Checkitout
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I have a 105 48" x 18" x 29" tall tank using 400w mh and lumenmax reflectors. Which direction should my two reflectors face. Towards the front of the tank, both facing the middle, or something else?
Which way?
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OP
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Checkitout
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Anyone?
OP
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Checkitout
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lol, so if you voted for something else which way should I mount the reflectors?
Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
it depends on how you wanna scape it... if the center of the tank is gonna be the focal point i would butt them together in the center with the socket on the back side of the tank...
my tank 60"long i only run 2 and i have them on each end with a void in the center because i always do 2 different scapes in the tank and leave the middle just a sand bed...mine are mounted with the sockets to the back and one above each mound of rocks....hth..
my tank 60"long i only run 2 and i have them on each end with a void in the center because i always do 2 different scapes in the tank and leave the middle just a sand bed...mine are mounted with the sockets to the back and one above each mound of rocks....hth..
Depends on the reflectors, some are designed to be parallel while others have no direction and work equally in all positions. Most say the cover a 2'x2' area at a certain height above the waters surface, not familiar with yours though.
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Checkitout
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The way I have my rock scape is basically two mountains with the center open.it depends on how you wanna scape it... if the center of the tank is gonna be the focal point i would butt them together in the center with the socket on the back side of the tank...
my tank 60"long i only run 2 and i have them on each end with a void in the center because i always do 2 different scapes in the tank and leave the middle just a sand bed...mine are mounted with the sockets to the back and one above each mound of rocks....hth..
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Checkitout
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This is the reflectors I have.
This article shows the light distribution is pretty equal in all directions. I would mount them where you have the most room available for tank maintenance, in my case I run my reflectors parallel with the length of the tank.
Product Review: Analyzing Reflectors: Lumenbrite III, Lumenmax Elite, Lumenmax, and Lumenarc III | Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine
Product Review: Analyzing Reflectors: Lumenbrite III, Lumenmax Elite, Lumenmax, and Lumenarc III | Advanced Aquarist's Online Magazine
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Checkitout
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Ok here is what I'm think about doing. Turning the reflectors toward either the middle of the tank or towards the sides of the tank. The reason for doing so is because I have a vho kit left over from my 75g, that I forgot about, I want to add to my tank for more actinics. By turning the reflectors is the only way I will have enough room in my tank. What do you think? Go with that idea or not?
Troylee
all about the diy!!!!!
that would be fine... i would run them where both sockets face in the middle then, so you can tie the wires together and run them to the ballast nice and clean...
Put the socket over the part of the tank that you want the least amount of light. For that size tank, running the bulb perpendicular would result in better coverage. I have the LM2's mounted with the bulbs parallel and get much higher par on the front and back glass than the sides and the middle. The best height for that reflector is about 9-10 inches on your tank (I have a 48 x 18" too).
that would be fine... i would run them where both sockets face in the middle then, so you can tie the wires together and run them to the ballast nice and clean...
Thats what I would do too
OP
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Checkitout
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With no room to hang the vho bulbs in fron or behind the reflectors, would it be ok to mount the vho bulb directly under the reflectors.
Poeticlydead
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that would be fine... i would run them where both sockets face in the middle then, so you can tie the wires together and run them to the ballast nice and clean...
Agree 100%
OP
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Checkitout
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would the vho bulbs get to hot under the halide's?
With my PFO parallel reflectors both the MH and VHO bulbs are under the same reflectors and work fine.
