Lumenarc Mini vs. LumenBright Mini

[HerbieK]

I currently have a Lumenarc Mini SE, a LumenBright Mini and a Reef Optix I parabolic reflector on my 180 (all 250W XM SEs). This is a standard 6' X 2' X 2' tank, so I am looking to light up 3 2ft squares. When I replaced the parabolic with the LumenBright, I noticed an extreme difference in light intensity and distribution. The LumenBright is exactly 6 inches from the water. I do notice that the light is very focused, and I may not be getting the coverage I had expected. The light intensity increase was such that I put some egg crate and a diffuser on the tank to keep from frying my acros.

When I replaced the second parabolic with the Lumenarc Mini, I did not notice as radical an improvement in intensity as I did with the LumenBrights. The light may have a slightly better spread but not the intensity.

I am looking to replace my final parabolic with one of the above, but I am wondering whether my canopy is too low to get the full benefit out of these reflectors. I could live with another Lumen Bright, but I may not get the coverage due to them being so close to the water. I am supplementing with two 6 ft VHO actinics as well.

Any suggestions, thoughts or comments on this setup?

Thanks.

Herb

[badazztealcobra]

If you want to use the lumenbrights you'll need to get them higher off the water... From what Ive read the minimum is 10" to get good light spead on a 6X2X2 tank. I have 3 of them that are going to go onto a 180g and plan on putting them at 14" above the surface of the water just to start, Im going to make my canopy taller so I can raise them higher if I ever needed to.

[JRaquatics]

I would consider the minimal distance with the Lumen Bright mini would be 14 inches from bulb to the water surface or 12 inches from the reflector to the water surface. IMO there is nothing better on the market for you size tank than the Lumen Brights when mounted at there correct height.

[setec69]

I too was going to get the lumenarcs, but went with lumenbright. I got 3 of them from reefspecialty and am glad I did.

I have mine 12 inches off the water, 14 from the bulb. I was going to go with 400s, but Mike convinced me that I could get away with 250s if I used the lumenbrights.

Now I have par readings of a 400 regular reflector and the heat of a 150 because the reflectors are so far off the water I can have a fan running underneath them.

IMO there is really no other choice if you have the room in your canopy and if you dont, check out what JRAquatics did with his canopy just so he could fit these reflectors.

You can find pics of it in the lumenbright thread.

[Fuppets]

JRAquatics doesn't have any pics in the gallery. I will soon be building a canopy for the aqua medic pendants that I bought but want to future proof my build. Build it once the right way and don't build it again.

Shawn

[Fuppets]

Had to do some searching but I found the pic.