Reflectors!

ironman · Dec 25, 2008

Well I bought a lumenmax reflector to see what improvements it would make. I really didnt think reflectors made all that much difference. When I built my current hood I bought what at the time was the best, which was a parabolic reflector that was fully enclosed. It has worked great for years and always did a good job of getting light into the normal shadow spots. So to test the improvement possibility I removed one half of my current reflector and installed a lumenmax in it place, Installed the same halide bulb that was in the old reflector with the exact same burn time as the other side. So no changes other than the reflector. Here is a tank picture, (Lights had been out for a few hours so ignore the corals!)

So anyone tell a difference? LOL!

jimmybling31 · Dec 25, 2008

that is quite a difference. i am about sold on those things. I just don't want to get them and then not have a tank to use them on for a year, so I am waiting. lol.

revhtree · Dec 26, 2008

Very Nice!!

I am fixing to make the switch myself!

ironman · Dec 26, 2008

they arnt cheap, but shoot its like turning a 250 watt halide into a 400 watt! I am alittle concerned about to much light at this point, at least until the corals get used to it. I will probly wait to install another reflector on the other side till the corals get used to this one.

jmaneyapanda · Dec 26, 2008

I (in the past several months), went from the spider reflectors, to LumenBrights. It was INSANE the difference. Now, at the bottom of my tank (30") I still get over 400 PAR (running coralvue e ballast and 400 watt 10KK Reeflux bulbs). PAR 1" under the surface in the hotspot- 1500+!!! The bulbs are 18" off the water too!

The moral of the story is, you can ahve the ebst bulb and ballast combo, but without a reflector of quality, you are losing a lot.