How High/Low to Mount Lumenarc Mini's ... Advice Needed

FishDad2 · #1 12/28/2007, 12:21 PM

Thanks to much guidance form the RC community, I've decided to upgrade my lighting system to 3 x 400w MH (20,000K) using Lumenarc Mini reflectors, along with 4 x 24" VHO to supplement. The current system is a Hamilton retrofit with 3 x 250w MH (20,000K & 14,000K) and 4 x 96w PC's but just doesn't do a good enough job for my SPS below the first 1/4 of the tank. The idea of the upgrade is to increase the intensity at depth by bumping up the wattage of the MH and significantly improving the reflector quality.

So, in terms of mounting the Lumenarc reflectors, the easiest solution is to just attach them to the underside of the canopy, but that's ~17.5" off the water, leaving the bulbs more than 12" off the water. In this case then, is easiest also what's best?

I guess the real question is, for my setup, what's the ideal distance from the bottom edge of the reflector to water?

Having no expereince with the Lumenarc Mini's myself, I'm hoping for some advice from those who do have that experience.

The tank itself is 72"L x 22"D x 30"H ...the photo below is old but you get the idea.

And this is my plan for laying out the lights. Note that I'm offsetting the center light, as the rocks come out more toward the front of the tank there because of the overflow, and I see no reason to illuminate the overflow itself.

Thanks,
Chris

sirreal63 · #2 12/28/2007, 12:49 PM

The Mini's have eye bolt's to make it easy. I hung mine from a central beam that spanned the length of the tank.

FishDad2 · #3 12/28/2007, 03:40 PM

Not that I couldn't add eye bolts, but I ordered the plain reflectors, not the "Stealth" units. I don't believe the ones I ordered come with the eye bolts.

How far off the water are yours mounted?

sirreal63 · #4 12/28/2007, 03:45 PM

The Mini's have the outer shell and the Stealth do not. If you ordered the Mini's they should look just like those above. The Stealth would be just the reflector with no outer shell. The bottom of the reflector was 6" off the water. Awesome lights. Mine are retro'd for 150 watt bulbs and they work great.

sirreal63 · #5 12/28/2007, 03:48 PM

Beautiful woodwork by the way. My fiance' wants to do that when we get our house. :-)

FishDad2 · #6 12/28/2007, 04:02 PM

Thanks...the cabinetry came out great. It was my way, way over-the-top 40th birthday gift to myself. Well, that and the tank. The cabinetry sold the whole thing to my wife though, so without the cabinetry, there would be no tank!

As for the great outer shell debate ;-), looking at the Lumenarc Lighting website, the Mini is pictured w/o a shell and the "Stealth" models both have shells. They're also out of stock on the units with shells so I went bare bones. Not that it really matters one way or the other...in the end, we'll both have the same great reflector inside!!

Lumenarc Lighting Reflectors

Is it possible they switched the naming around since you made your purchase?