lighting the 1000's

[reefkoi]

Got one of the 1000 watt helios 20K's lit just now.
It's on the left the middle is off and the 2-250 watt phoenix's are on the far right.
I thought the phoenix had great color but i'm loving the 20K helios.
I'll add a shot when all 3 are on
http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/reefkoi/10001.jpg

[Deuce67]

Man, that is brighter for sure!

[aquaman2000]

Your going to have to tint the monkeys dive mask so he can clean your tank.

The pic is sweet the 1000 WATT 20K’s kick total a__!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can’t wait to them in person.

I am inspired and can not wait to get my 1000 W 20K’s burning.

[lfduty]

That looks good.

[calvin415]

Wow!!! I think that is going to have to be the route we go as well Chris. Thanks for being the ultimate tester! LOL!

[reefkoi]

Dude this is intense with the lights in the room dimmed my eyes have to take time to adjust!
It hurts at first then they adjust.
I hope the corals can handle the change and adjust.
Crazy.............I can't believe how the colors pop, I guess the intensity and the slightly bluer color help .
I have ditched the PC's now LOL won't need those wimps anymore LOL.

Eric you will have to come by

[LarryW]

Sweet! are you going to add the other 2 slowly, or tomorrow? :D

[reefkoi]

I added the 2nd one tonight and I'll add the 3rd Sunday probably.
I am doing a 6 hour on right now if it seem's like too much I'll cut it back.

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10244743#post10244743 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
I added the 2nd one tonight and I'll add the 3rd Sunday probably.

So all the bleached frags will be ready to move on Sunday then.
<a href="http://plugin.smileycentral.com/http%253A%252F%252Fwww.smileycentral.com%252F%253Fpartner%253DZSzeb008%255FZS%2526i%253D36%252F36%25 5F12%255F6%2526feat%253Dprof/page.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/36/36_12_6.gif"

[LarryW]

cool. did you add the right as the second, or the middle?

[Deuce67]

LOL! Looks like you are inspiring other fellas to go to 1000W huh? Before you guys start ordering these 1000W, double check to see if your outlets can handle the load. Chris setup was a breeze since he has an electrical panel with available breaker space in an unfinished mechanical room. No problem with wiring it up there.

[reefkoi]

Yeah Larry I did the left as #1 the middle as #2 and the right as #3 all the ballasts, outlets and breakers marked accordingly.

Yeah Russ makes a good point I have to have 1 -15 amp circuit per lamp. It draws 9 amps per bulb, thats a total of 27 amps for lighting, thats a lot. Plus the 20 amp chiller. But to use the large lumenarc III reflectors above a 4' wide tank this is the only way to go really. Otherwise you'd only end up with 3-400 watters and heck thats not near enough light for a 4x8 tank. Even Scotts 125 has 3-400 watt bulbs on it.
I'll pay the extra power bill, I think it's well worth it. I will have the 3rd bulb on by Sunday and I'll do a comparison photo like the one I posted in my FTS thread, that way I could post them next to each other and see what it looks like.

[normanviking]

That looks awesome Chris. Post some more pics. I hope your stuff doesn't get to burned.

[bigsittingrock]

How much is the tank tour and what are the hours?

[aquaman2000]

And does the facility provide sun glasses or do we need bring our own?

[LarryW]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10246885#post10246885 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by aquaman2000
And does the facility provide sun glasses or do we need bring our own?

don't forget sun screen. SPS 50 probably! :D

[reefkoi]

LOL well the tank tour is Sept. 22nd. sunglasses not provided.
I have the 3rd bay opened up and everything in place, ready for the fixture.
I'll post a FTS tomorrow afternoon

C

[calvin415]

Chris/Riuss, we've got 2 20A circuits available for the 225, with the lights on one and the rest of the tank (Pumps, Heaters, Skimmer etc) on the other. I figure 2 1000W setups would be 18A on a 20A circuit. I know you're not supposed to push them to a limit, think this could be an issue?

[Deuce67]

Yes, it would be an issue. No more than 80% load on a rated breaker. So thats 16A. 400W is more than enough for you 24" tall tank bro.

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10247195#post10247195 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by calvin415
Chris/Riuss, we've got 2 20A circuits available for the 225, with the lights on one and the rest of the tank (Pumps, Heaters, Skimmer etc) on the other. I figure 2 1000W setups would be 18A on a 20A circuit. I know you're not supposed to push them to a limit, think this could be an issue?
Sounds like a new sub panel is in order. If you want to play with the big dogs you got to spend like one, right Christo?

[Deuce67]

They have a subpanel. Problem is its at the other end of the basement and the basement is finished. Unless they wanna cut some drywall out to run a new line, 400W is the max which is more than enough.

[calvin415]

I don't think 400's will cut it, but maybe we can divide the load up between the two circuits...

[reefkoi]

you know I think you could maybe do 1 1000 watter. raise it up and it may cover well.
just a thought then if its noy enough add 1 more.
I think 2 good 400's would work also but if it doesn't then your out that money so its a tough call.

[calvin415]

Yeah, I don't want to have to shell out more money, I'd rather just jump on up. Scott looked at it and didn't think 400's would be enough either... I PM'd you Chris, but I'll add it here... How hot do they get? I've got a cross brace so I'd either have to have the light way up (new light rack) or I'd have to go to 2 to keep from melting the support. :( LMK your thoughts.

[reefkoi]

Like I said in my PM, I forgot about the brace and these things do get hot! My chiller has no problem keeping up but 1000 watts of anything is going to be hot.
If we lived in a perfect world you could have built the tank with a eurobrace and got away with 1-1000 watt bulb and everything would be great.
Who knew though?
For now though I say check these out, feel the heat, see the light spread and color and then decide.

Honestly I know 1000 watts on a reef tank is very very rare. But does that mean nobody wants to try anything new? 400 watters were very rare 10 years ago. If you had mentioned 400 watters on a 125 10 years ago people would laugh at you. But it works.
Hell a 110 watt VHO was the hot ticket when I got into this hobby.
I think the 1000's are going to get more common.

I read books and articles that state "it's nearly impossible to overlight your tank"

So that's why I did it.
Reefermadness uses all the same components I now have. I consulted with Kris Wray about this before starting.
They have some of the nicest looking corals on the net and then when people get the corals home and they adjust to 250 watt bulbs they turn into an average looking coral. Why? Because we don't hit our tanks with enough light I believe.

It's going to be an experiment, I will be having you all over here in September at the meeting and those of you that have seen my tank can see for yourself if it was a good or bad move.

Chris

[racer69]

Sounds like a good experiment Chris. I am looking forward to seeing the light spread with just three bulbs.

[reefkoi]

You'll be amazed, they spread wider than the 2 -250s per hole did.
I think its the lumenarc 3, they are much wider than the smaller stealths so it spreads great

[reefkoi]

well they are all on now, this photo makes it look pretty blue, but anyway heres the shot.
They are bright but not as bright as you'd think. I think it will be perfect and i don't see any reason I'll be losing anything

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b46/reefkoi/600panorama4.jpg

[racer69]

They will get brighter in a couple of weeks after they burn in. I personally thing they look awsome.

[LarryW]

sweet.....

[calvin415]

Went and looked at it tonight and I have to say, as cool as this setup was with the 6 250's, these 1000 watters are the sweetest thing I've ever seen! In fact I'm calling Scott in the morning to order a pair for the 225. UNBELIEVABLE COLOR AND BRIGHTNESS!!!

[Thurge]

The power company must love ya'll.

[ReefJerk]

That is sweet! I love how the shadows hit the sandbed. Looks like a snapshot of a tidepool. I can't wait to see that in person.

What do you think that will add to your light bill, maybe 20-30 bucks a month? Even if it were an extra $100, that would be worth it to me. My accountant(read: wife) only counts in C-Notes, lucky me ;)

[Deuce67]

From Chris old existing (6) 250W to (3) 1000W will add approximately $32 a month at .12 a KW. I think thats what Mountain View Electric charges. Still not bad but that doesnt include the 2HP chiller consumption so I would say around $50 a month give or take a few bucks. Were just lucky to live in a state that still have a fairly reasonable electrical rate.

[reefkoi]

Thanks Russ, that's not too bad. I really don't know about my elec. bill, I could buy a nice new car for what the payment is per month. If I lived in California it'd be $1K a month I think.
Cliff, anything less than a benjamin is change and not worth getting excited over right?

[ReefJerk]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10267965#post10267965 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
...Cliff, anything less than a benjamin is change and not worth getting excited over right?
That's the way SHE counts. Anything $100 and over, she starts telling me what bill she has to pay. But, as long as the lights stay on, I really could care less what she does with my money. She had my son and lays in my bed every night. That's got to be worth something, hunh? :D

[reefkoi]

Yeah Cliff, It sounds like you have it good.
You forgot to add that she lets you have lots of water in the house!

[lfduty]

The tank looks good Im going to try and get Kendra to let me put 1000w on the 150g when I get it from Keri2000 Or i will put them on and tell her that they are the same old light's and the tanks not as deep

[TikiDan]

I am jealous! I just upgraded to 2 250watt fixtures and am dreading this months power bill. Although, I still have to say one thing about living in California, the pros outweigh the cons.
http://i111.photobucket.com/albums/n122/Tikidan/tank2.jpg

[Caleb Kruse]

Lfduty, why would you put a 1000w on a 150g?

[reefkoi]

Looks good Tiki, yeah Cali is cool I lived in Socal for about 15 years, but like most everybody now in Colorado we moved :D
Seriously though I love visiting, especially the reef scene it's big out there.

Lin, I think a 1000 would need to be pretty high to spread over a 150, I think if I had that sized tank I would do a bunch of T-5's man those things are cool! And they make the colors of the fish really glow.

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10271367#post10271367 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by reefkoi
I would do a bunch of T-5's man those things are cool! And they make the colors of the fish really glow.
Yeah like the main Reef tank at Premier. You cant beat the colors he has in that tank on just T-5s

[reefkoi]

yeah bingo, I love that tank, it is very bright. The colors of the corals and fish are hard to beat!

[Deuce67]

Any more updates? No signs of lightning up of your corals? I know its only been a week or so but how about improvement of colors? Hows that digi on top of Mt Wanahakalugi? LOL!

[calvin415]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10284950#post10284950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Deuce67
Mt Wanahakalugi

LOL!!!!!!!

[reefkoi]

That coral in my avatar that pugroyale said was bleached and would probably die is actually lightening up.
It got darker over the last month and is going back to lighter already.
my Blue samoensis that browned out and I have been wanting to trash is coming back blue, amazing it can happen so fast.
The Digi on Mt Fuji is taking it hard.
If that SOB can live with 4 inches of water between it and 1K bulb I give it props!
The rainbow has some bleached polyps on top, the sides are normal so if the top dies i think the coral will be fine .
So all in all I can't say anything died yet and the rest of them have done nothing but improve! I can't wait to see what happens after a month or 2

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10284950#post10284950 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Deuce67
top of Mt Wanahakalugi? LOL! Hey I think I'm going there next year when I go to Hawaii. I think I'll also go see Mt. Kumoniwannalaya

[Butchdawg14]

lol lol lol lol lol thats good tim!

[Huhhhhh]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10288436#post10288436 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Butchdawg14
lol lol lol lol lol thats good tim! I see you found one of my other avatars. May not fly for long but I like it. Do you have the other one also, it may last longer?

[reefkoi]

Well I guess they are pretty bright, I had to frag off the famous rainbow monti and move it down, it was bleaching on the top side. Same with that really bright pink monti. I think they will be o.k. Montis must not be able to handle as much light as an acro. All the acros on top of Mt. Fuji are doing o.k. so far.

[Butchdawg14]

lol lol yea i did find it tim......i like it....i think it will last until i change it....she is fully clothed....you werent using them so i thought i would lol lol.....the other one is not as good as the one i have right now....so ill leave that one for later.