lovethereefer
New member
Do any of you know of light movers that move vertically rather than horizontally? Or have any ideas on how i could make them?
Light movers
- Thread starter lovethereefer
- Start date
perpetual98
New member
What are you trying to accomplish?
lovethereefer
New member
in the morning to start the halides out as high as possible and then to control them and bring them down as high noon comes and then raise them back up, thought it would be pretty cool just wondering if it can be done
perpetual98
New member
I don't think any commercial mover is going to accomplish what you're trying to do. The one that I use moves back and forth constantly.
You could come up with something that uses a threaded rod or maybe some pulleys to raise and lower your lighting. What you'll need to do is find a motor that is powerful enough, and moves slow enough to accomplish your goal. A stepper motor would work, but I think it would probably be more work than necessary.
You could come up with something that uses a threaded rod or maybe some pulleys to raise and lower your lighting. What you'll need to do is find a motor that is powerful enough, and moves slow enough to accomplish your goal. A stepper motor would work, but I think it would probably be more work than necessary.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
Pulleys and a block and tackle hooked to a gear or stepper motor will work.
Threaded rod (allthread or acme) and a guide system will work.
A hybrid with threaded rod moving a block and tackle will also work.
Threaded rod (allthread or acme) and a guide system will work.
A hybrid with threaded rod moving a block and tackle will also work.
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
http://advancedaquarist.com/issues/oct2003/feature.htm
^^^ you can use a light mover at an incline like shown above.
^^^ you can use a light mover at an incline like shown above.
lovethereefer
New member
thanks dude thats a good link
lovethereefer
New member
http://www.4hydroponics.com/grow_room/literail.asp
if i went with this light roller and just have it rolling back and forth over a oceanic 215 (72x24x29) would you go with 3 250's or just 1 1000 watter or 2 or 3 400's all in lumenarc-like fixtures?
if i went with this light roller and just have it rolling back and forth over a oceanic 215 (72x24x29) would you go with 3 250's or just 1 1000 watter or 2 or 3 400's all in lumenarc-like fixtures?
lovethereefer
New member
i mean have that roller moving the light linear not up and down
perpetual98
New member
Having 3 bulbs over a 6 foot tank would pretty much negate the effect of a light mover. I would suggest two halides on the light mover, one being on the motor, and the other being on an add-on "trolley" and then have them both move back and forth.
I am using an Agramover and it's dead silent. I also was in pretty regular contact with the guy who makes them, so let him know that I sent you over.
I am using an Agramover and it's dead silent. I also was in pretty regular contact with the guy who makes them, so let him know that I sent you over.
perpetual98
New member
Oh yeah, FWIW, here's an animated gif of my light mover. The animation is MUCH faster than it is in real life. It takes about 60 seconds for it to travel the length of the tank. It currently has a 6RPM motor on it, but I've got a 2RPM motor coming from ebay, so we'll see if it's a direct swap.
lovethereefer
New member
thats pretty sweet man, so what do you think of 2-400 watters in sunlight supply lumenmax 2 fixtures?
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
Depends on the Kelvin, but 250s could be enough. The advantage of light movers is that you can get away with using the same power bulbs that you would have if you didnt have the light mover... just less of them.
lovethereefer
New member
what is the clearance that u are using for your rollers from the track to the bottom of the roller (mounting brackett) b/c I think I might need to find a smaller roller
lovethereefer
New member
could the roller be mounted horizontally perhaps?
hahnmeister
In Memoriam
As it turns out, I am also in the market for a light mover for my new tank. I need a 4' (actually, 3' would be plenty) and Im trying to make it as low profile as possible because I want to mount it in a canopy, and a big tall canopy wouldnt be a good idea.
perpetual98
New member
It's working well, but if it's doing anything for the tank, it's too early to tell. The tank has only been up a few weeks and there's only a couple SPS frags in the tank. I'll know more as time progresses.
BeanAnimal
Premium Member
I have (2) 150W bulbs close to my 4' tank to get the most out of them. This leaves a dead spot near the center brace. I will be using a light mover to move both lights back and forth over each half of the tank. Though I think will use a stepper motor to run them at an even rate over the entire photoperiod, no back and forth. After the photoperiod, they will return to home for the next day.
Hahn, I will be using threaded rod (or acme rod) and a simple guide bar to support the lights and move them. The light rack will also hold the dimmable T5. The "rack" will be on a pulley system to raise and lower it. In your case you could just build the rack into the hood.
Bean
Hahn, I will be using threaded rod (or acme rod) and a simple guide bar to support the lights and move them. The light rack will also hold the dimmable T5. The "rack" will be on a pulley system to raise and lower it. In your case you could just build the rack into the hood.
Bean
