Lightrails - next big thing in reef lighting?

[fkshiu]

Anybody out there using a lightrail system yet? I noticed that Hidden Reef has them now.

[Justusfish]

I went on their site and can't see them. Can you post a link? thanks

[fkshiu]

http://www.hiddenreef.ca/storefront/...&categoryid=35

http://www.lightrail3.com/

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113356

http://www.homeharvest.com/lightmovers.htm

It more accurately simulates the sun passing over your tank as the day goes by and you can get away with fewer MHs (only 1 is needed over a 4' tank, for example).

[Chin_Lee]

i'm using a light revolving unit now which rotates the lights in a circular pattern over my cube tank. The corners are not getting enough light so I'm in the process of changing it over to a light rail unit that will move the lights back and forth. There is a unit with a 30 second delay at each end of the rail to increase the light times at both ends of the rail.

[i have crabs]

i seen a set up once that had 400w halides on tracks made from garage door parts, they where growing something other than corals though

[hawk]

On a 8 ft tank I wonder how it would work if a single 400w was on the light mover during the day, then have the tank fully lit in the evening for a few hours when the tank is being viewed?

[fkshiu]

Originally Posted by hawk

On a 8 ft tank I wonder how it would work if a single 400w was on the light mover during the day, then have the tank fully lit in the evening for a few hours when the tank is being viewed?

Others have supplemented the lightrail MH with T5s along the entire length of the tank so as to minimize the shadowing effect.

[littlesilvermax]

I have that same system from Sunlight Supply, got it about 3 years ago I think.

I have a 7'2" tank with three 250 watts MHs and I supplement with 4 T5s and 2 VHO actinics.

Right click and "save as" to watch the first vid


Right click and "save as" to watch the second vid

I have had to adjust a few things eover the years to keep it working, but I am very happy with the system.

[fkshiu]

Cool vids.

How much clearance do you need above the tank?

[littlesilvermax]

Originally Posted by fkshiu

Cool vids.

How much clearance do you need above the tank?

I have 2 feet total above my tank and it works OK, I would prefer more. The extra aluminum bar that holds the three halides takes about a few inches too, so it depends if you mont one halide to the mover or mount a few like I did.