Halide reflector

[ageno125]

I'm setting up a 180 with three 250w. I see a lot of fixtures with mirror finish reflectors and some with dimples. Some with both. Any negatives one over another?

I want an sealed air cooled fixture with a vent, I only see them with a dimple reflector

 

[ageno125]

bad question?

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

bad question?

Lol, nope. good question. Just early.

the spread of the lamp is changed by the number of angles in it. A dimpled finish will give an evnn greater spread and diffused look. (depending on the angle of the parabolic) So a mirrored multi angled reflector with a narrow parabolic may give a more intense beam, a dimpled reflector of the same parabolic angle will have slightly less intensity but a more even spread. The mirrored will have more shimmer.

Personally, Id go for spread.

 

[ageno125]

Lol, nope. good question. Just early.

the spread of the lamp is changed by the number of angles in it. A dimpled finish will give an evnn greater spread and diffused look. (depending on the angle of the parabolic) So a mirrored multi angled reflector with a narrow parabolic may give a more intense beam, a dimpled reflector of the same parabolic angle will have slightly less intensity but a more even spread. The mirrored will have more shimmer.

Personally, Id go for spread.

Hmmm, ok. Having more spread may be a better option. But the shimmer.. How much of the shimmer is lost with a dimple, noticeably different? I've been looking at these Sun System Air Cooled fixtures and trying to figure out the pros and cons.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

Really hard to say without seeing them. In person. My little halide is a pendant with a dimpled reflector. It shimmers just fine.

Let me tag the #reefsquad and see if we have any halide fans or users they know.

I belive melev did some comparisons but I'm not sure.

 

[Dana Riddle]

In my opinion, the geometry of the luminaire (fixture) is more important than the reflector dimpling. Project the angle of the light beam - is it lighting the tank or the carpet? Then consider the importance of dimpling. Saltfilmfolks is correct about the diffusion effects of dimpling. If you're keeping many Tridacna clams (that are light hogs and can handle any reasonable amount of light generated by available lamps), go for the smooth surface. If you plan to keep light sensitive corals (such as Montipora capitata), consider a luminaire with a broad spread and dimpled reflector surface.

 

[Charterreefer]

There are no reflectors that come close to Lumen Brite reflectors in ability to focus light where it should be, providing a homogeneous spread and the penetration required for deeper tanks. The only problem is that they need to be at least 12" above the tank (better at 14-16"). The heating effect from the halides are minimized do to the distance required away from the water. I've had 3 other reflectors before I started using these and can say that they are amazing.

 

[ageno125]

There are no reflectors that come close to Lumen Brite reflectors in ability to focus light where it should be, providing a homogeneous spread and the penetration required for deeper tanks. The only problem is that they need to be at least 12" above the tank (better at 14-16"). The heating effect from the halides are minimized do to the distance required away from the water. I've had 3 other reflectors before I started using these and can say that they are amazing.

Thanks I'll have to check out those lumen brites.

 

[ageno125]

Very good info. Thank you gents!

 

[Charterreefer]

I'm setting up a 180 with three 250w. I see a lot of fixtures with mirror finish reflectors and some with dimples. Some with both. Any negatives one over another?

I want an sealed air cooled fixture with a vent, I only see them with a dimple reflector

Melev's Reef did a product review of the Lumen Brites I mentioned, lots of good info and data. www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-06/review/

 

[justingraham]

@saltyfilmfolks dana riddle thee Dana riddle said u were correct

U made it man congrats not to bad for a couple of posers.