Need your input ladies and gentlemen

[Schplitter]

Lighting a 72X18X17H tank. I have come up with the following options:

Option 1: (about $100 more then option 2)

1 - 2 Lamp, ARO Model 4LX -VHO Ballast Kit
2 - URI Super Actinic VHO Lamps 60"
2 - MH 250W 14K BULB - HAMILTON - double end
2 - Lumenarc III Mini Reflectors ( if they come with a
de socket) or 2 - Lumenarc Stealth Reflector 250W De

Blue Wave 7 - 250watt Dual Remote Ballast -
HQI to run all of this.


Option 2: ( about 2X the watts)

http://www.aquatraders.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=332

Please let me know what the smart thing to do would be?

Thank you,

BK

 

[Letmegrow]

No aquatrader.

Stick to SE bulbs and get the LAIII not the minis. I know thay are a little larger then the tank is wide but just stagger them back a little bit to hang over the back edge of your tank.

Covering 6ft with 2 MH is hard to do, DE bulbs make it harder as does the LAminis.

 

[JxMetal]

option 1 for $100 more is good.

as I said earlier. people researching the aquatraders unit say the ballast is junk. but they're also saying that you can contact them and pay for the fixture minus the ballast since the ballast sucks.

 

[zt444a]

I know a couple of people that get good growth form their corals and use an Aquatraders fixture.



I never had a problem with mine when I had it, over a year, but Jeff just had a fuse blow. I guess that could happen with any fixture though.

Geoxman likes his, but replaced capacitors inside the ballast.

 

[Nanook]

If you go with the DE bulbs, you definitely need 3 metal halides.

I think your best bet for "covering" the 6ft tank with just two bulbs is using the LA3's like Stevo mentioned. Personally, I would use Ushio 10K or 14K instead of Hammies, but that is just my preference.

 

[Reggae Fish]

Don't get the aquatraders.

Also, as steve said, the minis won't work. use the link I sent you yesterday for the full sized ones.

SE Bulbs

 

[DrBDC]

I would do either 3 mini's or 2 full size lumenarcs. That or the pfo parallel reflectors. I personally would go with the xm10's over the hammy's.

Here is a comparison of the XM's and the hammy's on a hqi ballast:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe....avelength=400&Maxwavelength=700&Submit=Submit

And here is the stats on the Ushio's and for a second one I threw in the coralvue reflux 10,000K's which many like:

http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe....avelength=400&Maxwavelength=700&Submit=Submit

As you can see there is a big variation in visual color (ccrt) as well as "coral growing power" (ppfd). The bulbs aren't necessarily labeled what they produce on the color (ccrt).

As far as reflector choices, here is an excellent article to help with decisions (the lumenarcs in this study are the original sized lumenarcs):

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm

You'll see that according to the height mounted, there may not be much of an increase in coverage between various reflectors and prices. Especially between the pfo parallel and lumenarcs. But the lumenarcs sure do look cool!

 

[Schplitter]

Alright I think I got the idea.

Aquatraders are out and retros are in.

Does it matter if there are black plastic braces about 2 inches wide right below the center of each reflector? I could always replace those braces with glass braces....

Any ideas on the Actinic setup? good, bad, who cares?

BK

 

[Markk96]

I will disagree with all the above, I use use 2 Lumenarc Minis over a 7 foot tank running 10K Ushios, I get great coverage, and those that have seen this would agree. I have the center glass on my tank that is why I did not use 3 of the minis.

I would just use 3 Lumenarc Minis and pick the bulbs that you want to use. There is no need to get the Large Lumenarcs and have them spill over the back of the tank. The Minis will do fine with the light spread.

 

[DrBDC]

Can you see how many ways there are to skin a cat?

 

[Markk96]

Hehe yup, and this is one of many ways

 

[Schplitter]

Mark do you have any pics of your setup?

BK

 

[Schplitter]

This is only 99% sure but this is what I'm going with:

2 - Lumenarc III Mini reflectors
2 - 10K 250watt Metal Halide Bulb - Ushio
1 - 2 Lamp, ARO Model 4LX -VHO Ballast Kit
2 - URI Super Actinic VHO Lamps 60"
1 - Blue Wave 7 - 250watt Dual Ballast

These Ushio bulbs better be worth every penny lol.

If I do end up with a dark area in the center of the tank I always have the 150W and the 250W DIY fixture I created .

What do you guys think?

 

[Schplitter]

BUMP

 

[Reggae Fish]

What about doing 4-vho's?

 

[Schplitter]

There is not enough space to put them on each side of the MH reflectors. I might add some additional vho or pc lights between and on each side of the MH reflectors...

BK

 

[chadfarmer]

1 - Blue Wave 7 - 250watt Dual Ballast

just a FYI you are going to over drive the bulbs with that ballast

what are you going to keep in the tank?

 

[Schplitter]

LPS and a few SPS but nothing crazy....