MH and VHO Lighting watts
- Thread starter intensity888
- Start date
yeah, its an oceanic reef tank. I do have plans for getting a autotopoff switch (lifereef). I also have been pondering putting a fan on each end of the canopy (by modifying it/cut out). I was going to set them up so 1 fan blows air in and the one on the other end pulls air out.
by the way, i checked out your set up. I was thinking about plumbing everything down into the basement also. but since i would have to offset everything instead of straight down i think i will just try to do some noise reduction in my stand.
by the way, i checked out your set up. I was thinking about plumbing everything down into the basement also. but since i would have to offset everything instead of straight down i think i will just try to do some noise reduction in my stand.
intensity888":34rrcex7 said:That makes complete sense to me.I build my computers so naturally my brain defaulted to hot air evacuation scenario.
That's actually the most common thought. Evacuating the air will slightly lenthen the lifespan of Fourescent bulbs and since the air is dryer it will increase evap. However, pushing the humid air away from the water surface dramatically increases evap and can significantly drop the temperature of the water.
Rule of thumb - point the fan at what you want to cool. If you want to cool the bulbs point the fan at the bulbs, if you want to cool the water point the fan at the water.
Another problem with having a fan suck air out is corrosion. Moist air with traces of salt kills electronics.
ok, really dumb question here..... I have a canopy on the tank, so how can i direct fans at the water and push humid air away when i only have the back of the canopy open?
I'm trying to visualize here and all i can come up with would be fans in front inside of canopy pushing air at water, which will deflect and go out the back.
I'm trying to visualize here and all i can come up with would be fans in front inside of canopy pushing air at water, which will deflect and go out the back.
Holes in the top or sides work. If the back is open it's just as easy to mount the fans at each back corner blowing air across the water surface to the oposite corner in the front. That will be plenty of turbulence to remove the thin layer of humid air just above the water surface. The air will easily evacuate out the middle.
Plug the fans into the same timer your lights are on so they don't overcool the water.
Plug the fans into the same timer your lights are on so they don't overcool the water.
I have been looking at kelvin ratings for MH. I'm really looking for best color overall. I was thinking that 10k with actinic vho's would give me good color overall. Unfortuantely i dont have a set up to look at in order to find out if its true!
I notice a lot of people go with 14k. I am thinking that with the actinics it would be too "blue" and wash out some of the color in the tank so to speak.
Any thoughts?
I notice a lot of people go with 14k. I am thinking that with the actinics it would be too "blue" and wash out some of the color in the tank so to speak.
Any thoughts?
The preferred amount of Blue is just personal preference and everyone has a different opinion. I tried the 14,000K + Actinic and I prefer the 10,000K + VHO Actinic.
Not all 10,000K are the same color though :roll: unfortunately I think some manufactuers pretend their bulb is whiter than it actually is.
Not all 10,000K are the same color though :roll: unfortunately I think some manufactuers pretend their bulb is whiter than it actually is.
ok, I figured i might have to take some chances and experiment a little. Since I am setting up a new tank, I fiugre it will be several months before I feel the lighting scheme is very critical anyway, due to the fact that i don''t plan on starting to add corals the 2nd month i have it up. I am thinking that by the time i get around to feeling corals are safe, I may be ready to by new/different bulbs anyway.
Thanks for putting up with my "baby" questions! I've hit about 150 hours of studying/reading time so far and I feel like i haven't even scratched the surface. I now have an estimated time of 2-3 weeks till initial set up.
Thanks for putting up with my "baby" questions! I've hit about 150 hours of studying/reading time so far and I feel like i haven't even scratched the surface. I now have an estimated time of 2-3 weeks till initial set up.
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