185g tank lighting help

saltyfilmfolks · May 30, 2017

Test led said:
We are talking 44 flashlights per fixture and 100 degree optics.

From an 8 in wide fixture Over a 30 in wide tank that the manufacturer even reccomended a supplement to fill.

Test led · May 30, 2017

We are talking mounting these front to back. If each fixture has a spread of 24 inches and his tank is only 60 inches wide he has plenty of coverage. According to Reef Breeders website 2 of these will cover a 180 gallon 72x24 so 3 should cover 60x30 if mounted front to back. With over lap.

saltyfilmfolks · May 30, 2017

Test led said:
We are talking mounting these front to back. If each fixture has a spread of 24 inches and his tank is only 60 inches wide he has plenty of coverage. According to Reef Breeders website 2 of these will cover a 180 gallon 72x24 so 3 should cover 60x30 if mounted front to back. With over lap.

I'm just a super coverage freak I guess.

James Barton · May 30, 2017

When you say front to back what exactly does this mean. I feel lost now.

Test led · May 30, 2017

James Barton said:
When you say front to back what exactly does this mean. I feel lost now.

The would not be mounted with the length of the tank, side to side but width of the tank, front to back.

James Barton · May 30, 2017

Test led said:
The would not be mounted with the length of the tank, side to side but width of the tank, front to back.

Oh that makes sense now.

Reefer40b · Jun 1, 2017

I know they are making a light bar strip sorta like the reefbrite xho strips, they just released them for the 24in fixture so that you can cover a wider tanks over 24in wide. That would mean a single 50in fixture and 2 strips to get you coverage for you whole tank. Just another option but unsure of when these strips will be available for the bigger fixtures.

James Barton · Jun 7, 2017

Reefer40b said:
I know they are making a light bar strip sorta like the reefbrite xho strips, they just released them for the 24in fixture so that you can cover a wider tanks over 24in wide. That would mean a single 50in fixture and 2 strips to get you coverage for you whole tank. Just another option but unsure of when these strips will be available for the bigger fixtures.

I was just looking at this today! I think I may have to call them to see when these lumen bars are going to be available for the larger fixtures. Will this alone do it? Or would I still be better off with a few 24" v2s, with or without the lumen bars?

Reefer40b · Jun 7, 2017

James Barton said:
I was just looking at this today! I think I may have to call them to see when these lumen bars are going to be available for the larger fixtures. Will this alone do it? Or would I still be better off with a few 24" v2s, with or without the lumen bars?

Well I have never used them so I can't say for sure, but they seem like a good option. You could possibly customize them maybe add some different kinds of LEds instead of pure royal blue, not sure though you would have to talk to logan.

hart24601 · Jun 7, 2017

I would run 2 50" fixtures.

Well me personally would run 3 50", but 2 should be pretty sweet.

James Barton · Jun 8, 2017

hart24601 said:
I would run 2 50" fixtures.

Well me personally would run 3 50", but 2 should be pretty sweet.

Would that really make much of a difference aside from running 1 50" with the lumen bar attachments? RB states that it is good to cover 30" wide.

I guess I'm just concerned with getting the most light for my money. But maybe I'm just over thinking it.

saltyfilmfolks · Jun 8, 2017

James Barton said:
But maybe I'm just over thinking it.

Best part of the hobby.

Here is a grapic example of light and spread and light.
A 20x20 cube. (ruc is also 20x20) 2 pucks on a Razor

I raised the light.

Now imagine if you will a rectangle the sixe of your tank. if you used radions, you need multiple pucks to cover. if you use 2 radions you need them high if you use 4 you can use them low.

If you used a fluorescent tubes(t5) the same length and width of the tank it would naturally cover the whole tank evenly
If you used T5 the same lengt but thinner than the tank you would have to raise them to cover the tank.

SOOOO if you used an led (reefbreeders as an example) the same length as the tank and only used one you would have to raise it to cover the width. If you used two of them you could have them closer.

the choice is mainly aesthetic in a way primarily, (how does it look in the house, do you have a canopy) but a small amount is power loss(par) with the RB(example) theres a LOT of power to spare.

PAR CHOICES. a clam on the sand need 150 to 200 par. A zoa needs 100 or less. In the clam tank you have about 700 to 900 par at the top, In the zoa tank you have about 400 to 600 at the top.

James Barton · Jun 8, 2017

Thanks salty that visual clears a few questions up!

hart24601 · Jun 8, 2017

James Barton said:
Would that really make much of a difference aside from running 1 50" with the lumen bar attachments? RB states that it is good to cover 30" wide.

I guess I'm just concerned with getting the most light for my money. But maybe I'm just over thinking it.

Well the additional bars are $200 for both sides and are 24” long so for 48” on both sides you are looking at $400. While I think these are nice, they are blue only and I like the white and violets (and greens and reds) another fixture offers and the great coverage the other fixture has being wider and I think two fixtures would look better. For $200 more than the strips it seems by far the better deal. I fear the strips would be too blue for me especially on the edges.

James Barton · Jun 8, 2017

hart24601 said:
Well the additional bars are $200 for both sides and are 24” long so for 48” on both sides you are looking at $400. While I think these are nice, they are blue only and I like the white and violets (and greens and reds) another fixture offers and the great coverage the other fixture has being wider and I think two fixtures would look better. For $200 more than the strips it seems by far the better deal. I fear the strips would be too blue for me especially on the edges.

I believe the longer strips will be available soon. I didn't know it was just blue on them, though.

So really I'm leaning towards 4 24" or the 2 50".

hart24601 · Jun 8, 2017

You will love them. Just really depends on the mounting you like on the 50 vs 24 option. I like the two longer fixtures because people don't normally put coral in the front of the tank and I feel like 2 50" will give you more options on how to position them for best coverage (can even tilt one or both for optimal optics)

But really both options are fantastic