Question for Lumenarc Owners

[jhale]

I'd like to lessen the lighting bill.
I have 3 SE 250's over my 5' long tank, the depth is just 20"
Right now they are in crappy standard spider reflectors.

If I used 2 lumenarcs do you think the spread of light would be enough?
Would the mini size be okay or would you suggest the III's?

 

[scarf_ace1981]

i suggest 2-IIIs

 

[leoskee]

I just got 2 LAIII's. Im going to use them with 250w bulbs on a 180. The tank is 6 feet long by 2 wide and 2 tall.

You should definitely get the larger ones.

 

[jhale]

the larger ones will fit.
it will make fitting the T5's in more of a challenge. :scratchch

 

[cali_reef]

Tough to fit three full size LIII's over 5 foot. You will see some shadows with two pendents, unless you have lots of T5 to blend it out but the reflectors on the T5 will block some of the light from LIII. :scratchch No good solutions for a 5 footer.

 

[fritz]

Ask Chris loismustdie, he uses three but felt two would do it on his 6 footer. He may have a different opinion now and I don't remember how many T5s he was using.

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I'd like to lessen the lighting bill.
I have 3 SE 250's over my 5' long tank, the depth is just 20"
Right now they are in crappy standard spider reflectors.

If I used 2 lumenarcs do you think the spread of light would be enough?
Would the mini size be okay or would you suggest the III's?

I'm curious also I have 4 large luminarc sitting in box for when I ever do the 450.
my electric bill is through the roof (hence why the 450 isnt done, or started forthat matter)

I was planning on dumping the Iwaki for a dart eliminating one 250W MH
when I move the tank to the other wall.

 

[rickytsui]

john i think 2 111 will do . but u gonna see some dead spot where the light dont go

 

[Nsr250NYC]

or you can put 2 on a rail automated for the movement of the sun.

 

[jhale]

or you can put 2 on a rail automated for the movement of the sun.

I'm not sure my hood has enough room for that.

I'm thinking I may use two mini's.
If two mini's are not enough then I have the option of squeezing a third into the hood. If I use the III's and they don't work out then I'm stuck.
unless I can fit a mini in between the III's.

has there been a comparison done between the III's and mini's anywhere?

 

[DRZL]

FWIW mini's cover 24"x24" well and the LAIII cover 36"x36" well, so.....

36+36=72 inches so 6 ft is well covered youve got 5, so....

Go for it!

 

[jackson6745]

I think 2x250s in the Luminarc minis will be fine. You don't need BRIGHT light on every inch of your reef.

 

[loismustdie]

Jon, 2 minis will be fine on a 5 footer. Make sure they are at least 12 inches over your water surface.

 

[Dace]

Jon, 2 minis will be fine on a 5 footer. Make sure they are at least 12 inches over your water surface.

mine are only 8" over the water. thats all that my hood allows, and i still have to put a forth 350 heater in my sump in the winter because my setup is remote and the sump gets lots of cold in the basement. i'm going to have to buy a sump and bring all my equiptment upstairs under the tank.

 

[loismustdie]

mine are only 8" over the water. thats all that my hood allows, and i still have to put a forth 350 heater in my sump in the winter because my setup is remote and the sump gets lots of cold in the basement. i'm going to have to buy a sump and bring all my equiptment upstairs under the tank.

Jon has an issue with too much heat. Also, 12 inches wasn't quite meant as a way to reduce heat, but so he can get better spread.

 

[herman]

Jon, just do 2 Lunenarc minis qith cooling kit. That should aleviate at least some of the heat issues.

 

[jhale]

the top of my hood is 12" above the water.
I would have to cut some holes in the top to get the
lumenarcs at that 12" height off the water.

if the lights were outside of the hood that would let the 3 fans
still keep the tank cool.

 

[Pedro]

J,

I don't think they mean the bottom edge of the reflector has to be at that height, just the lamp itself. If that was the case then we would all have some tall ass canopys. I'm just guessing here though.

 

[jhale]

Pedro, you might be right

 

[NYPDFrogman]

I'm not sure my hood has enough room for that.

I'm thinking I may use two mini's.
If two mini's are not enough then I have the option of squeezing a third into the hood. If I use the III's and they don't work out then I'm stuck.
unless I can fit a mini in between the III's.

has there been a comparison done between the III's and mini's anywhere?

I have III's you can try if they work out fine, if not go with the mini's and I'll take em back.