this website is sorto old....but i just came across it again b/c i was trying to figure out what reflector to go with for my cube. (24"x24"x20")
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm
i'm having a hard time trying to decide b/w a lumenarc III, lumunarc mini, or a 24" PFO parralel reflector.......and i gota say i'm starting to lean more and more towards the PFO.
PFO parallel reflector:
pros:
-spreads light just as good as the lumenarc according to that website
-has cut outs for actinic lighting
-is open ended so you can easily add a fan so heat wont build up in the center, thus allowing me to lower the reflector closer to the tank
cons:
-doesn't quite reach the corners like the lumenarc does (but i bet the cut outs for actinics would reach those corners very well, and in fact.....not having bright light in those corners could be seen as a good thing if putting low light corals there)
lumenarc:
cons:
-dont like how you have to raise it up so high in order to get air through it.
-builds up a tremendous amount of heat inside the reflector
-not able to mount actinic bulbs directly to the reflector without major DIY
-focuses intense light directly down the center if mounted low, but intensity seems to fall off dramatically away from the center when compared to the PFO parallel (unless you raise it up very high to get more balanced light spread)
any other suggestions? (this is for SE only)
http://www.advancedaquarist.com/issues/mar2003/feature.htm
i'm having a hard time trying to decide b/w a lumenarc III, lumunarc mini, or a 24" PFO parralel reflector.......and i gota say i'm starting to lean more and more towards the PFO.
PFO parallel reflector:
pros:
-spreads light just as good as the lumenarc according to that website
-has cut outs for actinic lighting
-is open ended so you can easily add a fan so heat wont build up in the center, thus allowing me to lower the reflector closer to the tank
cons:
-doesn't quite reach the corners like the lumenarc does (but i bet the cut outs for actinics would reach those corners very well, and in fact.....not having bright light in those corners could be seen as a good thing if putting low light corals there)
lumenarc:
cons:
-dont like how you have to raise it up so high in order to get air through it.
-builds up a tremendous amount of heat inside the reflector
-not able to mount actinic bulbs directly to the reflector without major DIY
-focuses intense light directly down the center if mounted low, but intensity seems to fall off dramatically away from the center when compared to the PFO parallel (unless you raise it up very high to get more balanced light spread)
any other suggestions? (this is for SE only)
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