Lumenarc Mini or Regular over 36" Long 58 gallon?

[gummyworms]

Hello,

I'm setting up a 58 gallon tank, and wanted to get some opinions on lighting. I am planning on having just one pendant and running a 250W 14K Hamilton bulb in either a Lumenarc Mini or Lumenarc Regular Size reflector.

http://www.pacificgardensupply.com/products.asp?cat=2

The tank is 36" L x 18.5" W x 21" T.

A Lumenarc Mini is 14.5" x 14.5"
A Lumenarc Reg is 19.5" x 19.5"

As you can see, the regular Lumenarc would be a little larger than the width of the tank, which probably means wasted light.

Does anyone have a good idea about the spread of a Lumenarc? Could it effectively cover a 36" x 18.5" tank if mounted about 6" above the water? I am not too concerned about maxiumum light output everywhere, I just want a relatively even light spread (as in not like a spotlight that covers a 16" x 16" square).

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Or...if anyone has a Lumenarc reflector, could you take a picture with just one light on? This way I could get an idea of the light falloff on the edges of the light area.

Thanks!

 

[Ti]

mini

 

[Jive Turkey]

You'll be better off with a 400w if you plan on lighting the whole tank. A 250w may not cut it on the edges. But if I were to choose, I would, and did choose the LA3 over the mini for being the sole light over a 58g, on my personal tank a little while back.

 

[gummyworms]

You put a LA3 on a 58 gallon? Was there a lot of light wasted since the reflector is 19.5" and the tank is only 18.5" wide?

 

[gummyworms]

How thick is the metal on the reflector? Could it be bent to 18.5" from 19.5"?

 

[xinumaster]

AC3 can luminate a 36x36 area.

 

[surfnvb7]

who makes the tank? if i recall, the 50g breeder, and 65g from AGA (all the same footprint), all have center braces.

i would think that a 58g oceanic would also have a center brace, but could be wrong...?

if your tank does have a center brace, putting only one light over the tank could be a problem...

 

[gummyworms]

No center brace on the Oceanic 58g. Think there will be heat problems with a 400W in an L3 mini?

 

[jpluttme]

I have a lumenarc mini running a 250w bulb on a 56 gallon tank. Center brace was replaced with clear plexi so no shadows. Tank is 30"x18"x24". Light coverage is very good IMO. I have a long tentacle anemone in the lower front left corner that is doing amazingly well under it.