Krish
RF STAFF
Sounds good! Don't forget to fire up the camera as well!
Which bulbs did you end up getting???
Which bulbs did you end up getting???
My new 120 upgrade
- Thread starter mattseattle
- Start date
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mattseattle
Well-known member
Well, let's see - I have a pair of ReefMax 10k bulbs, a pair of Reeflux 10k bulbs and a pair of Reeflux 12k bulbs. So far I'm leaning towards the Reeflux 12k bulbs. They are nice bright white with a good tint of blue that make stuff pop. Nice bulbs and priced well.
Krish
RF STAFF
Cool. I may get some 14k's to see what they look like. I love the 20k's but I don't really have anything to compare them to to say whether I really love them or not, so we'll see how it goes...
mattseattle
Well-known member
which brand of 14k's? i used to run hamiliton 14k's and i definitely like the reeflux 12k's much better.
Krish
RF STAFF
Not sure...The bulbs I have now are my first MH bulbs and they are the XM's.
mattseattle
Well-known member
and i've never used the XM 20k's so can't really compare them to anything. I've used the XM 15k's and they were pitiful. They had a decent color but they were so dim even on an HQI ballast. I tried the Hamilton 14k's and they were ok but didn't really like their brightness either and I did not have good growth under them. So far I really like the brightness and the color of the Reeflux 12k's but can't guage growth yet and won't be able to for a few months. I've tried other bulbs as well but can't recall which ones.....bad memory.
Krish
RF STAFF
Cool...Well, I'll just play it by ear for now. K...go and fire up those lights!
mattseattle
Well-known member
here is a picture of my current 55 gallon tank with the reeflux 12k bulbs on them fired by an icecap ballast.
mattseattle
Well-known member
Left side:
Right side:
Right side:
mattseattle
Well-known member
Now the moment we've been waiting for...
I really love these reflectors. 98% of the light is directed down into the tank instead of being wasted in the hood. Really nice..
I really love these reflectors. 98% of the light is directed down into the tank instead of being wasted in the hood. Really nice..
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mattseattle
Well-known member
full tank shot with flash on:
full tank shot without the flash on:
full tank shot without the flash on:
mattseattle
Well-known member
and yes i know the acrylic is dusty. i was waiting for some cleaner to arrive before i cleaned the dust off. i don't want any scratches!
Scooterman
Well-known member
Hey Matt did you say you have glass covers for the reflectors? I didn't know they came with glass shields? I thought it wouldn't be necessary & would trap heat? It is good to know that they cover your tank well & focus the light into the tank, think it would be worth getting the bigger reflectors now that you see these; does two of these covers your 4 foot tank very well?
mattseattle
Well-known member
Yeah, I went ahead and got the glass for the mini's. I did this to keep water from splashing up and burtsting the bulbs and/or getting the reflectors dirty. I'm going to have a 105 cfm fan in the canopy so heat should not be an issue.
My tank is 60" long and I am just using 2 of the mini's. So far I don't see any dead spots and the lighting seems adequate from end to end. I am quite pleased with the coverage.
Tomorrow I am going to put in the starboard and start filling it. Live rock should be ready in a few days.
I'm going to have a 105 cfm fan in the canopy so heat should not be an issue. My tank is 60" long and I am just using 2 of the mini's. So far I don't see any dead spots and the lighting seems adequate from end to end. I am quite pleased with the coverage.
Tomorrow I am going to put in the starboard and start filling it. Live rock should be ready in a few days.
Scooterman said:
mattseattle
Well-known member
Yeah, the new tank is 60" long and the coverage is perfect with only 2 reflectors. I was afraid I was going to have to had a third halide and so far I don't think so.
szidls said:
Scooterman
Well-known member
Couple of questions, how high is the bottom of the reflector off the water? With glass covers I bet the reflectors get really hot? How are the reflectors mounted, did you just screw them to the hood?
mattseattle
Well-known member
the bottom of the reflector is about 8" off the top of the water. and yes, the reflectors are just screwed to the hood. why - what are you thinking?
Krish
RF STAFF
I love the color! Nice and crisp! I guess the real moment of truth will be when the water gets in, but no doubt it will look even better
Scooterman
Well-known member
standing them off enough to install a fan & suck the heat straight up through the top of the hood like Krishes but that just just a thought don't know how well it would work.
