upgrading to 180..lighting question

[ctniners]

Hello guys,
I currently have a 75 gal (48 x 18 x 20H) on it I have 2 x 250 W SE lamps with the old kind spider reflectors (10" above water).... I have an all sps tank.

I am planning to upgrade to a 180 (72 x 24 x 24H)....my question is, would I be able to get away by just adding a 250W lamp (3 x 250W) but changing from the old spider reflector to the lumenbrights (see picture below)....?

http://i448.photobucket.com/albums/qq201/ctniners/lumenbright.jpg


Should I go with the mini 16in x 16in x 7in deep or the large 20in x 20 in x 9in deep...or is there a better reflector you would recommend?

My only concern is the sps corals.....by the way i will have about 3" of sand bed and the reflectors because of heat will need to be about 12" or so above the water.

Thanks for your inputs

[dolphinman213]

imo-- why spend the extra money---3/ 250's with the spider reflector is just fine, why spend the money on chaging them all, use that money on more corals or fish--- just my 2 cents

[ctniners]

I know its about a $300.00 savings, my issue is that after this 180 there will be no upgrades for a long long time.....I dont want to go back and change the hood or the set up, I think with spider reflectors you lose more light than with other better reflectors...and I think 3 x 250W for a SPS 180 gal tank is pushing it, I need to keep as much light as possible from going other ways.

[Phyxius]

I went from a 90 with 2-250watt and spiders to a 210g with 3-250 watt MHs and knew they were not the best reflectors. I went with the Lumenarc minis and it was the best move I made especially with a tank 5 " deeper than the 180. I can keep anything I want in the tank and the light bleed is cut way down with the better reflectors. The spiders seemed to push the light everywhere while the minis push all the light down where it should be. In my opinion it was more $$$ but why waste the potential of the light in a deeper tank and cheaper reflectors....
Using both I can truly say the better reflectors are worth the money......

If you are going to use the Lumenbrights you really need them higher off the water where the Lumenarcs are better for closer to the water. My lights are mounted 15" off the water and the bulbs are 12" off the water. I used the Lumenarcs since they were mounted closer to the water.

Here is a shot of my canopy with the lumenarc minis in
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/100_3360Small.jpg

[gooyferret]

Im actually setting up a 180 also, I currently have a 125gal with 3 250watt MH's and im going to just stick with them for now with spider reflectors. (on a tight budget with the wife) :)

[ctniners]

Here is a shot of my canopy with the lumenarc minis in
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/100_3360Small.jpg

WOW very nice hood/canopy Phyxius.....do you happen to have more pictures of your hood, i am not the most handy person, if you dont mind of course or I can Pm you and give you my email address.

Thanks for the info

[Phyxius]

WOW very nice hood/canopy Phyxius.....do you happen to have more pictures of your hood, i am not the most handy person, if you dont mind of course or I can Pm you and give you my email address.

Thanks for the info

Here is a few others..
Shot with top open. Blue tape is where I was marking for VHOs
http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/IMG_2451.jpg

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/IMG_2452Small.jpg


Right after I built the stand and canopy and before stain. I put fans in each end for cooling and thats why there are holes cut

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y281/mleiter/102_3302Small.jpg


Its built with a smaller 1x2 and 1 x4 wood for the inner frame and then sheeted in 3/4 oak plywood. I bought a whole bunch of 3/4 oak ply on sale for cheaper than the 1/2" cost so I use it for everything. Marine white enamel on the inside and stain/poly on the outside

[ctniners]

Nice stain and work.....I take it the doors where custom made right?....so 4 fans are good enough for your lights?.....how about the back, do you have sliding doors or is it just open for air flow?

[Phyxius]

Nice stain and work.....I take it the doors where custom made right?....so 4 fans are good enough for your lights?.....how about the back, do you have sliding doors or is it just open for air flow?

The middle of the canopy in the back is open and I also have a clip on fan in the back that blows across the water that helps a little but I really have no major temp problems.
We made all the cut outs in the stand and canopy and then made the doors to fit those size openings