about to purchase lighting, thoughts on my schematic?

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

The only way to know really is to try,.. if it starts to get too hot you can go get another one. Pulling air from outside the hood and blowing it right on the surface of the water has been best IME.

You can get a 12V power brick for about $12,. this will also do 9V if your fans are too loud, or cooling too much you can turn it down. I saw a box of 6 fans for $24 last time I was there,.. so it won't cost much to experiment.

Whiskey

Sweet, beats the heck out of the $30-40 for 1 fan the aquarium stores are charging (and these are still DIY).

[Wiskey]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

Sweet, beats the heck out of the $30-40 for 1 fan the aquarium stores are charging (and these are still DIY).

Ya, I know,.. I've always been a bit upset about that. One thing I have learned is that those clip on 125V fans are usually quieter for the air they put off,.. plus at sams club or walmart there usually like $5,.. if you can clip one of those on the back of your hood and have it blow in (Like my 50 is currently setup) it would be by far the cheapest and easyst option.

Whiskey

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by beach bum

he runs dual 250's on a 120 reef tank. bulbs are approximately 10" off the water, tank is 2' top to bottom, so lights are about 34" from the bottom of tank.


Good reflectors will be your key, something like the lumenarc with a single 250, assisted by actinic will be plenty imo. but obviously it's always good to get many opinions so you feel comfortable with your setup.


good luck!

Thanks! I think I'm going with just one MH, so why not the 400?

[beach bum]

because imo it is unnecessary given proper reflectors, ballasts, bulbs, especially if you are running supplemental light.

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Wiskey

Ya, I know,.. I've always been a bit upset about that. One thing I have learned is that those clip on 125V fans are usually quieter for the air they put off,.. plus at sams club or walmart there usually like $5,.. if you can clip one of those on the back of your hood and have it blow in (Like my 50 is currently setup) it would be by far the cheapest and easyst option.

Whiskey

Cool, I was considering that, but wasnt sure it would work. I'll try that, maybe adding 2 if necessary.

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by beach bum

because imo it is unnecessary given proper reflectors, ballasts, bulbs, especially if you are running supplemental light.

ok, so I think I'll go with the 400 to be safe, but if its too much, I'll be sure to let you know so you can say I told you so

[beach bum]

Originally Posted by mcliffy2

ok, so I think I'll go with the 400 to be safe, but if its too much, I'll be sure to let you know so you can say I told you so

that's fine, just 2c on what works. good luck!

[Fly Guy]

I just noticed that we are talking about a 4 foot tank instead of a 3 like was mentioned earlier......

You really dont want only one MH bulb above this tank Mcliffy.

It doesnt change the fact that 30 is deep and even 2-250's, especially of the 14k persuasion you are thinking of putting in it, will not penetrate very well to the bottom of the tank. But at least 2 250's will get you good coverage all the way across the middle and top.

I still maintain that you really do need the 400 watts for a tank that deep, but given the choice between one 400 watt, and 2 250's. The choice is clearly the 2 250's.

JMO

[Wiskey]

I agree,...

Whiskey

[crvz]

I know you guys were complaining a little about the price of some of the fans, but this fan at marinedepot.com is actually really nice.
http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewIt...product=SL2911

It is 25 bucks, which is a little steeper than some of the others, and marginally larger, but if you can fit it in place I'd highly recommend it. I've got three of them, but only one is in use right now (the other are for the upgrade tank, see link below). On high (at 200cfm), it cannot be heard. At all. Inaudible.

The only detractor (well, uh, besides size and cost!) is that the grill can rust, but it comes off really easily and can be wiped down to prevent it. But for me, sound was critical, as some of the smaller fans (3 and 4" computer fans) tend to whine a little, and when you have a few of the same fans, all running at slightly different speeds, they tend to dissonate and make it worse.

[beach bum]

oh, 4 ft.? my bad I was judging by your avatar bowfront looking thing. still, don't underestimate the power of proper reflects, ballasts. cheers.

[mcliffy2]

Originally Posted by Fly Guy

I just noticed that we are talking about a 4 foot tank instead of a 3 like was mentioned earlier......

You really dont want only one MH bulb above this tank Mcliffy.

It doesnt change the fact that 30 is deep and even 2-250's, especially of the 14k persuasion you are thinking of putting in it, will not penetrate very well to the bottom of the tank. But at least 2 250's will get you good coverage all the way across the middle and top.

I still maintain that you really do need the 400 watts for a tank that deep, but given the choice between one 400 watt, and 2 250's. The choice is clearly the 2 250's.

JMO

OK, well shoot, I already ordered, BUT, I was able to upgrade...I only got the 1 400 to put over the middle where all my corals will be, but I was able to get FOUR 36" T5s to go with it. The place is able to custom order 4xT5 retros to fit in a tighter space. hopefully this will extend the lighting out a bit wider and be enough at the edges.

So total is 1 400W MH + 4 36" 39w T5 w/ individual reflectors (2 actinic + 2 10k). This is 556w...almost 5w/gallon.

So I know, not ideal and a little unevenly distributed, but with the weird constraints of my hood (opens from top) and tank shape, does this sound like it will it least work? If I just keep my restraints in mind and place corals that need light where light is available? I tentatively am planning to do a 3 stage lighting cycle, have the actinics on for 12 hours, an hour later the 10k T5s on for 10 hours, and an hour later the MH on for 8 hours.