Lighting question

[ebqwert]

I've finally got my 150 moved into place and I've been trying to figure out how best to light it. Originally I was going to use 3 250 MH's but looking at it again, if I center the lights the middle one will be right over a crossbrace. So now I'm thking about using 2 400 MH's. Does this make sence or am I doing something stupid?

Eric

 

[Brian]

I wouldnt think that the cross brace would make that much of a difference.
If you figure that it will be sitting higher than the brace, that the light would still reflect around inside your hood or canopy. So MAYBE it would cast a little shadow over the center of the tank, but I would think that 3 250 watters would overcome that.

I have no experience with 400 watt bulbs, but I did hear that they dont have an accurate color spectrum..something about them being too bright, or overdriven.. or something like that....

That was technical explanation if i've ever heard one!   :

 

[steve68]

i have 3 250 over my 210 & the braces cast a  little shadow but towards the back of the tank, my bulbs are 9 inch from the water. JME

 

[concept3]

Eric, I would presume your 150 gallon is 48" or 60" long with a center brace? Bob (ruden aka NJRC treasurer) has one that was bought at Petsmart and we will be doing either 2 X 250 watts or 2X 400 watts BECAUSE of the center brace. I probably wouldn't place a halide over the brace only because they do get pretty hot not to mention the UV they put out MAY make that center brace brittle and fail in the future (if they are made of plastic).

I also heard about the 400 watters and their spectrum, I would probably go with the 250 watters and if you plan on doing SPS, just place them high up in the rockwork. Keep us posted on the progress!

 

[steve68]

Merv u are a DIY man
euro brace it! if i could do it over that is what i would do !

eric i though ur 150 was 6 feet long sorry my bad.

 

[HEMI_Andy]

When at MACNA Sanjay Joshi showed a chart of the output of different wattages of MH lights. A lot the 250's were considerably a better choice than the 400's and used less power. I will see if I can find the chart to better help you make your llighting choice.

Andy

 

[ebqwert]

Thanks for the info.

I'm still confused.

The 150 is 72" long. and I'm still scared about putting a light directly over the center brace.

Steve68 - does your 210 have 1 or 2 braces? On the 150 the light would be directly over it.

Merv - Now I have to research the concerns regarding the 400W sprectrum... thanks


I'll try to post pics of the project soon.

Eric

 

[concept3]

eric i though ur 150 was 6 feet long sorry my bad.

You were right Steve, HIS 150 is 6 feet long, that's why I mentioned in my post "presume"

 

[Phyl]

Quite a quandary. You'll never be happy with only 2 lamps over that baby. I think that 400s would just accentuate the problem. You'll certainly need 3 lamps over it. I'm surprised that it only has one brace over it considering your lighting options. I'd probably go with 3x250 and keep them at least 12" off of the tank.

In case you haven't yet been to Sanjay's website: http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/

In his presentation he had a plot of all of the par values for all of the lamps that he'd ever tested. It was interesting to see some of the better 150s outproducing the poorer 250s and the better 250s out performing the 400s. I wasn't able to find the plot on his website, unfortunately.

Good luck! Maybe if you posted in his forum (does he have one?! LOL) he would be willing to tell you what your best option is.

 

[RichT]

I have a 150 AGA (72") and it has 2 braces. I have 3x250 mh. The shadows are evident especially when only the center light is on. I got 2 pieces of 1" clear acrylic rod from Tap Plastic. I am going to fabricate ends on the rods so I can remove the current bracing and replace with the rods. I have read on RC DIY forums that people have had success with this so I'm gonna give it a try.

 

[ebqwert]

I'll see if he has a fourm.

If I go with the 400's I'll have 800 Watts total, with the 250 there will be 750. Assuming that difference is negligable will I be able to tell if there are 2 bulbs Vs 3?

I've also heard that the 400's aren't as consistant as the 250's

I'm still a month away from from hanging the lights, I guess I have lots of time to think.

Eric