Looking for a light system and i can't seem to find it

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shallowreef

shallowreef

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 19, 2005
Messages
2,457
Location
Palatine, IL
Hey guys i could really use all of your guys help finding a new light system for my tank. I want to get a 6' light "Fixture" that has 3 400w DE bulbs and actinics. I don't really care what the actinics are but if i had a choice i guess i would choose VHO or T5. I have been looking around but the closest i've found was only a 250w. I really want to go 400w only because the tank is so deep. Plus i really want to get some great growth out of my corals.

I really want to stay away from pendants. I guess i could go with a single ended type bulb, but i really want to go with double ended for my first pic. So if you guys could help me find this dream light it would be extremely appreciated.

Nick
 
That is an awesome light system but at that price i can buy almost three 6' hamilton single ended fixtures. Well at least i know they exist. Thanks for helping C&B.
 
72" long fixture

Hey Nick when i set up my 150. I went to Kevin's store and he is a PFO dealer I bought a PFO custom build hood to provide maximum flexibilty for ballast and lamp combination. The variations are almost endless. They all use the following standard parts. Drop him a PM here is some from PFO:

REFLECTOR: PFO parallel reflector (Patent pending). The 95% reflective aluminum reflector is designed to maximize light into the tank for both metal halide lamps and fluorescent lamps.

METAL HALIDE LAMPS: All hoods will accept 175 Watt through 400 Watt metal halide mogul base lamps. Medium base sockets are available on request.

FLUORESCENT LAMPS: The hoods accommodate US length (ie. 48" not 46.5") NO, HO, VHO, T12 style lamps. They also accommodate all Power Compact lamps (Panasonic, CSL, all 4 square pin types). Lamps sold separately

HOUSING: Powder Coated black Aluminum.

VENTILATION: One or Two 4" High Flow Fans

LENS: Tempered Glass

POWER HARNESS: 8’ by 1/2" diameter black flexible conduit with either PFO or IceCap Molex quick disconnects for remote metal halide and fluorescent ballasts at base of conduit.

DIMENSIONS:*6' Hoods: 76.5" long x 12.25" wide x 7.5" tall




shallowreef said:
Hey guys i could really use all of your guys help finding a new light system for my tank. I want to get a 6' light "Fixture" that has 3 400w DE bulbs and actinics. I don't really care what the actinics are but if i had a choice i guess i would choose VHO or T5. I have been looking around but the closest i've found was only a 250w. I really want to go 400w only because the tank is so deep. Plus i really want to get some great growth out of my corals.

I really want to stay away from pendants. I guess i could go with a single ended type bulb, but i really want to go with double ended for my first pic. So if you guys could help me find this dream light it would be extremely appreciated.

Nick
Click to expand...
 
I'm curious guys? Could i run 3 250w over my 210 and would that be sufficient to keep anything? Because i do have a few SPS (montipora) and a green slimer. If its okay i may just stick with the 3-250s. Also all of you guys that have single ended bulbs. Are they loud during start up? How about when they run? Right now my lights don't raise my tank's temp at all. I am worried though that if i move up to 400w if the temp will raise to high? Anyone got any ideas?
 
Okay well i emailed Hamilton and they do make a 6' fixture with T5s and three 400w HQI which is awesome. Only thing is that i have to buy the ballasts for the light. Which is a little sucky but its what i'm looking for so i am happy. I have to wait a little while to save up for this but once i got the cash i think i am gonna upgrade to the 400w system. I still am concerned about overheat and the possability of this being too much light for my tank.
 
no worries. ive been drooling over those lights for some time now. they were just the first thing that came to my mind when i saw your post.
 
It might be cheaper in the long run to spend more money up front and buy an LED light fixture (72" Solaris by PFO just under 3 grand). No bulb replacement, no extra cooling costs and way lower electric usage. :)
 
Get 3-250w HQI pendants. Get some square aliminum from lows and bolt them to it for a one piece fixture. I ran this setup with 8- 250w on my reef and loved it. On problem would be.... is if your tank has a center brace.
 
Well my tank does have a center brace. The only reason i am against teh pendants is because i want a sleek looking fixture. If i try to do what you say Brenden, it will end up looking like a P.O.S.! I can admit it only because i am sure of this.
 
Could i run 3 250w over my 210

Nick How deep is your 210 I am running the PFO HQI single ended bulbs in my 150 Its 29" deep before sand I have a little sps in this tank Its mainly a LPS tank but I have A Macrodactyla doreensis (Long Tentacle Anemone Purple) that lives on the bottom,Also I clams that are on the bottom. I also have a PFO 48" Fixture that runs Double ended HQI bulbs and these are the same PFO ballast so I don't hear any diffrfence on the lights starting up.
As for Tank temps Nick look at this way 250 watts of heat versus 400 watts of heat :shock: Both my tanks run on Current prime chillers
Another thing with the PFO fixtures Nich you can Interchange PFO ballest move up or down 250-400 its simple plug & Play. As for the Blub changing you just slide the tempered glass shield out of the way. The other advantage of the PFO fixtures is they are fully enclosed and Have Ice cap fans on each end of the fixture one pulling out hot air with the other end feeding in cool room temprature air when your tank lights go off these slow down in speed till the heat ( lights come back on) Hope this gets you started ..Jeff



shallowreef said:
I'm curious guys? Could i run 3 250w over my 210 and would that be sufficient to keep anything? Because i do have a few SPS (montipora) and a green slimer. If its okay i may just stick with the 3-250s. Also all of you guys that have single ended bulbs. Are they loud during start up? How about when they run? Right now my lights don't raise my tank's temp at all. I am worried though that if i move up to 400w if the temp will raise to high? Anyone got any ideas?
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I can admit it only because i am sure of this

Main reason this electrician went with the PFO UL listed fixtures ;)
I know they are expensive Nick But we have one last option that you can do.
1. go with a smaller 24" long pendant and mount it on a track carrier! this is real big in Hydroponics. Ed Hahn has done this PM him to see If he has any pictures he could send you on his track carrier...Jeff

shallowreef said:
Well my tank does have a center brace. The only reason i am against teh pendants is because i want a sleek looking fixture. If i try to do what you say Brenden, it will end up looking like a P.O.S.! I can admit it only because i am sure of this.
Click to expand...
 
The track idea is cool but i don't want to look that or have to go through the hassle of attaching that to the ceiling. Apprentice, you never mentioned what type of wattage you are running? I am going to talk to a few LFS around me and see what they suggest.
 
Apprentice, you never mentioned what type of wattage you are running?

Nick: I run 250 watt on both tanks Good luck with your choice...Jeff


shallowreef said:
The track idea is cool but i don't want to look that or have to go through the hassle of attaching that to the ceiling. Apprentice, you never mentioned what type of wattage you are running? I am going to talk to a few LFS around me and see what they suggest.
Click to expand...
 
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