please help design my light setup

organicreefer · 09-30-2001, 11:46 PM

ok ,i been working on the hood all day,and so far i have a box that fits on top of my tank

.heres the plan:im gona use 2x17510k halides on either end and a 400 watt iwasaki in the middle.for actinics i have an icecap 660 ,and im not sure if i should go with 2 or 4 bulbs?the problem is the flourescents are gonna be under my halides.

.its gonna block light dont you think.also the flourescents,if i mount them equal distances apart will be in front of the openings for the doors

.how wide a distance do you think i need between the flourescents,right under the halides?a foot ,more?
also my 2x 175 watt setup doesnt have reflectors ,and my 400 watt setup has a "hyproponics" reflector.i was thinking one long four foot reflector with all the halides in it would be better.any ideas for a diy reflector like this?(prefer diy but),how about where to get one online fo a decent price?
any ideas,espcially any photos of setups with the vho's mounted "under " the halides would be VERY appreciated,i want to get this tank going

organicreefer · 09-30-2001, 11:47 PM

oh yeah my tank is 48x24x24 120

***Reefland*** · 10-01-2001, 12:09 AM

I can't visualize the VHO being "under" the MH. Could you elaborate on this?

Why not utilize all 4 VHO and use 2 full sprectrum bulbs along with 2 actinics? Another 220w is always beneficial.

The only problem with 4 VHO is the amount of space left in the front and back of the halides (if your going with perpendicular reflector). Fitting double endcaps is tough since the bulbs slide into them at an angle like this: \ / so single encaps are necessary (they accept the bulbs vertically: | ).

Scott Z.

organicreefer · 10-01-2001, 12:20 AM

ok let me try to explain more clearly the hood i built is 15 inches tall- 11/2 to cover tank trim and i have 13 1/2 inches above the water line.my halides will be mounted as high as i can get them,in a long reflector i hope to build.so my halides are gonna be about ten inches or a little less form the water,and i was gonna mount the vhos about 4 inches above the water ,so the would be under the halides,see what im saying?and yes 220 watts more would be good but they all have to come on go off at the same time and i want an actinic period with just blue lights.

organicreefer · 10-01-2001, 12:28 AM

double encaps ,single endcaps,now were both confused,i have my endcaps already,but i dont know witch ones i have

organicreefer · 10-01-2001, 12:37 AM

or do you think they should all be mounted next to each other at the same hieght?i just feel like the flourescents should be closer to the water,and the halides should be higher

Ironreef · 10-01-2001, 02:27 AM

If you mount your vho high in your canopy...= IMO they aren't nearly as effective so why have them? I belive they lose alot of intensity over 1'. This is why I keep mine @1-2" above the tank. My halides are @7-8". I use 3 vho actinic. If my vho bulbs are under my 2_250 6.5k they seem to block the light. I don't use 4 for this reason. IMO since you have 3 halides I would use 2-3 actinic only which ever keeps the halides clear. My tank is same 120g.

organicreefer · 10-05-2001, 12:26 AM

thanks ironreef ,im probly gonna go with 2 actinic,id like four ,but im truly only compensating for the one 400w iwasaki so it should be enough ,what do you think?

Ironreef · 10-05-2001, 02:08 AM

after seeing atlantis update on the 400w 10k vs 6.5k I maybe trying ushio 10k. I use 6.5 for more par and life but since the growth on the same tanks or tanks with the same water was the same . The only advantage with 6.5k is cheaper and life. But ten k does look better. 400 anything will be good with 2 175w IMO. After seeing a 75g with just no lighting and sps.. granted they were brown but they grew. There more than just lighting. I change my bulbs every year and 10k is probally only $50 more. for both. If you find a sale.I do find 6.5 makes everything turn purple?? Maybe just my stuff??

organicreefer · 10-05-2001, 04:15 PM

atlantis update?got a link?id like to see it.all 10 k's sounds good,but i was thinking save money/more par?

Ironreef · 10-05-2001, 10:28 PM

http://www.atlantisaquatic.com/lightingtest.html fwiw I'm an Iwaki person =more par cheaper , more growth ect.. But I may try 10k ushio after seeing this. 10k does look better and if the growth is the same the few $$ I save on 2 bulbs may not be worth it?? Now on 3or more bulbs maybe? But this is one tank. I may just experiment myself. 400w 20k hardly has any par but coral farmer have good growth.

09-30-2001, 11:46 PM	#1
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	please help design my light setup ok ,i been working on the hood all day,and so far i have a box that fits on top of my tank .heres the plan:im gona use 2x17510k halides on either end and a 400 watt iwasaki in the middle.for actinics i have an icecap 660 ,and im not sure if i should go with 2 or 4 bulbs?the problem is the flourescents are gonna be under my halides. .its gonna block light dont you think.also the flourescents,if i mount them equal distances apart will be in front of the openings for the doors .how wide a distance do you think i need between the flourescents,right under the halides?a foot ,more? also my 2x 175 watt setup doesnt have reflectors ,and my 400 watt setup has a "hyproponics" reflector.i was thinking one long four foot reflector with all the halides in it would be better.any ideas for a diy reflector like this?(prefer diy but),how about where to get one online fo a decent price? any ideas,espcially any photos of setups with the vho's mounted "under " the halides would be VERY appreciated,i want to get this tank going

10-01-2001, 12:09 AM	#3
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,166	Hi organicreefer! I can't visualize the VHO being "under" the MH. Could you elaborate on this? Why not utilize all 4 VHO and use 2 full sprectrum bulbs along with 2 actinics? Another 220w is always beneficial. The only problem with 4 VHO is the amount of space left in the front and back of the halides (if your going with perpendicular reflector). Fitting double endcaps is tough since the bulbs slide into them at an angle like this: \ / so single encaps are necessary (they accept the bulbs vertically: \| ). Scott Z.

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09-30-2001, 11:47 PM	#2
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	oh yeah my tank is 48x24x24 120

10-01-2001, 12:20 AM	#4
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	ok let me try to explain more clearly the hood i built is 15 inches tall- 11/2 to cover tank trim and i have 13 1/2 inches above the water line.my halides will be mounted as high as i can get them,in a long reflector i hope to build.so my halides are gonna be about ten inches or a little less form the water,and i was gonna mount the vhos about 4 inches above the water ,so the would be under the halides,see what im saying?and yes 220 watts more would be good but they all have to come on go off at the same time and i want an actinic period with just blue lights.

10-01-2001, 12:28 AM	#5
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	double encaps ,single endcaps,now were both confused,i have my endcaps already,but i dont know witch ones i have

10-01-2001, 12:37 AM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	or do you think they should all be mounted next to each other at the same hieght?i just feel like the flourescents should be closer to the water,and the halides should be higher

10-01-2001, 02:27 AM	#7
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	If you mount your vho high in your canopy...= IMO they aren't nearly as effective so why have them? I belive they lose alot of intensity over 1'. This is why I keep mine @1-2" above the tank. My halides are @7-8". I use 3 vho actinic. If my vho bulbs are under my 2_250 6.5k they seem to block the light. I don't use 4 for this reason. IMO since you have 3 halides I would use 2-3 actinic only which ever keeps the halides clear. My tank is same 120g.

10-05-2001, 12:26 AM	#8
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	thanks ironreef ,im probly gonna go with 2 actinic,id like four ,but im truly only compensating for the one 400w iwasaki so it should be enough ,what do you think?

10-05-2001, 02:08 AM	#9
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	after seeing atlantis update on the 400w 10k vs 6.5k I maybe trying ushio 10k. I use 6.5 for more par and life but since the growth on the same tanks or tanks with the same water was the same . The only advantage with 6.5k is cheaper and life. But ten k does look better. 400 anything will be good with 2 175w IMO. After seeing a 75g with just no lighting and sps.. granted they were brown but they grew. There more than just lighting. I change my bulbs every year and 10k is probally only $50 more. for both. If you find a sale.I do find 6.5 makes everything turn purple?? Maybe just my stuff??

10-05-2001, 04:15 PM	#10
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	atlantis update?got a link?id like to see it.all 10 k's sounds good,but i was thinking save money/more par?

10-05-2001, 10:28 PM	#11
Ironreef Governor Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Pacific WA Posts: 1,220	http://www.atlantisaquatic.com/lightingtest.html fwiw I'm an Iwaki person =more par cheaper , more growth ect.. But I may try 10k ushio after seeing this. 10k does look better and if the growth is the same the few $$ I save on 2 bulbs may not be worth it?? Now on 3or more bulbs maybe? But this is one tank. I may just experiment myself. 400w 20k hardly has any par but coral farmer have good growth.

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