Lighting upgrade idea...

[ksarauer]

I've been meaning to upgragde my lighting to 400w halides. I currently have 2 250w Hamilton ballasts with the following reflectors "http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD%5C150%5CPF2635.jpg" running parallel on my tank. I also have 2 110w VHO's attached to these reflectors.
What I would like to do is keep the 250w halides, and add 2 additional 400w halides. I would switch reflectors and go with something like these "http://www.marinedepot.com/IMD%5C150%5CPF2631.jpg" for all 4 bulbs. And stager the mounting (hacked up picture below). I want to be able to run 10k and 20k bulbs at the same time.

1) Will this work? Is it a good idea? Will the 400's wash out the 250's?
2) If this would work, would it be best to have the 20k's in the 400's or 250's (I have it planned for the 400's)
3) This should help my cooling (hopefully), one of my problems is not being able to get air around the parallel reflector, here I would be pushing air through the reflectors.

Kevin

[clownfishcrazy]

I am usuing 2 250w 10K XMs and 2 400w 20k radiums on a 6 ft long tank. IIRC you have a 4 ft tank, I think you should do 2 250w 10ks and a 400w 20K in between the 10ks.

[ksarauer]

Here is the pic for the layought...

[clownfishcrazy]

I forgot to add that I am usuing spider light reflectors.

[ksarauer]

Originally Posted by clownfishcrazy

I am usuing 2 250w 10K XMs and 2 400w 20k radiums on a 6 ft long tank. IIRC you have a 4 ft tank, I think you should do 2 250w 10ks and a 400w 20K in between the 10ks.

I'd rather not put a light directly over the center brace. I do not want it to get too hot. Thoughts??

[clownfishcrazy]

Is your center brace clear?

[David Grigor]

Personally, on an 8' tank I tried to put stagger different K bulbs and could never keep from getting a stripped look doing the way you mention. I eventually just went with 5 400W Radiums. If It's important to you to keep an even color look across the tank then best to stick will all the same ballasts/bulbs.

In your diagram the middle is definately going to look different than the sides because of the concentration of 10Ks.

I have seen where the bulbs blend in better when not user spiders mounted perpendicular but with the PFO parallel ones where the different K bulbs are facing each other in the reflectors

Such as this:

Where | is the mogul and the ---- is the bulb.

|--- ---| |--- ----|

[Graham]

I wouldn't stagger them. I'd put the bulbs right across from each other pointing at each other. Heat shouldn't be a problem for the bulbs, since halides are meant to run hot. If you stagger, you're going to get lines of different color.

On my tank (4 feet), I have it laid out like

20K 10K
10K 20K

You can't see any lines of color transition, but the 10Ks way overpower the 20Ks. Both are 250W...400W 20K might show a little better, but can't say, since I'm a 250 man.

I'm going to add a couple VHOs back in the mix on Friday to see if I can get a little more blue out of the tank when the 10Ks are on. Plus, nothing can imitate that actinic "pop".

[ksarauer]

Devin - yes, the center brace is clear.

So, If I use the same reflectors I have, and mount 2 additional bulbs in them so the tips of the bulbs are facing each other, I should get the best blending of light. Something still tells me that I will be able to see a blue'r end on the tank with the 20K on the end and 10K on the other end.

Where | is the mogul and the ---- is the bulb.
|--- ---| |--- ----|
20K 10K 20K 10K

I am also planning on using 4 VHO's to help wash out the white. (Possible 2 if I can get by with only 2)

What if I mounted them like Graham and had the tips facing one another? 10K in the back, and 20K in the front? I have a center overflow so this would break up the non blending light.. Thoughts?
10K 10K
20K 20K

Also, (Not sure what it is called so excuse my french...) When mounting a SE bulb, the center of the bulb has the glass bubble piece inside, this has (what looks like) a nipple should this face up or down? Or does it not matter...

[Graham]

Kevin,

Since my tank is viewable on the 2 long sides (sticks out into the room), the configuration I went with was the only way I could get the light to blend equally. If you have the traditional front face only main view, what you suggest would probably work.

Still, the 10Ks completely overpower the 20Ks...which is why I'm adding some actinic back. The main point sources of the paired bulbs are about 6" from each other, so it's nearly originating from the same spot - if that makes sense.
But again, they're all 250W bulbs. 400W 20K's might show a little better.

[ksarauer]

I'll have to try it a couple ways, but that way makes the most sense to me for balancing the lighting out within the tank...

Time will tell..

Now, if the group buy on the chillers would happen....

Kevin

[Tutmos]

How about just replacing your 250's with 400's and not bothering to run 4? Save on electrical

[ksarauer]

I want the benefit of both the 10k (par) and 20k (look) bulbs. I also want to upgrade from 250 to 400's, but know that I will not be able to recoup the cost of the 250's, so why not use them...

I am not worried about the extra $10 it will cost to run them.

[ksarauer]

I received the 400W XM 20k bulbs today, and they are longer than planed for, guess I didn't really think about the length of the bulb being an issue. Well it is, now what? (bracket + socket + bulb = 14.5", I was planning on 12" ea.)
I was initially planning on trying both configerations,
20k 10k 10k 20k
|--- ---||--- ---|
and
10k 10k
20k 20k
(So the 10k's would be in the back of the tank facing the front, and the 20k's would be in the front of the tank facing the back.) I would have the same problem as above with bulb overlap.

I could off set them a little ~2" Not sure how bad of an idea this is.?.?. The tip from the 400w would be ofset on the 25w reflector
20k 10k 10k 20k
|--- ---|
---||---

I may end up going with
20k 10k 20k
|--- |--- ---|
This will give me better blending, hopefully offset the 20k's enough with brightnes (remember the 10k is a 250w, and the 20k are 400w) The only problem with this is the center brace on the tank is right under the 250w bulb. Should I be concerned about this?

[ksarauer]

Another option would be...
20k 10k 20k
__ | __
| --- |

The 20k bulb tips would face the front, the 10k bulb tip would face the rear.

This would give me maximum colling within my canopy, as the fans are blowing directly across the legnth of the bulbs and sucking air out at the tip.

Thoughts?? How do you think the blending would be?