reflector choice

pasenah · 01/29/2007, 02:54 PM

hi, i currently have 1x400w lumenarc III over my 4 foot tank and want to add another. but because of their size i was thinking of using 2 mini lumenarcs instead. ( they are on show in the lounge).
will there be much difference in the look and the benifit of the tank,between the large and the minis, when using 400w?

cheers
ben

brad23 · 01/29/2007, 04:04 PM

two mini will give you a much better par spread over a 48 inch tank than one big LA3 would. You could keep SPS every where

Emoezekielsr5 · 01/29/2007, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by brad23
two mini will give you a much better par spread over a 48 inch tank than one big LA3 would. You could keep SPS every where

I'm setting up a cubish tidepool SPS tank 24x24x16 tank and I was wondering if a LA3 with 400W SE would be enough for the tank?

Nanook · 01/29/2007, 04:53 PM

This thread has been moved to the current forum.

pasenah · 01/30/2007, 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by brad23
two mini will give you a much better par spread over a 48 inch tank than one big LA3 would. You could keep SPS every where

yeh, but would there be a big difference between 2x large and 2x minis with regards to the look of the tank and benefit to the corals?

brad23 · 01/30/2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by pasenah
yeh, but would there be a big difference between 2x large and 2x minis with regards to the look of the tank and benefit to the corals?

Not over a tank that is say 48x24, if it was 48x36 then two large LA3 would be a good choice.

The large LA3 only really shine over the mini once the area goes past 2x2. They are great for 3x3 areas. I will be using two over my 72x36 SPS tank

The large LA3 par is pread out over a bigger area than a mini and it also doesn't have as many hotspots as say a mini or a RO reflector

brad23 · 01/30/2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Emoezekielsr5
I'm setting up a cubish tidepool SPS tank 24x24x16 tank and I was wondering if a LA3 with 400W SE would be enough for the tank?

In a 2x2 area a small or a large LA3 would work well. The large you could have closer to the water and the mini would have to be a little further up to cover the same light spread area. But either one would work well as would a lumenmax 2 or 3

pasenah · 01/30/2007, 10:48 AM

thanks

01/29/2007, 02:54 PM	#1
pasenah Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: cornwall, england Posts: 444	reflector choice hi, i currently have 1x400w lumenarc III over my 4 foot tank and want to add another. but because of their size i was thinking of using 2 mini lumenarcs instead. ( they are on show in the lounge). will there be much difference in the look and the benifit of the tank,between the large and the minis, when using 400w? cheers ben

01/29/2007, 04:04 PM	#2
brad23 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bloomington IL Posts: 2,959	two mini will give you a much better par spread over a 48 inch tank than one big LA3 would. You could keep SPS every where __________________ Ye old English Current Tank Info: 75g reef

01/29/2007, 04:53 PM	#4
Nanook Ancient Eskimo Legend Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Saint Louis, MO Posts: 41,852 Blog Entries: 11	This thread has been moved to the current forum. __________________ The wind blew, the chit flew, and then they came two by two. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Current Tank Info: 375g Tanganyikan Tank & 470g mixed reef

01/30/2007, 10:48 AM	#8
pasenah Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: cornwall, england Posts: 444	thanks