Please help with my large tank lighting

3 12k reeflux rear row and 3 20K radium front row all powered by PFO HQI single ballast, eventually i will go all 12k reeflux since colors look almost alike. single ballast was used just in case ballast did go out that other lights are on. SE is easier to change then DE but everyones taste is different.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12055498#post12055498 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by ricks
(6) 400 watt 20K Radiums on HQI ballast...
Click to expand...

I assume your talking SE bulbs here... would you still supplement with T5's or VHO's?
 
Yes single end, I still supplement with VHO actinic and PC's.
I use (6) 400 20K, with (4) 160 VHO and (4) 96 watt PC's. This combination on my 500 works well and the color seems correct. For my viewing of course, your results may vary...

Happy Reefing.
 
On my 60x60x30 stony tank I have four 10K ushios and four vho actinics for starters....after the year is up, I will be switching to Radiums and actinics.
 
I'm looking into the Iwasaki 6500K bulbs now, do they have to be run by the PFO EYE ballast or will any e-ballast do? Also, if I ran 6 of these in LA3 mini's how much supplementation do you think I would need to make the color palatable?
 
Harleyguy, here is what i plan to do with my new setup. It was 96x48x30 but it is just a wishful thinking because my wife think it is too big :(. I have to go with 1f shorter on the tank because my house is a bit too small :). I hope my drawing will help.

The light rack is 96" long x 48" wide, 6 Lumen bright Large reflector 20"x20"x9" tall

I was going to use the combo of VHO and T-5 but i heard the rumor that they will banned VHO soon :( so i decided to do 4 T-5 in between the reflectors. so the total is 6 x 400w 14K Ushio, 16 x 54w (48") T-5 with a combo of URI and Fiji purple.

Lightrack.jpg
 
That is kind of what I'm thinking of doing; except I am likely going to go with the Lumenarc Stealth DE Mini's and just adding a pair ofT5's between all the reflectors one pair at the start of the reflectors and one pair at the end... So I'll end up with 6 x 400's and 8 54W T5's I have to think about the Acrylic Euro bracing...
 
IMO, VHO and T-5 is use for dust/dawn simulation or to add atinic to the metal halide. I don't depend on it to produce any par. Why do you want to use the LAIII stealth DE instead of regular LAIII SE?
 
im in the planning stages on a similar tank so this is all great info. i was getting my ideas on light set up for sanjays 500 tank that ran on only 3 400 watters with no supplements. i was considering running 4 400s over my 9'x4'x3' tank and putting them in 2 staggered rows. then i was going to use a light mover to move those 2 rows about a 2 feet back and forth. i was planning on using t5s at either end of the tank to avoid it getting dark in the corner when the light moves away and using t5s on the edges to supplement actinic. plus i love looking at my tank with only actinic lighting on for a hour in the evening. my tank with also be a pennisula . would be glad to get any feedback . this is all still in the paper stage , except for the 600 gal sump that is almost ready to fill. will be following your build with great interest harley , thanks for starting this tread.
 
I wouldn't be surprised if they were going to ban/stop production of VHOs. They are pretty old and should be replaced by more efficient T5 and T5HO fluorescents.

Of course they have value in the aquarium industry, but I'm sure that makes up a small portion of the rest of the market for fluorescent lights. We need to start being more green after all :)
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12088350#post12088350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Jar*Head
IMO, VHO and T-5 is use for dust/dawn simulation or to add atinic to the metal halide. I don't depend on it to produce any par. Why do you want to use the LAIII stealth DE instead of regular LAIII SE?
Click to expand...

I can’t use the regular LA3 se's because of space (I don't want the reflectors overlapping the acrylic Euro bracing.
 
1" all around? Man you are brave :D. I thought with tank that high, you will need at least 1.25" all around and 1" top. How big is your bracing? For my tank is will have 4" brace all around and 2x4" cross brace with 1" thick acrylic. I don't think two large LAIII will sit on top of your brace. It only affect the acrylic if the light shine direct into the acrylic. At 19.5" square reflector, you still have 8" to play with
 
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