Please help with my large tank lighting

[Jar*Head]

Bart, i have 2 6" fans that bought from Sunlight Supply. I use that two fans to cool down my tank before and it work very well....

 

[Harleyguy]

I don't have the exact Euro brace specs yet, but I saw a picture of it and all I can say is I wish it were smaller... Once I get the exact measurements, I'll have a better Idea of where I stand.

The previous owner ran 4 400w MH's and VHO's... I think this was mainly due to the bracing...

As for fans... I will create a negative flow by installing 2 exhaust fans blowing outside... then on the top of the hood I will likely put in 4 6" (ultra quiet) fans blowing in. This should basically suck cool air in from the house and hot air out of the hood... in theory... I am open to suggestions here... LOL

I also thought that if I did go with the LA3's that I might do their AC system (anyone here using it?). Also rather than VHO's I will likely go with overdriven HO T5's. They should put off less heat than the VHO's.

 

[Jar*Head]

Harleyguy, check out Matt (Bricky) BIG E thread in Elos USA forum. He is using the AC LAIII and his light hook look sweet. I really like his design but look like my tank going to sit in the garage for a while till i get a bigger home. I sold my 240g back in Oct and i will not go with anything less than 400g

 

[Jar*Head]

On the side note Harleyguy, i wish i could trade place with you . I have been request to go back to Iraq but no luck so far .

 

[Harleyguy]

OK I finally got a little more information on the Euro bracing on my tank...

Apparently I have 2 30" holes. I did a little math and I'm figuring the sides are 9" and the front, middle, and back are 12" each. Now what do I do??? The idea of 6 400's is completely out (as far as I can see) because I can't see any way of placing the middle 2 bulbs without them being directly over the center brace...

I did have a crazy thought that Spazz gave me... I could have a steel frame built out of 3" angle iron that would go all the way around the top. Then have channel steel connecting the angle iron from side to side in say 3 points. I could even have a piece of channel going straight down the center of the tank. Then have the whole thing Line-Xed or powder coated and cut the existing Euro brace out, but not all the way out I would still likely leave a 6" strip going all the way around. (THIS IS JUST A THOUGHT), but I would like some opinions on it. I don't really want to entertain this thought until I have exhausted all other possibilities with the top the way it is.

 

[Jar*Head]

Ouch, i would do the Spazz's idea or redo the eurobrace. With that type of bracing i wouldn't do any more than 2 MH. My new tank is 8x4x2 and i have 4" euro brace all around and 2 cross brace.

 

[Harleyguy]

I talked to the original owner and he recommended 2 400's in Lumenarc's with as many T-5's as I could get... I guess I could go with a mixed reef....

 

[Jar*Head]

Mixed reef is nice. Make sure you get yourself two LARGE ISLAND of SPS . I know CV coming out with the Lumen Bright wide with the measurement of 24x24. I was going to use that in my new tank but i change to the Large instead.

 

[Jar*Head]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12123510#post12123510 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Harleyguy
OK I finally got a little more information on the Euro bracing on my tank...

Either the chihuahua is tiny or the tank is too big :eek1: :lol:

 

[Harleyguy]

What if I went with really compact reflectors and placed them like this


....x...x....
x...........x
....x...x....

Then lined everything else with T5's?

 

[Jar*Head]

MH produce lots of heat. It can be done but do you want to take that chance? Not to mention that 3/4" thick acrylic will reduce lots of light.

I think you should get someone with acrylic experience helps you with redo the bracing. That will resolve all the problem.