Lightrails - next big thing in reef lighting?

mark · #1 01-11-2008, 07:52 PM

If running a single small pendant would be thinking something that continually goes back and forth.

We are already playing games with algae lighting (24/7) and corals having spot lighting, instant off and on with timers, overall durations different than the reef, some people running 250W bulb and others 400w or T5s or different spectrum on the same species. Just wondering lightwise, how much we can fool the coral so they believe there under the surf in Fiji.

Also at what point would this be annoying to the viewer.

Skimmerking · #2 01-11-2008, 10:35 PM

Jayson from SWC has a 300 gallon a 8 footer and has 2 mh on a rail a 175 and a 250....

littlesilvermax · #3 01-12-2008, 02:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus

Jayson from SWC has a 300 gallon a 8 footer and has 2 mh on a rail a 175 and a 250....

Keep in mind that Jayson (who has the same light rail as I do) has about 12 T5s over that 300.

It is almost hard to notice where the halides are.

Skimmerking · #4 01-12-2008, 03:07 AM

Oh i guess he added some more lighting to his tank I didn't know that

fkshiu · #5 01-12-2008, 05:12 AM

I agree that one MH on a rail over a 6' tank probably isn't enough. I had originally planned on 2 pendants along with supplemental T5 lighting for my setup. In end the low ceiling in my basement did in the light rail plan, but I'm still a fan of the theory behind keeping corals out of direct intense light 100% of the time.

littlesilvermax · #6 01-12-2008, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fkshiu

I agree that one MH on a rail over a 6' tank probably isn't enough. I had originally planned on 2 pendants along with supplemental T5 lighting for my setup. In end the low ceiling in my basement did in the light rail plan, but I'm still a fan of the theory behind keeping corals out of direct intense light 100% of the time.

Yes, you need a min of 2 feet above a tank IMO to do a light rail and still have room to work. 3 feet is best.

littlesilvermax · #7 01-12-2008, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asmodeus

Oh i guess he added some more lighting to his tank I didn't know that

He might only have 8 or 10. He used ot have a whole bunch of VHOs (like 5 years ago) but has since upgraded to T5s.

He has always AFAIK had lots of flourescent lighting.