Metal Halide Mounting Suggestion

Kar · Jul 15, 2016

Folks, I'm thinking of switching from T5-LED to a Metal Halide LED combo. As I intent to move towards SPS now I'm not sure if I would be happy with the growth patterns I have seen from T5 Lighting.

I got myself LumenMax Elite reflectors and Galaxy 250W Dual Watt combo. Is there any elegant way of designing a lighting mount so that I can hang these along with my reefbrite led. I'm also thinking of DIY custom LED array to complement the lighting system. I want the fixture to be sleek and elegant as tank is the dining room and I dont want to keep any bulky canopies..

Please shed on your ideas or any pics if you have something like this.

--Kar

mcarroll · Jul 15, 2016

A pair of giant reflectors trumps a finished canopy for dining-room style? Hm.

What growth patterns bothered you? I'm curious but not sure I understand.

I think people generally mount them to the sides of their reflectors like this...

...but I'm not sure specifically for the LumenMax's. Maybe someone with direct experience will chime in, or you may have to run a search.

My 2¢...

If you're really going to set up a halide system instead of going all-LED (the sensible choice IMO) I don't see why you would have LED's up with them. (I know people do it...people will do anything though.)

I'm sure the Reefbrites are awesome but they should be totally unnecessary if you run a pair of Radiums. I ran Radiums and so many people I know have run Radiums with SO MUCH success....if you can afford it and really want the expense, just do it! Just go 100% halide! :) Were it not for an "extreme budgetary event" that's probably what I'd still be doing cuz I'm usually lazy toward change. (Well, that and the results were always amazing.) ;) ;)

(You'll have to confirm that's a good ballast for an M80/HQI type of bulb, which the Radium is.)

Kar · Jul 15, 2016

Well, when I compare MH tanks to T5, MH tanks always outperform, growth wise, color wise.

I do want to attach LED to MH fixture is coz, I want to run MH for about 6-7 hours and then run LED for sometime in the night.

Yeah I will do some search on how to mount lumenmax reflectors. I'm not sure if want to use a canopy as coz, I may have to use fans and chiller etc. Idea is to hang MH little high so that there will be good air circulation and I dont have to set up a chiller