordia and most LPS. I have never been able to keep ricordia alive. I do fine with the usual hammers, frogspawn, fox coral, and open brain. Torches are a no-go.
4. Replacement costs are lower than a similar sized tank since I only have to replace 3 lamps per year.
5. Tank access is easier since I don't have a bunch of lights in the way, and since all of my lights are on tracks (even the dish) they slide out of the way individually.
6. Coral coloration is great. So is growth.
7. No supplemental lighting!
8. I never have to heat my tank...
You can see plenty of pics on my web site.
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