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**moonpod** · 10-20-2005, 04:42 PM

Do the same thing I'm doing.
3xLAIII/LumenMax, 400w, ballast du jour.

I have a tough time picking SE ballasts. I wimped out and just went electronic.

**VegasMike** · 10-20-2005, 05:05 PM

Three pendants across 96" ???

The tank is actually braced for four lighting "zones". That is why I was leaning towards four. Do you think the spread will cover the 36" width. If so, I might just get away with three pendants if they will adequately cover a 3'x3' footprint.

The way I look at it, for the price of the four replacement bulbs I won't have to buy, it almost covers the reflectors.

What do you think about the heat issue and how far above the tank do you think they will need to be hung?

What type of e-ballasts did you go for?

**VegasMike** · 10-20-2005, 05:07 PM

AND THEN, the big question, which bulbs?

**Detritivore** · 10-20-2005, 05:31 PM

dont know if this adds any significance, but alberto (dgasmd, i think) uses a single row of 400w in lumenarcs on his 4 foot wide tank. his tank is a room divider though, which means he really only needs to light the center of the tank.

**moonpod** · 10-20-2005, 05:35 PM

It'll do 36" no probs. 3 or 4 whatever.

Bulbs are so....individual. I'm hoping that the BLV 14k 400w become available. Otherwise I'll try the EVC 10k b/c if it's good enough for Sanjay Joshi it's good enough for me....

**o2manyfish** · 10-20-2005, 05:40 PM

Hey Mike,

When Sanjay visited me, he recommended the Lumernarcs. He uses the Lumenarcs on the Penn State tank and it's 3' wide and I think 3' deep.

I am going to test the lumenarc on my 33" width in the near future.

I think I want to switch to the Lumenarcs with 20K 400w Helios. I was going to do 4 over my 96 length.

Then I also got the idea of doing 3 (2x1000, 1x400) and put it on a curved light rail that follows the design of the tank aquascaping.

Right now I am just waiting on the availability of the ballasts.

I know Sanjay tested the IceCap and found them to be the lowest current draw but also the lowest output.

I also have got my X10 all worked out for controlling my tank, and the IceCap electronic are notorious for creating noise and creating havoc with the X10 signals.

I have been real happy running the Helios 250w Electronic ballast, and am waiting for the 400w Electronics to get back into the US.

Dave B

**VegasMike** · 10-20-2005, 05:51 PM

Dave - Where are you getting your ballasts from? It sounds like we are on the same page. I am leaning towards the LA III's with the 400 watt Helios 20000k bulbs. I think the last piece of the puzzle is the reflectors. I just looked at Sanjay's test and I was leaning towards the EVC ballast from Ocean Encounter, electronic and only $120 a copy.

Chuck - Really the same question, what ballasts are you plannign on?

I really like the idea of upping the intesity and lowing my electric bill at the same time. I also think I might just have less of a heat issue running three or four 400's than I do running eight 250's.

Mike

**o2manyfish** · 10-20-2005, 06:11 PM

Mike,

Fortunately I am friends with Helios, so I just have to wait till they are available. I know Reefermadness is carrying the bulbs. I am not sure if Chris will stock the ballasts when they are available. I am sure he will be able to get them.

Unfortunately I have been waiting for a long time for the Helios ballasts to show up, they are switching manufacturers in China.

And the halides are not their focus, the halides (Bulbs and Ballasts) are merely a personal endeavour of the owner, for his own SPS addiction. So things don't happen real quickly.

Dave B

**VegasMike** · 10-20-2005, 06:42 PM

That's really great news.....Chuck - what are yo ugoing with?

**o2manyfish** · 10-20-2005, 06:48 PM

Mike when you coming to LA ?

Dave B

**Chad W** · 10-20-2005, 10:01 PM

My new 400w. Ice Cap electronic draws 415w. 3.5 amps drawn. Is this the ballast Sanjay tested? For some reason I had the impression Ice Cap revised the 400w. ballast.

**moonpod** · 10-20-2005, 11:30 PM

I use Icecaps b/c well, essentially b/c it's what I have laying around. I'm not calling it an ideal solution, it's the easy solution for me. DaveB is talking about the helios eballast. I've used their 250w version and it seemed ok to me. Sanjay may or may not have had the latest iteration of the IC ballast. IC had a lot of trouble with the previous generation 110v 400w ballast. The 220v worked fine, but the 110 was problems. The current 110v 400w ballast looks and feels a lot like most of the competitors and is definitely different than the previous version.

**VegasMike** · 10-21-2005, 12:04 AM

Dave - not sure about a trip to LA yet, but they are talking about scheduling a board meeting for the Company in Ventura that I am on the board of sometime in November. I'll let you know and I also want to make sure Chris will be around. I will try to steer them towards a Monday, I think, and stay over to make the LA rounds on Tuesday since Chris is usually at his warehouse on Tuesday. I'll keep in touch.

Chuck - I wonder how the Icecap compares to the EVC carried at Ocean Encounter? It tested out pretty well if I remember right and the price is right. They are out of stock right now, but they are $120 per ballast as compared to $175 for the Icecap.

This type of setup would greatly simplify my lighting set-up.

Any opinions on heat from four 400's in LA III reflectors as compared with eight 250's DE in RO III reflectors.

Mike

Announcement

Lighting Change in the works...maybe?

Lighting Change in the works...maybe?

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