Lumenarc III and Lumenarc Mini Performance Comparison

[bleedingthought]

Can anyone comment on how these stack up against each other? I'd rather deal with the size of the mini for convenience but don't want to miss out on reflecting power!

I would be use on a tank with a foot print of 24"x72" (3 reflectors).

Those that can, please help me out!

 

[mr_X]

i don't have advice, and i don't want to hijack your thread, but when the rest of you are helping bleedingthought, please include the cheapest online vendor of lumenarc reflectors. thanks.

 

[Anonymous]

Only difference between the two is the foot print size you'll get from your reflection, you'll get brighter light from the mini, simply because it's not dispersing it (i.e. reflecting) over as large an area.

Mini's are good if you a) have an 18" wide tank or b) have a really large brace or c) you want to put in some actinic fluorescent tubes to suppliment the lighting

The "maxi" simply is a larger reflector that puts more of the reflected light over a wider area, you're not going to "lose" anything except this.

 

[Anonymous]

I bought my minis from www.reefexotics.com He's on Long Island so I had the reflectors the next day.

Get single ended, whatever you do.

B

 

[bleedingthought]

i don't have advice, and i don't want to hijack your thread, but when the rest of you are helping bleedingthought, please include the cheapest online vendor of lumenarc reflectors. thanks.

Bingo's got my vendor down! Ree Exotics. They're running a summer special right now too!

 

[bleedingthought]

Only difference between the two is the foot print size you'll get from your reflection, you'll get brighter light from the mini, simply because it's not dispersing it (i.e. reflecting) over as large an area.

Mini's are good if you a) have an 18" wide tank or b) have a really large brace or c) you want to put in some actinic fluorescent tubes to suppliment the lighting

The "maxi" simply is a larger reflector that puts more of the reflected light over a wider area, you're not going to "lose" anything except this.

Well, I will be supplementing with actinics. The tank is 24 inches wide and 72 inches long. With the minis, I'd have about 9 inches between each reflector (and about 4.5" at the ends). With the IIIs, I'd have about 4 inches between each (and about 2" at the ends). I have thin braces. Is it going to basically be the same?

I'm somewhat concerned with how much room I'll have for actinics... I currently have VHOs that I hope to use for the actinics but I might switch to T5s... Don't know yet, though. :?

 

[bleedingthought]

I bought my minis from www.reefexotics.com He's on Long Island so I had the reflectors the next day.

Get single ended, whatever you do.

B

All moguls for me.

 

[raddogz]

Fwiw, I just changed over from mini's to regular size lumenarcs. I liked the coverage better.

My tank is 4' x 2'

 

[bleedingthought]

Fwiw, I just changed over from mini's to regular size lumenarcs. I liked the coverage better.

My tank is 4' x 2'

You use 2 of them? And do you supplement with fluorescents at all?

 

[raddogz]

I use two of the regular lumenarcs.

No supplementation even when I had the mini's. I have big ole' eight inch glass center brace as well.

 

[jay24k]

Do you guys think there is a big difference between 3 of these compared to 3 of the spider reflectors over a 180?

 

[Anonymous]

Yes.

 

[jay24k]

I use XM10K and my growth is insane but I'm really looking toward these to swap out in place of my spider ones.

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah those XM10k bulbs have quite a punch to them, I personally didn't like them because with my ballast they were a bit too yellow and I don't run actinics (no room ).

Here's an article that was done if you want some numbers to compare against,
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/ ... eature.htm

 

[jay24k]

Yea I'm able to fit 2 160 watt VHOs in my canopy so that works. The mini's foot print should allow me to keep my VHO's. I'm gonna sell some SPS and hopefully pick up a few.

 

[bleedingthought]

Yea I'm able to fit 2 160 watt VHOs in my canopy so that works. The mini's foot print should allow me to keep my VHO's. I'm gonna sell some SPS and hopefully pick up a few.

That was my concern/thoughts on it until Thales told me that his reflectors actually span a little past his VHOs (the VHOs are mounted lower than the reflectors) and he feels like the full sized lumenarcs help reflect the VHOs a little.

 

[laud]

Get single ended, whatever you do.

B

Why is that? I thought the DE had more efficient output.

Michael

 

[Anonymous]

Good question? Why single ended over the DE?

 

[ChrisRD]

IMO it's tough to compare efficiency based on lamp style alone as there are so many other factors that come into play. Both styles have pros/cons, but either will get the job done, so IMO it mostly comes down to personal preferences.

 

[Stlouisguy]

Over my 450 which is eurobraced I am running 6 lum minis with 400 12k coralvue in them and the growth and colors are amazing. I dont think I would use anything but lum. anymore.