MH fixture/reflector recommendation
- Thread starter Aquadude1
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ReefBrite, Hamilton, or Geissman are the big 3. While I can’t say specifically for ReefBrite (or the others as mine are older off brand) I have one of mine set a foot off my 65 gallon (2X150 watt) and then my other about 2 feet off my 10 gallon coral quarantine (1x150 watt).
I think most hit the 12-18” off the surface
I think most hit the 12-18” off the surface
It's a great light with the worst software in the industry. I got the 7204 and ran it for months on my test tank while I decided if I wanted to drop that much money covering a 72*36 peninsula with them.
I sold it instead. It never once connected to my network and I tried like crazy.
The hardware is great with good light and shimmer. Not on halide level for these eyes but I could live with it.
Have you run them on the old magnetic ballasts by chance?
I couldn't risk $80 a bulb not knowing how they would run. The 250w is supposed to be overdriven to like 290 or 330w. Yet, the 400w is under driven to 360w. It's why it always made sense to go 400w for a little more actinic pop
Big E
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If you're going this route, I'd suggest looking into the Reefi Duo Extreme. I have one set up and the shimmer is awesome.........best by far I've seen in person. They have reflectors like the mitras and the connection and software are very easy. Three year warranty and you have control over every single color. They'll also save you $100 plus per unit. If you happen to catch a sale you can get them for 650.
I haven't run them long enough for feedback on growth and color, but there are a lot more people using them if you want to do a search on R2R. Dana Riddle has also done a complete analysis on them.
They also have a Reefi Uno if you want to set things up with a wider spread.
I can also tell you one Duo Extreme or one Mitras is NOT enough coverage for a 40 breeder. I have the Reefi on a 40 breeder now. You need at least to add an Uno or another Duo. Another Duo would be best if you plan to go with a larger tank in the future.
Facts is Facts...........none of these units will cover more than approx. 18x15" regardless what the manufacturers tell you. I've seen every one of these brands in person and the harsh shadows and lack of coverage are a major factor if not enough units are used. The problem is and always has been the small footprint of the actual unit. They don't provide the same coverage as MH with a good reflector.
For a dominant Acro system 360 coverage is paramount.
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Bpb
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@Big E has a very good point about fixture size. Similar to how Kessil will claim some 24"x24" coverage from a single unit. Their basis of evaluation on that is par level on a grid made in a blank empty tank. There are usable photons hitting the bottom glass from that distance at a certain height. That is not equal to coverage.
True coverage requires light coming from a larger area of sources, not one pin point throwing light at a wide angle. Scatter, reflection, and varying angles of incidence are what remove hard shadows and allow for uniform growth form. This way you are able to maximize the amount of space you can place corals. This phenomenon isn't even just limited to LEDs.
When I used lumen bright mini reflectors with metal halides, there was barely any overlap between two pendants a couple inches apart. The light was focused straight down because the reflector facets on the edges were basically vertical. All the light was trapped and pointed directly down. A shallow wide reflector will have less intensity but throw the light wider. But...at the end of the day, you need two reflectors to avoid shadows on the outside of the unit itself. it's just physics. That is why T5's work so well at eliminating shadows. You have primary beam coming from every imaginable angle, from end to end. Hope that helps.
A longer reflector with supplements, like the reef brite hybrid reflector would actually be a good option for a 40 breeder due to the shape of the reflector and the additional fill light units on the ends. If I were in your shoes that is specifically what I would get. Throw in a 10K or a 14K twin arc bulb of theirs mounted at 12-14" high and you'd have great coverage and outstanding light quality
True coverage requires light coming from a larger area of sources, not one pin point throwing light at a wide angle. Scatter, reflection, and varying angles of incidence are what remove hard shadows and allow for uniform growth form. This way you are able to maximize the amount of space you can place corals. This phenomenon isn't even just limited to LEDs.
When I used lumen bright mini reflectors with metal halides, there was barely any overlap between two pendants a couple inches apart. The light was focused straight down because the reflector facets on the edges were basically vertical. All the light was trapped and pointed directly down. A shallow wide reflector will have less intensity but throw the light wider. But...at the end of the day, you need two reflectors to avoid shadows on the outside of the unit itself. it's just physics. That is why T5's work so well at eliminating shadows. You have primary beam coming from every imaginable angle, from end to end. Hope that helps.
A longer reflector with supplements, like the reef brite hybrid reflector would actually be a good option for a 40 breeder due to the shape of the reflector and the additional fill light units on the ends. If I were in your shoes that is specifically what I would get. Throw in a 10K or a 14K twin arc bulb of theirs mounted at 12-14" high and you'd have great coverage and outstanding light quality
Aquadude1
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Thanks guys. I went with the mitras because of the true uv and I got a super good deal on it. This tank is a really slow process but I plan on adding 4 t5 blue plus bulbs as well.
