puttputt Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 As you probably saw, have sold my Arcadia unit to skippy and am upgrading to 3 X 400w units using the new Lumenarc type reflectors. The Arcadia unit is a cracker, but as I really like sps (I know Reef, so last year :lol: ) and hope to get better penetration down to the bottom of the tank to allow sps to grow and colour up at increased depth, and also get better throw of the light with the reflectors. I've picked up the lights, reflectors and ballasts today, and organised some heavy duty timers and the sparkie at work is setting up a board with 3 outlets. I've made a tube frame to be suspended over the tank, which the reflectors will attach to and the ballasts etc sit on top of. Should have all the bits tomorrow so will post picks of it in bits, and then assembled and over the tank. Looking forward to seeing the difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 Good luck and please post pics. I'm getting one this weekend and would be keen to see how you did the mounting of yours. Would also be very interesting to have some comparison pictures a few months after the upgrade. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 I'm hoping nicks will post pics of his as his acro's are looking stunning in just 4 weeks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 12, 2006 Report Share Posted July 12, 2006 I'm hoping nicks will post pics of his as his acro's are looking stunning in just 4 weeks certainly made the biggest improvement to my tank so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 Heres the bits and pieces before assembly.....hope to assemble tonight and hang it up in the morning. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 13, 2006 Report Share Posted July 13, 2006 hurry up what are you mucking around at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 well here they are in place and going, and the result is awesome. I really like the colour, and there are whole tank is lit, no dark areas. Brilliant!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 wow you got those sitting high! mine are about half that height.. but then you gotta larger tank though i guess nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 gotta start a bit high so you dont shock the corals Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chimera Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 yeah i know, but thats pretty damn high and he had reasonably good lighting before that too puttputt - before and after shots of the tank itself? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jetskisteve Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 old bulbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shiuh Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 wow....those lights are seriously the ultimate! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Steve's right. they will come down,(note the extra chain Chim) but there is a seriously high amount of light, and even at that height, it is shocking the leather at the moment. Chim, thanks for the PM, I'll be responding soon . The tank looks great and the colours even better - very, very pleased so far. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 That looks way cool! Question: Why put the ballasts on the metal frame? Keeps them out of the way but I'd be concerned about the extra weight, and the heat from the bulbs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 The metal frame was made strong!!!, specifically to carry the ballasts, and keep it tidy, the lights reflect the heat down, not much heat being generated up. The frame has wire mesh on it, to allow circulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogmatix Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Looks stink man i reckon ud be better off wif only T8's Infact i think when you swap to T8's you should let me take it off your hands Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubbles Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 It's definately giving my some ideas for how to setup mine. Thanks for sharing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duke Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Very nice. Can you take another picture from back further? Just want to see how the look. thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cracker Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Nice setup mate......very cool. Mmmm...I can see an upgrade on the way..... :-? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Thanks all. Duke, I was back as far as I can get in my little room . I am stunned at the way these bulbs have brought the colours out in my corals. The blues and greens are glowing, the purples much more pronouced, its great. :bounce: Hope to take some pic's when i borrow the camera from work, mines just a little fine pix rubbish thing. Need a better one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 You should get a big spread of light with the big reflectors. Corals to tend to look better with a bit of blue, however whilst the arcadia bulbs are more white you do tend to get better growth but the corals look more washed out, The narva 14k bulbs are really weak so you dont get great growth, they tend to have a low par rating. so there is always a trade off between looks and growth. Found 400w bulbs are not that bright as i still have to run 8 x t5s. might try the iwasaki 6500k, but that would mean changing to mercury vapor ballast. i still think 250w De bulbs are almost as bright as a SE 400w. Are you running any glass covers?? pretty risky without them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Just have to see how the growth goes with these bulbs. Don't have covers but do I need them, I thought only DE needed glass for UV protection. These lights are considerably brighter, visually anyway, than the arcadias were even when they were new, and this is with them being so high at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reef Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 you dont need glass, however get some water on them and they will end up in the tank. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
puttputt Posted July 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 ok, thought that might be the reason, just have to hope scar doesn't splash them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kermit Posted July 14, 2006 Report Share Posted July 14, 2006 Man they look great dude awsome job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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