Hello all,

I am planning to use PAR38's to light my tank 48x18x18 (65 gal BB) with mix reef. How many of them do I need for my tank. I don't want it look too dim ("brightness"-wise). A little less than a 250W MH is ok.

I am think about 6 x 20K with 60 degree optics. I want to hang them atleast 12 inches from the water surface. Would this setup enough for my softy placed at the bottom happy? Would that be ok for SPS mounted in the middle (9 inches above the bottom or 21 inches from the light source)?

Thanks for any help/feed back.

I am going to order these bulbs for my 44x20 (water level to the sand)x24. Evil thought I may be able to get by with 5 bulbs using 60 degree optics. Now I am thinking about 6 bulbs on two tracks using 12k-20k-12k. I would like to put the bulbs at least 30" from the sand which would be similar to your height. At that distance maybe the standard 40 degree optics would give good coverage and better PAR. Hopefully Evil can chime in on this. I also have been meaning to ask what the Amp draw is on these bulbs. I am going to replace the T-5s on this tank with the PAR38's.

Click to view attachment

No answers so ttt.

I too am interested in this. Don't know how many I need, how far away to keep them from the surface, and where else to get them in nanotuners.com is out of stock right now.

So... bump!

Evil, could use some help when you have time. I would like to place an order this week and I wonder if I still need the 60 degree optics if I go from 5 to 6 bulbs.
Thanks

6 can certainly work. With the height you are planning and the lens options you want, you should be ok with a mixed reef. Sps will be fine up top. You could get away with fewer lamps with the wider optics. 4 at a minimum I'd say, but adding more if you need it is easy if you use something like track lighting.


Can't help you out if I don't know your tank size

Nanotuners/Nanocustoms is the only place you can buy these. We make them, we sell them. We are expecting more in a week or two.


I'd stick with the 60's just for the light levels you want. Going to 6 will just improve coverage and PAR consistancy.

Thank you EvilC66 for the info.
Now, heading to HomeDepot, Lowe' for light track hunting

Just go to Lowes. HD's track lighting selection is terrible.

I'd stick with the 60's just for the light levels you want. Going to 6 will just improve coverage and PAR consistancy.
[/quote]

Thanks, Evil.
Maybe 5 will be enough to cover an area of 24x20 which is the area of the tank that has LR and corals. The light distance would range from about 18" at the top of the LR to 32" at the sand bed. I can raise the light by quite a bit or lower them a few inches. I am about 12" off the water and I need some room to do tank mantainance. Based on these heights will I have enough PAR for softies, LPS and few SPS. Also what is the amps on these bulbs.

24x20"?

These are 21W. Amps will depend on the voltage being fed into them, and will depend on what part of the country you are in, and what time of the day it is.

The amps should be 21/120=.18 unless there is something else to consider. The 24x21 is a "woops", should be 42x20 which leaves a 2" area around three sides of a 44x24 tank. I typed that at work and shouldn't mix work and serious business. In any event I am just going to order 5 of the bulbs unless you think I need six, in which case that is what I will order. If the 12K already have a blue tint I will skip the 20K.

Like I've mentioned before, you can always start low and add as required. If you keep your mounting scheme flexible, like using track lighting, then adding an additional lamp later is no big deal. 5 should be fine though.

As for color, the 12K is a crisp white. It has a little blue, but not a ton. The 20K is heavier in blue, more like a Phoenix.