straight - spider - lumenarc ?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

I currently am using a straight reflector that is 48" long and wish to change to individual reflectors.
My questions are:
1. where to buy spider reflectors online?
2. are spiders worth the $ over the one piece?
3. are lumenarcs worth the even more extra money?

[Bebo77]

1. reefgeek.com
2. yes, they get much better reflection
3. lumenarcs get a whole lot of light pointed down, they are awesome, and like all nice things in this hobby EXPENSIVE...

what size tank is this for?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

120g(4'x2'x2')
mixed reef...will be mostly LPS, rest SPS, and one Crocea

[moonpod]

lumenarcs and the lumenmax (essentially SLS's version of the lumenarc) stand alone in SE MH reflective performance. The next level down is the PFO parallel and the SLS ROII reflectors. Below that is the spider. Then a flat or parabolic.

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

120g(4'x2'x2')

[Bebo77]

dont you have those on you tank chuck?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

how much difference in performance can one expect on the various choices?

[Bebo77]

i have the 250 watt DE mh Pfo mini pendants and they kick but. i have seen pics of chucks tank and his lumenars are an even brighter than set up....

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

why do the Optimal PFO's(mount perp. to front of tank) put out more light than the Parallel PFO's?

[merlock116]

you've got it backwards eagles. the parallel puts out more light than the optimal

[cmhollis]

Here is the reason that I ordered LAIII's for my 120G:

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm

I am a firm believer in the 'buy it once, buy it right' philosophy.

[want2reef]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6509509#post6509509 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Bebo77
i have the 250 watt DE mh Pfo mini pendants and they kick but. i have seen pics of chucks tank and his lumenars are an even brighter than set up....

Isn't Moonpod running 400 watters though?

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

This parabolic reflector is designed to mount perpendicular to the front of the tank. It is made with 95% reflective aluminum and will put about 40% more light into the tank than a standard flat sheet of reflective metal.

The parallel reflector is designed to mount parallel with the front of the tank using fluorescents. It is made with 95% reflective aluminium and will put about 25% more light into the tank than a standard flat sheet of refective metal.


*Do they have it backwards then?

[d4a2n0k]

I first had the same as you on my 120, just a 48" flat reflector. It was basically useless. I then upgraded to Spider Lights and was happy for about a year but still felt I was losing a lot of light.

I recently went with a pair of the Lumenarc Mini's. They completely blow away the Spider Lights in intensity and spread. No comparison at all. Whether or not they are worth the $125 each is up to you. They were worth it to me.

If you dont want to go shelling out that much for a pair of reflectors then the next step down with SE reflectors would be Spider Light or the PFO reflectors. There is a huge price difference but also a huge performance difference as well.

If you are keeping a mixed reef then the Spiders would be fine. If you are going with SPS and clams then no other reflector on the market will light your 24" wide tank like the Lumenarcs. I went with the minis because the full size ones are huge and I wanted space in my canopy for the VHO actinics.

[NewSchool04]

cmhollis, where did you buy your lumenarcs from?

[NoSchwag]

I have never used anything else but I use Lumenarc mini's on my open top 120g (4'x2'x2') and I have never seen a tank as bright as mine (in person) just running 2 - 250 watters.

I'm sure some of it has to do with the water clarity and the starboard, but my tank is damn bright.

[fishfiend00s]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6512899#post6512899 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by NoSchwag
I have never used anything else but I use Lumenarc mini's on my open top 120g (4'x2'x2') and I have never seen a tank as bright as mine (in person) just running 2 - 250 watters.

I'm sure some of it has to do with the water clarity and the starboard, but my tank is damn bright.

Do you mean the lumenarc A 3 MINI or the lumenarc III put out by pacific garden supply?

[cmhollis]

I ordered my LAIII's from pacific garden supply.

[sscherin]

I got my LAIII's from www.propertyroom.com.
Go the the home & garden secion then commercial nursery supplies.
It's an auction site for police impunds.

I got em for $40 each plus $20 in shipping.

I will have to replace the cords (they cut em off) for some darn reason but the final price including shipping and new cords is $75 each..

They have 5 up right now ending in 1-2 days..

typical willing bids are $35-45

[Wiggawam]

The propertyroom.com site seems to be down?

[akirasan]

I just tried it. The link in the post has an extra ' . ' in it. Remove it and it'll be fine.

[NewSchool04]

what does that mean akirasan?

[merlock116]

sanjay's reflector testing showed the parallel put out more light than the optimal.

it's one of the reefs.org monthly articles

[merlock116]

click me (http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm)

go down to "table 2" cuz it's easier to read and compare. it's got a generalization of PAR values at various distances.

[sscherin]

Opps yeah I messed up the link.

It should be http://www.propertyroom.com

maybe an Admin can fit it? I can't edit it now.

[jrcastro]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6520511#post6520511 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by sscherin
Opps yeah I messed up the link.

It should be http://www.propertyroom.com

maybe an Admin can fit it? I can't edit it now.

Whats the size on these reflectors? I live in LA & i could pick them up & save $ on shipping. My tank is a 135 gallon 6feet by 18"deep.
will they fit?

TIA

[reefarchitect]

sscherin,

were the reflectors you got actually LAIIIs The reason I ask is that the ones currently on that site are not. If they are, how often would you say you see them available?

Thanks

[E-A-G-L-E-S]

1. Can I just take the sockets off my straight reflector and screw them on the PFO parallel?
2. My 120g is 4' long....does it matter if i get 2-15" PFO's or should i get 2-24" ones??