Lunchbucket's 48"x48"x20" Reef

Got a little done w/ the tank yesterday while waiting for those tube caps to come in on Tuesday. I worked on my light rack a little bit. I had the frame built a couple months ago
IMG_5104.JPG


I've beefed it up a little and added my VHO's.
IMG_5701.JPG


Lit up like a christmas tree!
IMG_5699.JPG


Not sure if I'm going to use all VHO actinics or keep the different bulbs like I have here. These are old bulbs from Mrs. Lunchbuckets tank I need new ones. Also the very edge of the rack will be the very edge of the tank and I have about a 4" euro brace so Not sure how effective or useful these two on the ends will be. Might have to move them in more about 4" but then the MH will shine on them some. I'm just thinking ahead of head on the bulbs and blocking some of the spread of the MH's.

Lunchbucket
 
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I'm not sure the pics really let on to how big that rack is:)

Looks good lunch!
 
hahahahaha...Looking good..I want put some supplemental t5's but I like the look of the red or purple bulbs mixed in with the blues...
Oh sweet dog pic..
 
I found the individual reflectors for the t5's make a big difference. Not sure if you were planing on them or not Lunch. Great rack btw ;)
 
I'm only doing VHO's w/ internal reflectors the URI's.

I think I'm gonna need to move my outside two VHO's in. They will sit right over the eurobrace (should have thought of that). Move them in about 4" or so and I don't think they should get in the way of the MH's too much and they won't be shining right over the eurobrace

Here are some pics of it all titied up w/ wire ties and just sitting on the tank. It will be hung about 6-8" over the tank when I'm done w/ the rail system.

From the front access door
IMG_5731.JPG


Close up of one side from the front access door. This is where my MH's will sit (pic is off center a bit) but do you guys think I should somehow cut those hoods and get the lights closer together to get more light to the center of the tank or will the reflectors take care of that? They just seem so far out from the middle but are actually centered over 1/2 of the tank. So if you split the tank in 1/4 the hoods would extend from 0 to 1/2 and the bulb would sit at the 1/4 mark. This optimal?
IMG_5732.JPG


Pic from the tank room door...please note that the tank is not slide into place due to needing the end plugs before it goes to it's final resting spot
IMG_5735.JPG


Lunchbucket
 
No, I would leave them where they are and tilt the bulb by rotating it so the light shines into the tank's openings. I have mine at an angle as well to point the blue light into my reef.
 
I agree with melev here. Plus you will be surprised with the spread of the reflectors. I'm guessing that I'm getting about 36" of decent spread with them. I've thought about tilting mine in also to direct the reflected intensity more toward the center of the tank. But I'm still getting enough spread with a 6' tank and 2 reflectors to grow SPS near the bottom in the middle, where the intensity should be the least. I'm guessing a tad since I don't have a lux meter;)
 
WOW!

Lots of progress this past weekend!

The light rack looks great! On my 2' wide tank I use the LA minis, and in order to squeez three T-5's in there I had to angle the two outside bulbs as melev and Hop suggest. It has worked out fine so far. It actually looks better when it is the AM or PM and my purples are the only lamps on.

Really great progress so far!
 
erics3000 - Thanks man!

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12471696#post12471696 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
No, I would leave them where they are and tilt the bulb by rotating it so the light shines into the tank's openings. I have mine at an angle as well to point the blue light into my reef.
Click to expand...

melev and Hop - I did that last night after taking the pics. Great minds think alike :D

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12472347#post12472347 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Hop
I agree with melev here. Plus you will be surprised with the spread of the reflectors. I'm guessing that I'm getting about 36" of decent spread with them. I've thought about tilting mine in also to direct the reflected intensity more toward the center of the tank. But I'm still getting enough spread with a 6' tank and 2 reflectors to grow SPS near the bottom in the middle, where the intensity should be the least. I'm guessing a tad since I don't have a lux meter;)
Click to expand...

Well good to know. The only reason I thought of moving them is to not "waste" the light that is going to spill over...but really I guess we always waste some light to get good spread can't get all of it in there. I'll leave everything as planned and fabricated!

Bax - Not too much progress just mounting the VHO's didn't take very long or very much time. Thanks for the suggestion on rotating them in too...seems like the consensius.

Hope my end caps come in soon. Then move the tank and get some plumbing done

Lunchbucket
 
hate to block halides with tubes though. Have you given any thought to flipping the tubes 90 degrees? you would have more unobstructed room there right?
 
He's not blocking the halides at all. And once the lights are elevated to the proper height, it'll work out very well.
 
Uh, well I mis-wrote that. Definitely blocking part of the reflector especially if he moves those inboard.
 
most of the time the bulb is only going to block light that would be on the outer glass, shouldnt stop any of the mh light from getting to the inside. My nephew and I just installed two vho's over his 65 and it went about two inches under the mh reflector and when we slid the lights in and out of place the only light that was affected was on his living room floor :)

hey lunchbucket what type of vho bulb are on the inside?
 
jnarowe - If I filp them 90degees I can't fit them on there.

Yeah I don't want to block the halides either.

tigerarmy - Insides are 03 actinics and outside are 10k's. I believe that ALL the lights will be 03 actinics when I get ready for it to get running

Hope my caps come tomorrow.
Lunchbucket
 
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