My new 600 gallon reef

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And if you don't want to mess with building a rack, you could use a light mover like I have. You can extend the rails about as long as you want, and even attach multiple lamps to one unit within its weight specs.

With this system my lights move automatically over my tank front-to-back, and when I want to get into the tank, I turn the mover off i the position I want using my ACIII Pro. I also can allow them to move completely away from the tank if I am doing any serious stuff, or want to change the lamps and clean the reflectors.

Marc makes a couple of good points that deserve repeating:

1. Make sure to remove the plastic film!!

2. You will have to play with the cords to get the reflectors to hang straight. I did this by simply zip tying the power cords in the position that made them level.

Some people really don't like movers because they can be distracting, but I use them to save on electrical costs and use higher powered lamps for deeper penetration, without burning my corals.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11130712#post11130712 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
You are both funny and <b>FAST</b>! That didn't take you long at all.

Here's an example of what I did over my tank, using aluminum and rivets (both obtainable at Home Depot):
7/30/2004 - Light Rack

7/31/2004 - Pocket door hardware modified for light rack

8/01/2004 - Lights move forward and back now

Further Details

In your case, if you don't make any type of rack to move them then they will suspend from a single screw (or filament wire) coming down from your ceiling. You can make it adjustable. The one thing to keep in mind is that the weight of the mogul socket with its cord may lean the reflector, so you'll have to support that wiring somehow.

I can't see the end of that white wire, but I'm sure it won't be hard to wire it to your current ballasts. If you need my help, post a picture of the ballast and its wires as well as the end of the white cord and I'll be happy to guide you through it.

Did the reflectors come with the glass shield? You absolutely MUST remove the protective film inside the reflector before you fire up a bulb or it will cook it to the metal.
Click to expand...
Afer looking at Nick's (UrbanSage), and Phil's (DakotaReef) tanks, it was pretty apparent that the Lumenarc reflectors would do a much better job in covering the needs of my tank.

For the time being, I am going to hang the fixtures using the light yoyo's. (Sounds like fun!) Changing out the wiring from the old sockets at attatching to the new ones looks like more work than worth. Should have plugs to attach to the new wires in the morning so that I can plug the lights directly into the ballasts.

The new reflectors do have glass (and I promise to keep it cleaner than the old ones). The controller is working fine. Coffee is perfect!

The electrician is coming Thursday to move a couple of circuts so that I will be able to move the ballasts off the floor and onto one of the racks behind the tank. Going to try and build a rack for the power centers behind the tank to get them up and out of the way. Those timers take up so much room...
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11130914#post11130914 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
And if you don't want to mess with building a rack, you could use a light mover like I have. You can extend the rails about as long as you want, and even attach multiple lamps to one unit within its weight specs.

With this system my lights move automatically over my tank front-to-back, and when I want to get into the tank, I turn the mover off i the position I want using my ACIII Pro. I also can allow them to move completely away from the tank if I am doing any serious stuff, or want to change the lamps and clean the reflectors.

Marc makes a couple of good points that deserve repeating:

1. Make sure to remove the plastic film!!

2. You will have to play with the cords to get the reflectors to hang straight. I did this by simply zip tying the power cords in the position that made them level.

Some people really don't like movers because they can be distracting, but I use them to save on electrical costs and use higher powered lamps for deeper penetration, without burning my corals.
Click to expand...
Light movers would be nice, but I am going to keep it simple to start. The yoyo's should make it a lot easier to raise and lower the lights compared to the setup I have been using. I'll remeber to take the film off and tie up the cords to keep the reflectors level. I am excited to see the difference the new reflectors will make to the tank!
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11132791#post11132791 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Goodwin9
Afer looking at Nick's (UrbanSage), and Phil's (DakotaReef) tanks, it was pretty apparent that the Lumenarc reflectors would do a much better job in covering the needs of my tank.

For the time being, I am going to hang the fixtures using the light yoyo's. (Sounds like fun!) Changing out the wiring from the old sockets at attatching to the new ones looks like more work than worth. Should have plugs to attach to the new wires in the morning so that I can plug the lights directly into the ballasts.

The new reflectors do have glass (and I promise to keep it cleaner than the old ones). The controller is working fine. Coffee is perfect!

The electrician is coming Thursday to move a couple of circuts so that I will be able to move the ballasts off the floor and onto one of the racks behind the tank. Going to try and build a rack for the power centers behind the tank to get them up and out of the way. Those timers take up so much room...
Click to expand...

The yoyo strings are fine, but just in case you might add safety chains to each reflector. I've seen those hangers and they just seem like they might break at any given time. Just a thought.

Glad the glass is included. That is how mine will be as well.

I'm very glad you are moving those ballasts up and away from the back of the tank and floor. You'll love having the walking space back there, and you'll reduce the risk factor significantly.

The timers are big. But they are definitely cheaper than buying another controller with modules. I know the Reefkeeper would be tidy as it could be the timer for all your lights, but it isn't a big deal to use what you have already on those Chauvet power stations.

Here are the jumper cords I mentioned to you:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=698694&sku=C184-03137
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=392778 (even better)
 
I have some of the Yo-yos and had a hell of a time using them. Maybe it's just a slight retardation, but those things drove me nuts.
 
Interested in the yo-yo. When you have messed with them please give some information. I am looking for something that is independent for each reflector. Please let me know.

Bart
 
I got the new reflectors hung today. Not the easiest for one person to do, but they are up. Need to tie up the cords and level them up a little, but the hardest part is done. I am tickled pink by the light coverage they have added to the tank. No more dark corners!

Hunglights.jpg
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137025#post11137025 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by huge1day
Interested in the yo-yo. When you have messed with them please give some information. I am looking for something that is independent for each reflector. Please let me know.

Bart
Click to expand...
I'd have to give the yoyo's a thunbs down. Like Jonathan, I couldn't get them to work. Two people working with them might stand a better chance getting them to work. :thumbdown
 
Oh! Forgot to tell you this:

<b>That reflector is 300% (greater PAR) better than a spider reflector.</b> Since that is the case, and your previous lights were caked with salt, the intensity is much higher than your livestock is used to. You better reduce the lighting period today as well as for the next week. Maybe run them 5 hours a day, and then increase them daily by 15 minutes until you get back up to your normal photo period.

I forget how many hours a day you have your MH running, but 10 hours is plenty.

You got those hung up quickly. :thumbsup:
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137296#post11137296 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Oh! Forgot to tell you this:

<b>That reflector is 300% (greater PAR) better than a spider reflector.</b> Since that is the case, and your previous lights were caked with salt, the intensity is much higher than your livestock is used to. You better reduce the lighting period today as well as for the next week. Maybe run them 5 hours a day, and then increase them daily by 15 minutes until you get back up to your normal photo period.

I forget how many hours a day you have your MH running, but 10 hours is plenty.

You got those hung up quickly. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Marc...Thanks for the heads up! I'll cut back the time the lights are on. What a difference! I'm not sure if you can tell from my picture, but the dark corners I pointed out to you are gone, IMO. The back rocks in the center grouping have much more light on them too. I am totally amazed at the improvement they made in the tank.
 
That's awesome. They simply have a much wider spread, which is exactly what your reef needed.

I'm about to order my own as well, but the mini-version.
 
Great job Chuck, and they look pretty damn level to me. I would heed Marc's warning and lower the light period as well as take an inventory of corals that are mounted in the upper half of the water column. Anything that is not SPS I would move lower right away.
 
That is looking great Chuck! Great to hear you are pleased with the performance. Always a good feeling when money is well spent on a solid product.
And I am sure they will benefit the overall health of the tank on top!

Looks like Marc did a great job of pointing out areas with a potential for improvement.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=11137670#post11137670 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by UrbanSage
That is looking great Chuck! Great to hear you are pleased with the performance. Always a good feeling when money is well spent on a solid product.
And I am sure they will benefit the overall health of the tank on top!

Looks like Marc did a great job of pointing out areas with a potential for improvement.
Click to expand...
For some time, I have felt that I was lacking in light, or at least the coverage I was getting with the LumenMax reflectors. It wasn't until I saw your's and Phil's tanks did I realize that the reflectors were the problem. Marc showed me how easy it would be to change them out with the LumenArc. A relative inexpensive fix, sure beats buying additional lights for the tank.....
 
wow the reflectors really do make a huge diff. it looks so much brighter now.

with the new reflectors were you able to remove the other lights thats you had going accross the back or did you keep those on?
 
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