Seafood Gumbo??

[Modo]

Is this what I am going to have if I go with a 250w MH w/ 4 flourescent actinics, 12" over the water? I am building the hood and am planning on 2 fans on each side for cooling with an open back.

The reason I was asking is because my tank currently runs 78-82F with Flourescents 2" from the surface. No heater and no fans are currently running.

I have no sump so extra fans there is not an option. I can't afford a chiller at the moment either so don't go there.

Am I screwed? Will this work?

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: Modo ]

 

[2poor2reef]

What is the air temp of the room the tank is in?

 

[McReef1]

Yeah, air temp of the room...

Can you afford one of those window A/C units that Home Depot has for $199.00?

I bought one of the bigger ones for $300 and it cools my entire 2500 sq ft house!

After seeing so many problems (mainly ICH) because of temp changes, I would not do what you are planning until you are sure you can control the temp!

Good luck.

McReef

 

[arnjer]

What size tank is this you are talking about.....I built "light boxes" for my 90 gal and run no fans. This is in a small room of the house with central heat/air and the room has a ceiling fan that runs on high all the time. I have no heating problems.
I have 2x250watt MH 12" above the water. The boxes have an open top so the heat goes up past the reflectors and out and away from the tank.

[ August 07, 2001: Message edited by: arnjer ]

 

[Modo]

This is a 29g.

I have central heat and air and I keep the house between 75-80F.

There is actually a vent on the ceiling right above the tank. I have been thinking that I can get a new vent cover that directs the air directly down so the AC air will blow onto the tank. In the winter I can shut that vent off when I kick on my heater.

I can also incorporate a couple of small vents on the top of the light hood to disapate heat a little more. Do you think this would help?

 

[arnjer]

What are you wanting to keep in it? I'm new to the halides but a 175 watt may be a better option. With a 250 lower light critters like shrooms may need to be shaded even on the bottom. Also a 175 would not put out as much heat.

Jerry

 

[danmhippo]

Can you modify your canopy into a pendant, or hanging it? As long as your tank is not enclosed in, you will not likely have the temp problem.

 

[2poor2reef]

Like hippo said, ventilation is everything. I have a 250w mh pendant over a 15g in a walk-in closet where the air temp runs along the lines of what modo indicated and I have no problem keeping my tank under 82 degrees. In fact, I have to run a heater.

 

[Modo]

I thought about a 175w orginally but ended up getting a 250w ballast handed to me free. So, 250 it is.

I have no shrooms and I plan on ramping the lighting up over time so the leathers and polyps I have will acclimate. I also have some overhangs and a cave to move anybody that is not looking so hot. My plans are to phase out the softies and start an SPS dominated tank.

I'll look into the pendant idea tonight. I believe the studs in the cieling run parallel with my tank, though.

Thanks for the input so far. Anymore ideas?

 

[Modo]

Update:

I finally got my hood built and my Iwasaki 250w came in last night. I hooked it up and it fired right off. I have two 3" Radio Shack fans blowing from the open back onto the surface of the water (thanks jdeets!!).

I ran the bulb for 1 hour (11.5" off surface)and watched my thermometer closely. The starting temp was 82F (normal for my tank) and after a whole hour of running the bulb and the fans my temp had actually dropped 2 degrees to 80F!!! Woohooo.

So, it looks like it is going to work!

Thanks for all your help. Just wanted to share.

 

[reefmkr]

Modo.
Can you tell me how's the color on Iwasaki 250w? I need to replase the bulb preety soon,
so I was thinking about changing from blueline to Iwassaki(It's too blue now).
Also can you tell me where you got it from?
thanks

[ August 22, 2001: Message edited by: reefmkr ]

 

[Modo]

I ordered the bulb from Champion Lighting. Took about 4 days to get here and was right at $66 total.

This is my first MH set-up so I really can't say for sure what the color is going to look like once the bulb has burned in. Right now it is greenish/yellow. I'm hoping it will whiten up as time goes by. I also don't have any of my flourescent tubes up and running yet. This should make a difference too.

 

[reefmkr]

Modo,
Do you know if the bulb is DL model?

thank you for quick reply.

[ August 22, 2001: Message edited by: reefmkr ]

 

[Modo]

Not too sure. I'll check when I get to the house tonight. What's the difference in the two?

 

[reefmkr]

I belive DL model suppose to be more whiter than normal Iwasaki but not sure. nerve seen on side by side.

let me see if I could find the thread about
DL Vs normal....

thanks