Overheating

[Anonymous]

Will 2 175 watt MHs cause my new tank to overheat? It's a 65 gallon, 24" tall.

I was thinking of having one 175 watt on each side, and two PCs running the length. The canopy would have two fans blowing the same direction.

Would that be too much heat? A chiller is not an option for me.

Anyone keep MH on a 65?

 

[fishfarmer]

I have one 175 watt MH and two 28 watt PC on a 38 gal. No overheating problems here. I have a 4" fan blowing in from one side of the hood and an open space on the other end near the halide for heat escape.

I would have one fan blow in and one blow out. FWIW I've heard that directly blowing the fan onto a MH bulb will cause premature failure. I believe they need to run a certain temp. to burn correctly.

 

[Anonymous]

I meant that the air flow would be one-way. One fan blowing in, the other blowing out.

I figure with 2 fans, 2 bulbs about 9-10" off the water, I should be ok, don't you think?

Anybody else have this?

 

[slojmn1]

The only problem with one blowing in and one sucking out is the one sucking out will fail quickly. It will get gunked up with salt and corrode and die. I have two 4" fans both blowing into the canopy with an exposed/open back of the canopy so air can escape. Works great. If you are concerned with the fans blowing on the bulbs just put spacers in the the top of the fan when installing between the fan and the canopy and have them at a slight angle blowing down toward the top of the water. You want the fans blowing along the water anyways as that is what cools the tank.

 

[fishfarmer]

slojmn1 has the right idea both blowing in with an open area for heat escape.

9" off the water, you should be fine. Mine is about 3", but it does have a glass between it and the water.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

 

[MrPuma]

I have a hamilton hood 36" long with two fans and 2X175 watt metal halide with two actinic power compacts on a 58 gallon tank. The light is about 6-8 inches from the water and the lights are left on about 12 hours a day. The tank was too hot in the summer and I bought a chiller. However in winter the chiller is not needed so maybe if you keep your house cooler you may just get by.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks, guys!
I'm going to build my canopy, so I can do whatever I want. The only thing I'm concerned with about having the open back for air to be blown out, is the light on the wall behind it. I want the tank illuminated, not the wall.

how do you handle that?

 

[sparks]

I put a small desk fan (6 inch) pointing over the top of tank, it comes on with MHs. This has kept my tank temps down probably 2 Deg c. It also increased evaporation a lot (4/5 litres on a good day on 6x2x2) which of course it great for adding Kalk.

 

[Bobzarry]

I have 2 175 hamiltons on a 55. they are about 6 inches off the water and the whole thing is cooled by one 4" fan blowing in from the side. I have the fan on a temp controler to keep it from over cooling. my canapy has an open back and some slits in the top. I find it works very well.


Bob

[ January 02, 2002: Message edited by: Bobzarry ]</p>