YEAH I GOT MY TANK TODAY-Modern Series and I got a lighting

[Darkreignn]

I bought a 125 AGA reef ready modern series setup. This thing is awesome and I have a lighting question. OK here goes...I was thinking of buying a retro kit (3 - 250w halide and 2 - 160 watt actinic vhos). From the descriptions it says that they are 5" in height. In my canopy this leaves like 2" off the water. So would it be ok to buy the retro-kit or what should I do?? I do know that a chiller might be in the plans guys so just ket me know thanx... THANX SO MUCH.. You guys are the best...

 

[freedom75]

Darkreignn

I think If i was planning on going that route I would extend the canopy to where it has the light no less than 14 inches off the water. I have a 72 bowfront and I am running 2 175 watt MH and 4 55 watt PC's and the coral love them . But I also have the light 15 inches off the water. Before adding fan the water temp was rising 6 degree's a day this kmy be a serious ploblem if you let those lights get down that low. As well as running the risk of water splashing up and busting a hot bulb..
Good luck

John Wray
http://home.triad.rr.com/jwray/reef.html

 

[Anonymous]

We mount MH retro's in AGA Modern all the time. There is no problem with this IMO, we've never had a problem from a customer. Mount a couple of 4" fans on the back blowing into the hood for ventilation and you shouldn't have a heat problem, especially in the AGA hoods which tend to be well ventilated to begin with.

 

[Darkreignn]

WOW I wish you would have told me that before. I already took apart the canopy and made another one and added the Modern Series trim to it. check it out. Total space from to location where the retro-fit kit is going to go till the water line is 12". So if the retro-kit is 5" tall then that means that I will have 7"s of space between the metal halides and the water. And by the way, notice how the back is open. I will be putting 2 9" clip-on fans back there. So what do you guys think? Did I get this right or what

[ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: Darkreignn ]</p>

 

[IBJJ]

Looks great Dark. I agree with having a 12" canopy. I put 2 4" fans on mine and haven't had any overheating. 180gal 3 x 175 watt MH, 3 x 140watt VHO.

 

[IBJJ]

Better wear "Dark" sunglasses if you open that canopy when your lights are on Dark

 

[mrrrkva]

I love the black!!!! You wont regret getting those lights a little off the water. I had mine too high but now have 400w 13 inches off a 80 gallon and it works great!

 

[mrrrkva]

You have to tell me what kind of finish that is. Is it just black with polyurethane? How did you do that?

 

[Darkreignn]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by IBJJ:
<strong>Better wear "Dark" sunglasses if you open that canopy when your lights are on Dark</strong><hr></blockquote>

HAHAHA!!! LOL!!!

 

[PrestorJohn]

I built a canopy similar to your design last year when a bought a PFO retro kit (pair of 400W's) for my 90 Gallon. The lights are about 5-6 inches above the water and with two 4 inch fans running I managed to keep it at or below 84 degrees during the summer. (air conditioned house in Michigan)

The only issue you may have - if you don't have particularly long arms - is reaching the bottom of the tank.

 

[Darkreignn]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by mrrrkva:
<strong>You have to tell me what kind of finish that is. Is it just black with polyurethane? How did you do that?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Well I bought the tank black but it didn't look shiny enough so what I did was go to Home Depot and buy some Clear Gloss Polyurethane. When I modified the canopy I painted it with a flat black spray can paint. After it dried I just threw some polyurethane, waited till it dried. Next day I threw another coat and voila!! It's done. Just make sure that you wait like 6 hours to let it dry real good... Oh yeah I forgot, I did coat the stand too....hehe thanx for liking my tank. To bad its not up and running...

[ November 24, 2001: Message edited by: Darkreignn ]</p>

 

[Anonymous]

Is that your breaker box behind the tank???

 

[Darkreignn]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Rover:
<strong>Is that your breaker box behind the tank???</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yeah but when its all set up, it wont be close to the wall like that. hehe

 

[Anonymous]

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Darkreignn:
<strong>WOW I wish you would have told me that before. I already took apart the canopy and made another one and added the Modern Series trim to it. check it out.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Heh- one 'feature' of the Modern series line of furniture is you can basically just strip the trim off. I would say it's not the stoutest furniture on the market =) But it looks good to me.