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DIY Project, Lumen Brights or Lumen Arcs?

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by adampottebaum, Dec 6, 2009.

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  1. Dec 6, 2009 #1
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    [​IMG]
    I've been doing a ton of research on making new reflector for my 125 gallon tank, and I'm still undecided to make some Lumen Arcs, Lumen Brights, or a combo of the two. I'll have 3 reflectors over a 6' long, 2' tall, and 18" wide tank. I'm using two 400watt MH's(outsides) and one 250watt MH(center).
    From what I understand, the Lumen Bright is more efficient and is designed to be farther above the tank than any other reflectors, but the Lumen Arc has a better "spread" than the LB. The tank is only 18" wide, so I don't think I'll need the spread of the lumen Arc. I won't have a chiller, so I think the Lumen Brights will be nice to have them a nice distance away from the tank. I also wanted to put a 120mm PC fan on each reflector to keep them cool, just not sure where to mount it(suggestions?).
    Has anyone had both of these reflectors and think one is better than the other?
    My dad works at a lumber yard, so I got two skylight extension tubes that I'll be using for the reflective material. I also wanted this thread to be very informative so people will know about this and maybe try it on their own. Here's my favorite links:
    Lumen Bright Thread
    Lumen Bright Template
    Lumen Arc Thread 1
    Lumen Arc Thread 2
    Lumen Arc Template
    DIY Light Friendly Mesh Build
    THIS light rail tubing can be found HERE.
    If my dad didn't get me free reflective material, the best/cheapest stuff is found HERE. They have four 2' x 4' sheets of 95% reflective material for $157 shipped. Other wise you can get they skylight extender tubing at Home Depot, Lowes, Menards...
     
  2. Dec 6, 2009 #2
    snowman82

    snowman82 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    i like the lumen arcs just cause they are square :)
     
  3. Dec 6, 2009 #3
    kgehrke

    kgehrke Inactive User

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    I've only ran a lumenarc, but I liked it. Lumen Brights are all the rage lately and seem to better fit your application. I'd go with the lumen bright setup. Good luck!
     
  4. Dec 6, 2009 #4
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    Yea, that's one of the things I really like about the Lumen Arcs. If I did go with LA's, I would copy this guys design:
    [​IMG]
    OR
    [​IMG]
     
  5. Dec 6, 2009 #5
    matt the fiddler

    matt the fiddler Inactive User

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    i see lumenbrights as haivng more in common with a parabolic reflector, ( i see them as a "pixlated" parabolic reflector auctually) and therefore more hot in the center than the lumenarcs.. over square tanks, I think the lumenarc is a tad better for optmial coverage too... lunembrights would wok better on a curved tank.
     
  6. Dec 6, 2009 #6
    billbigsbe Clive

    billbigsbe Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Lbs light a 3'x3' area at a bulb height of 24". great for a no chiller set-up, L arcs are great for a limited height in canopy w/chiller set-ups. Both are great reflectors and made from very nice german stuff. Just shell out the $125 and enjoy them with all of your fingers! Remember saltwater stings like crazy in open cut....


    I run 2 LBs 400w with only 2 small fans still only use 4 heaters on my system...
     
  7. Dec 6, 2009 #7
    kgehrke

    kgehrke Inactive User

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    Here's an article worth reading.
    http://reefkeeping.com/issues/2008-06/review/index.php
     
  8. Dec 7, 2009 #8
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    Sorry but I'm not going to spend $375(3x$125) for reflectors when I can make them for free. Thanks for the tips though.
     
  9. Dec 7, 2009 #9
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    Yea thanks for the link. I've read that one before and there's another one out there that gives spectrum analysis on all the top reflectors. I need to do a little digging and find it again.
     
  10. Dec 7, 2009 #10
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    My understanding is that the lumenbrights give more of a focused light and the arcs do a little bit more of a spread. I made some lumenarcs myself before I found the cad drawing for the brights. I will probably make the brights as well for fun, if no other reason, since materials are pretty cheap. I got my solar tubing from Menard's Velux brand $44. Cheapest I found locally.
     
  11. Dec 7, 2009 #11
    matt the fiddler

    matt the fiddler Inactive User

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    good to see the article!

    yea- bela said it better what I was trying to say...

    smaller tank, brights are probably better... i am trying to cover a 2.5' square over mine pretty evenly...
     
  12. Dec 7, 2009 #12
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    I have enough material for 4 reflectors, so I think I'm going to build three Lumen Brights and one Lumen Arc.

    I'll have the bulbs in order of 400 watt, 250 watt, 400 watt, so I'll see how it looks and I might switch out the 250 watt in the center to a Lumen Arc to even out the 400's in their Lumen Brights.

    I'll have the bulbs closer to each other in the middle of the tank than most people do, so I can emphasize the center and de-emphasize the ends to draw less attention to the overflows. I really don't think the spread-loss of the Lumen Brights will make any sort of impact on an 18" wide tank if the three reflectors are only illuminating 5' of the 6' tank.

    I should have time to build these on Thursday so I can bring them to the CF/Waterloo area Xmas party on Friday to show people, hopefully giving people the courage to build stuff like this themselves and save money!

    Thanks for the help guys.

    I'll try to take pics of my progress.
     
  13. Dec 7, 2009 #13
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    Yea if I was lighting anything wider than 18" I'd go with a Lumen Arc.
     
  14. Dec 7, 2009 #14
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    HERE is the unbiased comparison the different reflectors I was talking about. It talks about how each reflector has it's own pros and cons.
     
  15. Dec 7, 2009 #15
    matt the fiddler

    matt the fiddler Inactive User

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    "The reflectors seem to fall into 2 separate groups, Group 1, the Lumenarc and the Lumenmax and Group 2 comprising Lumen Brite and Lumenmax Elite. The Group 1 reflectors seem to be better at providing a wider coverage, whereas the group 2 reflectors tend to focus the light slightly more creating higher peak values and smaller spread."

    I was originally changing my mind after reading the first article- tank width was really all that mattered.. after the AA Artice, I am resorting to my earlier opinion on spread and hot spots

    I am an equal spread type of a guy... I don't like hot spots... so... must... not.. say... lumenarc.. is ... better....... Just different, and better for me :)
     
  16. Dec 7, 2009 #16
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    This is semi-off topic but does the club have a PAR meter that we are able to "rent" or "barrow" at all? It would be interesting to compare some ratings between the different designs, and especially if we can get our hands on some "real" lumenarcs/brights to compare to the DIY counterparts. I was sorta thinking of asking Santa for one but I really don't know if I will get much use out of it. I wouldn't think twice if it was like 50 bucks but alas, this is not the case.
     
  17. Dec 7, 2009 #17
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Where did you get the material? The $44 Velux solar tubing was enough for two reflectors for me. Do you have a secret supplier that can get it for cheaper? /DesktopModules/ActiveForums/themes/_default/emoticons/wink.gif Would love to make more of these, possibly even a downsized one for a 70w bulb on my small tank :)
     
  18. Dec 7, 2009 #18
    adampottebaum

    adampottebaum Experienced Reefkeeper GIRS Member

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    Hey Bela, you must have missed reading that, I indeed do have a secret supplier! My dad works at a lumber yard, so I can get them for free, he still has to pay for them at the lumber yards cost, but this was part of my Christmas presents(new Craftsman 19.2V drill, battery, charger, titanium drill bits, hole saws, tool box, reflector, rivets...) then I'm borrowing the rest of his tools for the project.
     
  19. Dec 7, 2009 #19
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    Yeah guess I did miss it. Cool deal :)
     
  20. Dec 7, 2009 #20
    Bela

    Bela Inactive User

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    I just read this part of your post (gee I really did miss a lot LOL) I have seen some people drill holes in the top of the reflector (for ventilation) and put the fan directly on top of that. Their reasoning behind that is that this area is going to have the least loss of light due to the fact that a lot of the light is bouncing off that area and right back onto the bulb (not in the tank). Not sure how accurate that truly is, but it is what I had seen.
     
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