What is the best height for Lumen Max 3 HQI Pendants?

[SPSFiend]

I just purchased 3 Lumen Max 3 HQI DE Pendants and was hoping to hear from those of you have have some experience with these (gcarrol/ swellsurfer?) on what the optimum height is to have these pendants sit over the water line and how far apart from each other they should be. I have 3 of them over a standard 180G (6ft long).

I installed them on a temporary canopy until I finish builiding the canopy to match the stand I built, and they are sitting roughly 5 inches over the water. This is way too close I know, but what is the best height to get opitimum par through into the tank with no shadows?

I imagine higher up = more spread and less shadows. But I want to make sure and get the most PAR into the tank.

I appreciate your adice in in advance!!

 

[slavearm]

Gcarroll runs Phoenix 14Ks. I run the 14Ks.

As far as the distance apart, I would go evenly spaced every 1.5ft.

I run about 7-8" off the surface myself. Don't know about those other guys.

 

[SPSFiend]

Thanks Slavearm. I was going to mount at exactly 1.5, but that leaves 7 inches between pendants and 12.5 inches at each end of the tank. 12.5 inches seemed like too big of a gap?? I ended up mounting them with 8 inches between each pendant. The center pendants is at 36 inches and the left is at 17 inches and the right is at 55 inches. Not that big of a difference form 1.5 ft...

I am getting about 6 inches of shadow on aither end of the tank like this and am hoping that by locating them higher over the water line, it will get rid of these shadows.

 

[stryker]

I saw these new pedants at RAP. how do you guys like them compared to ROIII pendants and LA3 reflectors. who's got the best deal on them?

 

[SPSFiend]

I think the best prices right now are like $149.50.

http://www.aquariumspecialty.com/ca...=1044&osCsid=7f46692db18ea29b789db7aa1c71b59c

http://www.saltycritter.com/lighting/sunlight-supply/lumen-max-3.htm


http://oceanencounter.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=OE&Category_Code=PEN

 

[slavearm]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7981961#post7981961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SPSFiend
Thanks Slavearm. I was going to mount at exactly 1.5, but that leaves 7 inches between pendants and 12.5 inches at each end of the tank. 12.5 inches seemed like too big of a gap?? I ended up mounting them with 8 inches between each pendant. The center pendants is at 36 inches and the left is at 17 inches and the right is at 55 inches. Not that big of a difference form 1.5 ft...

I am getting about 6 inches of shadow on aither end of the tank like this and am hoping that by locating them higher over the water line, it will get rid of these shadows.

Raising them should remove the shadows, especially if it is only 6 inches.

stryker_578 I saw these new pedants at RAP. how do you guys like them compared to ROIII pendants and LA3 reflectors. who's got the best deal on them?

Basically they remove the hot spot that the ROIII have, and have a more square than rectangle distribution of light. Definately better if you have a wider tank (front to back).

 

[Mchava]

well since I was the first one to used from the three people you mentioned ,I would say about 8-9"high from the ater surface and about 8-10" apart. Far as liking them I love them alot better then the ROIII because they dont have the hot spot and spread the light better and I can keep everything everywhere.

 

[jimcoman]

How are you guys measuring this?...from the waterline to the bottom of the pendent or from the waterline to the actual bulb?

 

[saurus]

bulb, bout nine inches here...

 

[Mchava]

iam going from the bottom of the pendent. If I go from the bulb I would need to run a bigger chiller or more fans.