Jeff
11/16/2008, 08:00 PM
In these times of high energy costs people are looking for alternative ways of powering their devices, houses, and cars. I live in a house that my family shares with my mother in law who lives downstairs so having a large reef can sometimes pose problems. Another problem that I have is the ability to dream up ways of spending money that I really dont have...
Anyway, I have been in the hobby long enough to see lighting trends come and go. I started with T12 and then thru the years have used CF's, metal halides and for the last year have been using a 14 bulb T5 fixture over my 6 foot reef with good results. I say good, not great because I have a 30" deep reef and I am not so sure that I am getting the PAR I need in the middle and bottom of the tank. I have had a lot of trouble keeping sps, but have attributed it to persistant low ph (7.8 at night, 8.05 during the day). The ph thing is another topic all together...
My last lighting fantasy involved LED's and after a lot of research have found that if I dont want to drop $4000.00 on a Solaris I5 fixture I would have to build one. The only thing stopping me is my complete lack of any electrical knowledge and the fact that led reef lighting is still in its infancy and still too expensive (startup costs IMO).
My next thaught was utilizing a light mover to run a 400 watt HQI lamp back and forth over my reef utilizing a light mover. This would solve a lot of problems. For one, energy costs. A 400 watt light uses a lot less energy then (3) 250 watt stationary lights. Second is heat. Same priciple, 400 watts as opposed to 550 watts. Third, is the lack of room on my one and only electrical circuit. I cant really increase my lighting without running another circuit and I am not sure how long I will be living where I am.
I am looking for ideas regarding light movers from those who own or have seen them in use. I have questions regarding their quality and their effectiveness.
Thanks in advance :).
Anyway, I have been in the hobby long enough to see lighting trends come and go. I started with T12 and then thru the years have used CF's, metal halides and for the last year have been using a 14 bulb T5 fixture over my 6 foot reef with good results. I say good, not great because I have a 30" deep reef and I am not so sure that I am getting the PAR I need in the middle and bottom of the tank. I have had a lot of trouble keeping sps, but have attributed it to persistant low ph (7.8 at night, 8.05 during the day). The ph thing is another topic all together...
My last lighting fantasy involved LED's and after a lot of research have found that if I dont want to drop $4000.00 on a Solaris I5 fixture I would have to build one. The only thing stopping me is my complete lack of any electrical knowledge and the fact that led reef lighting is still in its infancy and still too expensive (startup costs IMO).
My next thaught was utilizing a light mover to run a 400 watt HQI lamp back and forth over my reef utilizing a light mover. This would solve a lot of problems. For one, energy costs. A 400 watt light uses a lot less energy then (3) 250 watt stationary lights. Second is heat. Same priciple, 400 watts as opposed to 550 watts. Third, is the lack of room on my one and only electrical circuit. I cant really increase my lighting without running another circuit and I am not sure how long I will be living where I am.
I am looking for ideas regarding light movers from those who own or have seen them in use. I have questions regarding their quality and their effectiveness.
Thanks in advance :).