Re: MH bulb orientation ?

[Boomer]

DS

Although I have seen very view bulbs installed front to back, front to back would have
less "wash out" through the front of the glass, because of the way the light emanates from
its point source. The spread would be less lengthwise, front to back, but more focused

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"Dragon Slayer" > wrote in message
...
: which is the best way to place the bulb in respect with the tank for MAXIMUM
: light to the tank?
:
: lengthwise with the tank like most commercial hoods?
:
: or is it crosswise, front to back?
:
: from just looking it seams the best light coverage on a tank (18" wide)
: would be with the bulbs crosswise with the tank.
:
: thanks in advance.
:
: kc
:
:
:

[Richard Reynolds]

> >it depends on the bulb, the tank, and the effect that you are trying to
> create with the
> >lighting.
>
> bulbs are new 400w XM 20,000K's the tank is a 75 (18"w x 21"h x 48"l)
> as for effect, I am trying to use the most light in the most efficient way.
> keeping it concentrated to the tank rather then shining out the side glass
> and lighting the room.

did i miss the part about how many bulbs ???, i know i forgot to ask:D

> I have a 400w over a 29 gallon and I have turned it both ways (its a
> pendent) to see if there was a difference and there seamed to be more light
> used by the tank (30" l x 13" w) with the bulb perpendicular (front to back)
> but the bulb and socket (Iwasaki 6500k 13 1/2") are longer then the tank
> width so it limits the bulb to being parallel (side to side) in this tank.

i have a 37 (the taller of your 29), the bulbs 2 175's 20,000k I use and there mongel
socket fit with about the clearence of a nat ran front to back, my NO bulb is below the
socket, and smaller PC's ran from the sides inwards mounted against the side of my DIY
canipy, and it all just kinda fits. if i place the bulbs parallel to the width of the
tank, i end up lighting the floor/walls/ everything except the tank.

> the hood is going to be custom built and I don't want to make it one way
> then think I would have been better off the other way, that is why I'm
> asking if anyone else has tried putting the bulbs front to back rather then
> side to side.

get a good reflector the first time :)

> >i would suspect commercial hoods use the best generic solution, trying to
> fit there hood
> >over everyones tank. I dont own a commercial hood, but i have MH bulbs and
> find it all
> >depends on what your lighting, and how.
>
> I was thinking the same, as far as the commercial hoods are usually going
> for a compact size and a universal fit to many tanks. turning the bulb 90
> degrees like I am thinking of would make a commercial hood very wide and not
> allow for supplemental lighting to be as easily added along side which would
> limit bulb selection (color) I'd think.

wasnt thinking about supplemental lighting, another good reason commercial hoods are ran
as they are.

> kc
>

--
Richard Reynolds

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[Dragon Slayer]

> did i miss the part about how many bulbs ???, i know i forgot to ask:D

2 @ 400w.


> i have a 37 (the taller of your 29), the bulbs 2 175's 20,000k I use and
there mongel
> socket fit with about the clearence of a nat ran front to back, my NO bulb
is below the
> socket, and smaller PC's ran from the sides inwards mounted against the
side of my DIY
> canipy, and it all just kinda fits. if i place the bulbs parallel to the
width of the
> tank, i end up lighting the floor/walls/ everything except the tank.
> get a good reflector the first time :)

I "could" fit the Iwasaki over the 29 front to back, (we like to call it
"tighter then a gnats ass stretched over a 5 gallon bucket" kinda fit) but I
would have a hard time getting the actinic lighting in with it and I prefer
to have it with the 6500K's



> wasnt thinking about supplemental lighting, another good reason commercial
hoods are ran
> as they are.
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