luminarc vs reef optix

[matts125]

I am just about ready to purchase my new pendants for my cube and I need to know what most people would suggest on the pendants.

Here is my situation the luminarc mini's I know are better then sunlight supply reef optix but are much larger and under my tight fitting canopy they will take up most of my room to reach into the tank causing me to take the canopy off for most normal maintence where as with the reef optix I should be able to manage my tank with the hood on so there for I am trying to agree on the fact that it may not be worth the luminarcs even though they are better pendants because of the size of them...

Thanks for any input on these two pendants....

Matt

 

[DonW]

How many are you going to stuff in there?

Don

 

[thekingfish]

I have read that the Luminarcs have a better spread while the Reefoptix will have a slightly hotter spotlight effect in the middle.
Having to take off the canopy for normal maintance will be a pain longterm and not sure worth the difference in light spread.
Why not go with the Luminmax. About the same size as the ReefOptix I think and comparable to the Luminarcs.

 

[barrierreefcf]

This is just my opinion and I have no scientific data to back this but our recent experiences with Reef Optix Reflectors has been that they don't throw light over a very wide area. The light is extremely focused. On a 48x18 75 gallon we are seeing weak spots on the edges and in between the two reflectors. The bottom of these units are about 6" from the water. I see the same thing at 8" off the water. I've been happier using regular spyder type retro reflectors. Of course...if you have room...Lumen Arcs rule.

 

[matts125]

This is just my opinion and I have no scientific data to back this but our recent experiences with Reef Optix Reflectors has been that they don't throw light over a very wide area. The light is extremely focused. On a 48x18 75 gallon we are seeing weak spots on the edges and in between the two reflectors. The bottom of these units are about 6" from the water. I see the same thing at 8" off the water. I've been happier using regular spyder type retro reflectors. Of course...if you have room...Lumen Arcs rule.

I am going with two 400 watt halideds to penetrate to the bottom of my 30'' cube. so the reef optix should be too bad with two of them over a 30''x30'' surface should it? I am willing to go with the lumenarc mini's if it will be worth the while over the reef optix, I am just looking for input... also Barrier Reef can you PM a price on both???

Thanks
Matt

 

[barrierreefcf]

I'll PM pricing for both and check sizing specs on the LA minis from the store thursday. I honestly feel like we are getting good spread over only about a 18"x15" area with our single ended reef optix reflectors. Anyone else...?

 

[matts125]

I'll PM pricing for both and check sizing specs on the LA minis from the store thursday. I honestly feel like we are getting good spread over only about a 18"x15" area with our single ended reef optix reflectors. Anyone else...?

keep in mind I will have two 400's over a 30''x30'' cube so 18x15x 2 should be ok I would imagine any ways...
Another thing I am contemplating is building a new canopy that is 3'' taller, but I just built my stand and canopy for this tank 4 months ago...

Here is a picture of my tank with one 400 watt bulb with a spider reflector... Note this was taken just after seting up this tank, it is much more stocked now...

Look at this (newer picture and look how badly shaded the front edges of the rock are....

 

[DonW]

Let me know if you go with the reef optics. I have one Ive been tripping over and forgot to give you.

Don

 

[mungus]

This is just my opinion and I have no scientific data to back this but our recent experiences with Reef Optix Reflectors has been that they don't throw light over a very wide area. The light is extremely focused. On a 48x18 75 gallon we are seeing weak spots on the edges and in between the two reflectors. The bottom of these units are about 6" from the water.

I would agree 100%. I have 2 of the DE Reef Optix on a 75 and the light is very focused, too much for my liking.

 

[barrierreefcf]

If you lay out two 18x15 (our coverage) footprints that would leave a 12x30 strip of your cube that isn't covered with very much light. You would need 4 reef optix to cover 30x30 well. That doesn't seem very efficient IMO. I feel you though...the LA's are space hogs and the thought of taking the canopy off every time you need to do maintenance would be enough that I would end up neglecting the tank. I'm off to the shop and want to look at a few options. Hopefully, I can find a better solution.

 

[Herefishyfishy]

Matt, one thing to consider is to raise your existing canopy with Stainless steel or pained steel brackets. Would allow the room for tank maintenance using LMs while giving better air flow for cooling and gas exchange. The light from the minis prevents the typical blinding from using MHs in the open.

 

[barrierreefcf]

Ok so here's some more info to aid in your decision making process.

The reef optix measure 15 x 9.75 x 4.5. A little bit limited throw but easier to work around. Having two of them would obviously be an improvement over your single 400 now. Honestly, if it was my tank and it came down to two reef optix or two retro spyder reflectors I'd save the money and get the retros. I'd trade the light loss for coverage but every situation has unique needs that must be met.

The lumen arc minis measure 14.5 x14.5 x 6.5. We all know they are great but they take up a lot of room and will make maintenance difficult unless canopy mods are made.

Third option and the one that intrigues me most. Sunlight Supply's new LumenMax 2 Reflector. A Lumen Arc knockoff that measures 15 x 11.5 x 5. Its smaller than the Mini 3, and has more clearance, but is wider than the reef optix so it sould throw across a bigger area.

I PM'd you prices for all three options with a special deal on the LumenMax 2 since I would love first hand feedback on these units.

Good luck whichever direction you decide to go!

 

[RedEyeReef]

I went from 4-400w SE in PFO retro parallel reflectors stretching 8' to 3-400w LumenMax 2 and really like the even spread of light. 96Lx36Wx30H. I purposely aligned the lights to give me less light on 1 ½’ of one end of my reef.

I choose the LM2 over LA3 because I couldn't give up my VHO Actinic and needed a pendant that I could flank. According to my Apogee light meter, the LM2 are every bit as bright as my PFO parallels and have better spread without the hot spots. Not scientific, just my opinion.

The fit and finish is very nice with the LM2, and the glass shields are easier to clean salt then an open reflector. Now my lighting looks better, easier to clean, and I have one less MH bulb (less heat and electricity). LM2 worked for me.

 

[Reefdaddy1]

After some bad expierence with SS, I would go with Lumenarc < You can never beat quality. So in other words. Why go with VW when you can have a Porsche for about the same money.

 

[RedEyeReef]

I look for quality before price. I purchased my LM2 through LFS and have had no problems. Like I said above, the fit and finish is very nice. Not a piece of aluminum hanging over my tank.

 

[Maxx]

I've got a pair of LM2's over my 120...like the fit and finish. Havent got them running yet so I cant give an honest evauluation of them....
But I've got RO1's over my 58 which I used to replace RO3's... and I like em. If you give me a bit, I'll find an email I was sent by SS when I was researching which reflector to by for my new 120...

Nick

 

[matts125]

I ordered two Lumen max 2 reflectors from barrier reef today (THanks CY) I will post results when I get them up and running...

Matt

 

[Maxx]

Went looking through my emails and found the info...

basically two links...one is a thread on RC regarding the LM2's and a hobbyist's own testing of the LM2.
The second is Sanjay Joshi's tests of the original Lumenmax pendants. From what I understand, the LM2's and LM3's have been redesigned and are actually more efficient than the original LM.

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=980648

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/2006/2/review

Interesting part for me was how the light pattern was dispersed and the PAR numbers within the patterns. Not a direct comparison between LM2's and LA3's....but informational nonetheless...

Nick