Starfire Lighting Suggestions

[Myka]

Originally Posted by Jfish

Yeah I did consider pendants since they could still be hanged above and leave a clean look. I guess I just don't have the understanding of MH so its a little intimidating trying to figure out how to piece it togeather. So your suggesting using two or three pendants, each pendant having two bulbs inside of it. Then spacing the pendants evenly across the length of the tank. That way the two bulbs in the pendant would be spaced a bit so not as much light would be going straight into the overflow.

Not quite. Two pendants, one bulb in each pendant. One pendant on each end of the tank with a slightly larger gap between the two lights than the gap between each light and the end of the tank.

Originally Posted by Jfish

I take it the pendants only have a power cord coming out of them that could be run down into the stand. Then each pendant would attach to a seperate ballast?

Yes, one cord going from each pendant to each ballast, then one cord from each ballast to the wall. You can buy dual ballasts too, so they are 2 in 1. Still have one cord from each pendant though, but only one cord to the wall.

Originally Posted by Jfish

If you don't mind me asking a good place to get all this stuff if I decide to go that route or at least gain a better understanding of it. I see on JL site you can pick bulbs and ballast but not the reflector. Maybe im just looking in the wrong spot.

I have some pendants, ballasts, and reflectors I could show you how they work. Makes more sense to see yourself.

On J&L's site they allow you to pick ballasts and bulbs together because some ballasts will only run certain bulbs, so some bulbs will only run on certain ballasts. They have taken that guesswork out for you by only listing the compatible options. You buy the reflectors separately, you just have to match DE or SE (double end or single end).

Personally, I prefer to buy locally rather than buying from J&L Aquatics. I suggest you talk to Bayside Corals or The Reef Shoppe and buy from whoever can get you the best price on the equipment you decide on. You may be surprised how close many prices are to J&L.

[naesco]

I would recommend you go with LED.
The lighting is discrete and compact. There is no heat and minimal electricity is used.
The florescence is outstanding under the blue LED lighting.

You can find inexpensive LED lighting at www.fish-street.com Your tank size will determine whether you want Key or Maxspect LED lighting.

Based on my experience to date I would personally never buy a MH light again.

[Jfish]

Well thanks for the input Myka. That setup does make sense it just seems like there would be a dull gap in the middle. I like the shimmer of the metal halide but I like the flexibility of my current T5 bulb setup and the flourescence of the actinics. It gives me something to think about anyways. Im sure there will be more than one phone call to colby for more information or suggestions too. Ideally I should put a nice big LED fixture on it but until the pricing comes down I don't see it happening.

Probably have to wait and see how my current fixture looks and then go from there.

[reefwars]

If you want 400w mh I have 4 of them and the ballast reflectors etc selling them cheap.

Our set ups are close in design somewhat , check out my build I'm having a light ring made and I'm mounting 4 x 250w pendants and I'm gonna use Cree LEDs to supplement and start and finish my light cycle. That ways I always get the shimmer and my halides aren't running all day

[Jfish]

Yeah our tanks are really similar. I like the type of glass that was used for your overflow. Mine is just regular glass which will eventually be covered by some black plastic.

I don't think I would go with four 400w pendants. That seems like a lot although im sure it would be nice and bright. Would it be possible to use my current t5 setup resting on the overflow and build a support or hang a couple MH in the middle of the length to supplement the T5. The T5 would be sitting about 4 inches off the water. Could a MH sit in line with the T5 fixture that close to the water or do they have to be suspended higher? Or would that possibly just create a spotlight effect in the middle of the tank?

[reefwars]

Originally Posted by Jfish

Yeah our tanks are really similar. I like the type of glass that was used for your overflow. Mine is just regular glass which will eventually be covered by some black plastic.

I don't think I would go with four 400w pendants. That seems like a lot although im sure it would be nice and bright. Would it be possible to use my current t5 setup resting on the overflow and build a support or hang a couple MH in the middle of the length to supplement the T5. The T5 would be sitting about 4 inches off the water. Could a MH sit in line with the T5 fixture that close to the water or do they have to be suspended higher? Or would that possibly just create a spotlight effect in the middle of the tank?

your t5's would be fine that close and would work on your overflow theres quite a few who do that with a center overflow like yours and if you have the room for halides i would put 2 x 250w in there as well. now the halides being that close is another issue if your using pendants i would be worried about splash or heat issues as they dont have any fans and run quite hot.

you could retrofit your t5's if you want to strip them and make a " canopy " using some halides and have it so your halides are higher than your t5's but still resting on your overflow

thats why i went with the light ring i want light all around i want it to be clean and i can mount whatever and change the height of anything i feel


how are you gonna set this tank up against the wall or pennesula or island?????

show us some pics

[sphelps]

The tank was designed to allow a 4' photon (German) fixture to sit on the overflow extensions. The fixture had two halides and 6 T5s. The position of the halides was moved to the far outside edges of the the fixture which provided most of the light for the two sides of the tank. The fixture was wide enough that the T5s filled in the remaining parts of the tank.

If the tank isn't going to be viewable from all sides anymore I would suggest moving the overflow box to the back so you can light the tank easier with a standard 4' fixture.

If you can't move the box and you're pretty handy I would suggest building a fixture which uses either halides or LEDs. Two halides will not be enough, and T5s alone won't be ideal either.

[Jfish]

The tank has four viewable sides so i'll make use of them and make it an island. It will be at the one end of my basement with enough room to walk around three of the sides. I also have a doorless closet near the wall where its going to go so probably try to squeeze in a nice chaise lounge on the other side for observing. I think I have some friends coming over tonight to move it down to the basement so i'll try to get some pics if I get it down there.

Yeah the more I look at the light ring you had made the more I like it. It leaves it nice and clean but you can still centeralize the wires and hide them pretty easy. That or possibly just pony up and get a two bulb MH fixture with the t5's built in.