Light movers

ColdinCanada · 11-04-2001, 08:43 PM

Has anyone ever experimented with slowly moving a mh light back and forth above tank? I was in a hydroponics shop the other day and they had a system in place called a Dyno Trak over some plants. It would slowly move a mh light from side to side anywhere from two ft to six feet of travel. Speed and distance traveled are fully adjustable. The unit I saw paused at each end for twenty sec. I thought this would be great on my 4 ft tank which currently uses only one centrally placed 400w Iwasaki and two 110w actinics. Seems to me it would allow the corals to grow more evenly, rather than just "reaching" for the light.
Anyone?

Jay

YoHo · 11-05-2001, 01:32 PM

The guy who had the bad expireance with the Starfire tank down in florida. (I can't remember his webaddress) he used I think 4 or 5 hydroponics pendents (I think they might have been 1000Watts, but they could have been only 400) he had them moving back and forth over the tank.

It seems like a good idea.

PerryinCA · 11-05-2001, 05:30 PM

I have long recommended and wanted to try thier use, however, you have to be sur they can stand the wet atmosphere. Putting a glass or acrylic cover over the tank could solve alot of that problem, but then you could run into gas-exchange issues.

I think they are great provided you can keep them dry. Some are made to deal with the humidity better then others. If you go that route, be sure to spend a few extra dollars and get a good one. just like most things in life, you get what you pay for.

-Perry

YoHo · 11-05-2001, 06:32 PM

I just remembered that one of the LFS uses them out here. (Oregon)
They are metal and there is no protection for them vs. the water. these are over prop tanks.

ColdinCanada · 11-05-2001, 10:17 PM

I think I'm going to try it. My tank is built into a wall in my home office. Behind it I have a full fish room so my lights don't need a canopy, they just hang above the tank. The dyno trak drive unit is like a little motorized car that runs in a track suspended above the tank. It can be run with what's called a slave. It's basically a second suspended cart that runs in the trak above the tank. This is pushed and pulled by the drive unit which can be off to one side of the tank. This will eliminate any moisture problems and the heat of the bulb melting the drive car electronics.
Cost of the whole set-up is about $250 U.S.
Once I get it up and running I will try to post some pics.

Jay

organicreefer · 11-05-2001, 11:50 PM

dont you think it will look funny?i mean for a prop tank(as yoho mentioned)it makes sense,stretching youre lighting dollars.but over a display,i dont know if a light moving back and forth would look so great.jmo

11-04-2001, 08:43 PM	#1
ColdinCanada Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 23	Light movers Has anyone ever experimented with slowly moving a mh light back and forth above tank? I was in a hydroponics shop the other day and they had a system in place called a Dyno Trak over some plants. It would slowly move a mh light from side to side anywhere from two ft to six feet of travel. Speed and distance traveled are fully adjustable. The unit I saw paused at each end for twenty sec. I thought this would be great on my 4 ft tank which currently uses only one centrally placed 400w Iwasaki and two 110w actinics. Seems to me it would allow the corals to grow more evenly, rather than just "reaching" for the light. Anyone? Jay

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11-05-2001, 01:32 PM	#2
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	The guy who had the bad expireance with the Starfire tank down in florida. (I can't remember his webaddress) he used I think 4 or 5 hydroponics pendents (I think they might have been 1000Watts, but they could have been only 400) he had them moving back and forth over the tank. It seems like a good idea.

11-05-2001, 05:30 PM	#3
PerryinCA Governor Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Folsom, CA Posts: 2,103	I have long recommended and wanted to try thier use, however, you have to be sur they can stand the wet atmosphere. Putting a glass or acrylic cover over the tank could solve alot of that problem, but then you could run into gas-exchange issues. I think they are great provided you can keep them dry. Some are made to deal with the humidity better then others. If you go that route, be sure to spend a few extra dollars and get a good one. just like most things in life, you get what you pay for. -Perry

11-05-2001, 06:32 PM	#4
YoHo Tenant Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: River Forest(soon to be Schaumburg) Il Posts: 89	I just remembered that one of the LFS uses them out here. (Oregon) They are metal and there is no protection for them vs. the water. these are over prop tanks.

11-05-2001, 10:17 PM	#5
ColdinCanada Just Moved In Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Burlington, Ontario, Canada Posts: 23	I think I'm going to try it. My tank is built into a wall in my home office. Behind it I have a full fish room so my lights don't need a canopy, they just hang above the tank. The dyno trak drive unit is like a little motorized car that runs in a track suspended above the tank. It can be run with what's called a slave. It's basically a second suspended cart that runs in the trak above the tank. This is pushed and pulled by the drive unit which can be off to one side of the tank. This will eliminate any moisture problems and the heat of the bulb melting the drive car electronics. Cost of the whole set-up is about $250 U.S. Once I get it up and running I will try to post some pics. Jay

11-05-2001, 11:50 PM	#6
organicreefer Governor Join Date: May 2001 Location: Northern CA Posts: 2,171	dont you think it will look funny?i mean for a prop tank(as yoho mentioned)it makes sense,stretching youre lighting dollars.but over a display,i dont know if a light moving back and forth would look so great.jmo

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