Lighting placement

[Dez]

Few questions

1. Why would you get a better spread if you mount your halides front to back as opposed to parallel with your tank? I have a 4 x 2 footprint and running to 400w halides. If I mount them either way, won't they still light up each 2 x 2 foot section?

2. I am debating not using my reflector that came with my bluewave retrofit kit. It is so tall! It is shaped like a big "U" shape. But if I use my other spider type reflector, it is 4 feet long and curved more like the curve of a contact lense - not quite as tall. This way the fans can blow through the 4 foot length of the hood. But if I mount it front to back with the "U" shaped reflectors, I supposedly get a "better spread" right? but the fans would be blowing right into the reflector. and this would allow me less option of mounting my 4 compact fluorescent bulbs because the tall reflector would be "blocking" some of the fluorescent lighting.

Please convince me why it would give me a better spread and if the "U" shaped reflectore is even worth it. I spent a good deal of money on them, but my 4 foot reflector is a spider typed reflectore and it's polished aluminum..

Help please. Thanks..

Des

[Delphinus]

Why would you get a better spread if you mount your halides front to back as opposed to parallel with your tank?

I would think that it depends on the reflector. Just using a reflector one way or the other shouldn't make a difference .... it depends on the spread that a reflector gives you. I thought that the ones for perpendicular had a wider spread or something like that. The shape mustn't be a perfectly symmetrical 2'x2' area.

BUT ... I don't have those kind myself so I can't really offer any practical advice based on experience ... sorry. I myself went with the 4' reflector running the length of the tank. I'm sure it's not "optimal" but then again I'm pretty happy with the results so far. So ... whatever you do, go with whatever makes most sense for you. Try it out both ways and see if you notice a difference.

[Jayson]

Dez, use the Bluewave reflecters. Mount them front to back. I would also mount the socket end at the front of the tank and not at the back. This will allow more light hit your reef/rockwork and not the front glass. If I am confusing you give me a call and I will walk you through it. Thanks

[stephane]

As Im a poor french it is very hard to explane you why but if you install them in paralel you will loose a lot of light in the glass of the tank

Aniway I will try to explane Look carfuly the bulb. It is a cylinder so it spread the light all over it on the other hand the top dont spead a lot and the soket block most of the light so if you put the bulb in paralel you will have in your tank the light of the tip and the socket but most of the light that the cylinder spread will be directed in the glass

Hope you will understand

[ 20 September 2002, 22:40: Message edited by: stephane ]

[Dez]

Okay, I've had a few opinions so far... so should I mount them directly in the middle of the 2x2 footprint then?

Des

[EmilyB]

per Dana Riddle:

the best design would be to have your bulbs perpendicular to the front of the aquarium

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">this page

I know with the bowfront, it was very helpful to get light up towards the front, where I keep sand dwelling corals.

[Dez]

question again....

How do you fit other lighting in if you mount the halides front to back? It's a lot easier to mound other lighting if it's parallel. All of the commercial lighting fixtures have them mounted parallel with the long side of the aquarium. I'm trying to fit 4 other 55watt compact fluorescent bulbs in my hood as well. It doesn't work very well with the Bluewave reflector....

Thanks for the input so far.

Des

[stephane]

Here pic of my DIYset up

the canopy is split in two so any side could flip over very helful when you want to work in the tank some have door who could open but I like more to have all the top off the tank clear when I want to work in it I will send other picture of the top that way you will see who it work note that any side of the tank could be open, front or back

now I will show you what it make when I close it

[stephane]

Originally posted by EmilyB:
per Dana Riddle:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> the best design would be to have your bulbs perpendicular to the front of the aquarium

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">this page

I know with the bowfront, it was very helpful to get light up towards the front, where I keep sand dwelling corals.</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Oupss I have said I will try but my english is very poor in those case I have said the way to go is parralele but in fact what I want to say is perpendicular like Emily and Jason have said Sorry for the confusion Dez

[ 20 September 2002, 22:47: Message edited by: stephane ]

[Dez]

Thanks Stephane....

why doesn't your middle halide have a reflector? Also, are you running open tops? How do you keep the canopy so clean if it is open tops? Thanks so much..

Also, doesn't your fluorescent cause shadows if you mount them like that below the halides? Doesn't that defeat the purpose of getting the most spread with the halides?

Also, how high are your bulbs off the surface. I'm sure that makes a difference. Any other opinions? I'll have mine about 6 inches above the surface of the water.

des

[ 20 September 2002, 22:50: Message edited by: Dez ]