Reflector for 36x36x25

Full sps from top to bottom. Nun around the edges. I want that nice and open for a good swimming area for the fish.

 

And that's why I suggested the 400. Sure it isn't going to grwo frags on the bottom glass to glass, but for a column it will do well.

 

Agree, it will punch down, just not down and out so much. For what you describe, that should be fine.

 

Ok cool. You know I even though that If I was to get the single 400w above the tank and it it's just not covering well. I was even thinking that maybe somthing like 4 of thouse spotlight LEDs with a wide lens mounted just beside the Mh would help bring a good mix of light, color and better coverage. But also up the par through out the tank.
Though that if the Mh was centered over the tank that the LEDs would work good kinda close to the Mh (center of tank) but toards the corner part of the tank. So one LED spotlight thing per corner but as close to center / Mh as posable.
I can't remember the name of the LED spotlight things their was a advertisement at the bottom of the forum but it's changed to somthing alse. I'm not to sure how good they even are really. Just an idea.

 

I do the same on my cube. I have a 30x30x24, with a lumen-bright mini-wide. It really only covers about 2/3 of the tank well, so, I have some T-5s and PAR 30s. Even with 40 degree optics, the PAR 30s really don't put out much light for a deep tank though. I have them in my canopy, which is about 12" off the surface. I'd say at mid tank, they maybe add 70-100 PAR, at the bottom maybe 50-70w. These are nice convenient little lights, but only 10 watts. However, that extra 50-70w is just enough in my case, but the coverage area is narrow, so I need more, but they are extremely expensive per watt. I'd like to build a diy rapid led system around my MH reflector to get better coverage. It would be a lot cheaper too. BTW I did a reefkoi evo led review, in the LED forum, where I compared prices of LEDs per watt. None of the LEDs on the market should vary by more than 10-15% efficiency when used with the same optics. So, this is fairly reasonable. You need power and tight optics, in order to focus the light, to penetrate down though.


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Lumen Max Elite 250

I have 250 watt Lumen Max Elite 250s I placed them 12" over my tank while i was doing a fresh water run and with all the micro bubbles in the tank i could see the outer edges of the light. At 12" maybe 30" both ways max? Good luck with your pick

 

Well I saw a actual 36x36 setup today and decided that its not what im wanting. So it looks like I'm going to go with my original plan. The four footer. Know I just have to find one. Anybody know of a local (Ohio, Ky) place that I can get a 48x24x24? I dont mind if it's predrilled but I want to be able to also drill it. Just incase I decide to do a closed loop. I guess it doesn't have to be rimless but i don't really want the suport going across the top middle of the tank. Figure it'll cast a major shadow.

Any ideas?

BTW With the LB mini wides. Since they would be mounted closer to the water then the LB mini's would HEAT be a much bigger issue and would I have to worry about salt creep / water splash getting on the reflectors or would they still be up high enough to avoild it? Im just trying to avoild the same issue that I have know with my T5's on my 40 breeder.

Another reason I ask is because if the HEAT or splash isn't an issue with the wides I would like try one of the LB mini wides over my 40g just to see the results and it would alow me to acclimate my corals while all the new stand, plumming, and ect... Is being worked on.

 

I was told by the coralvue rep that the mini-wides are designed to be 14-16" water to bulb. I don't think you'll have an issue with splashing or heat. I have mine hanging around 16" and heat isn't really a consideration. No fans needed. Easy to work on the tank without needing to remove a canopy. Etc..