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Posted by rs11 on July 9, 2005, 11:28 am
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I have a 65 gallon reef setup that I have had for years. I am thinking
of changing the lighting on it and would like some input. I have been
using Metal halide with 2 actinic. The corals are doing well, soft and
stoney corals. The problem is the heat that is generated by the MH. I
have no chiller and do not intend to buy nor have the room for one. I
know there are many different lighting systems on the market now, all
claiming to be the best. I would like some input from all of you as to
which lighting you think is best. Do I keep the MH and suffer from the
heat and hi cost of electric or should I switch to compacts or something
else that will still be good for the corals, be much cooler and more
cost effective.
I appreciate your answers.
Thanks
Rob
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Posted by Xerces on July 9, 2005, 3:27 pm
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I have a similar sized tank (66) and run 4 x 48" on an Icecap 660
ballast. I have everything from softies to SPS and clams. Heat is no
issue, I have one 12vDC computer fan on the back of the canopy. I run
2 URI super actinics and two phillips 6500K (el cheapo!) bulbs with
great sucess.
http://community.webshots.com/album/236290540VwtoSX
Some pics of my setup
I'll toss in my vote for VHO! I am considering trying the T5 bulbs
instead of the URI VHO (the URIs cost me damm near $50 each here!) One
of the suppliers I use has the T5s on sale for $20 (actinic).
Regards
Jon
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Posted by Marc Levenson on July 9, 2005, 7:14 pm
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Rob, if you already own the lights, let's consider heat solutions instead.
Computer fans blowing ambient room temperature INTO your canopy will
help force the hot air out any openings.
Cracking the canopy doors open just slightly will allow heat to exit.
Putting a cheapo fan over your sump will help lower temperatures.
Removing a canister filter (Magnum 350, for example) reduces heat.
Checking your heaters to make sure they aren't adding to the problem.
Reducing the amount of powerheads you have in the tank and replacing
those with a closed loop might help.
Clean the return pump to reduce overheat-related issues.
Remove the glass top on your tank if it is there.
Raise the MH bulbs 9" off the water.
Marc
rs11 wrote:
> I have a 65 gallon reef setup that I have had for years. I am thinking
> of changing the lighting on it and would like some input. I have been
> using Metal halide with 2 actinic. The corals are doing well, soft and
> stoney corals. The problem is the heat that is generated by the MH. I
> have no chiller and do not intend to buy nor have the room for one. I
> know there are many different lighting systems on the market now, all
> claiming to be the best. I would like some input from all of you as to
> which lighting you think is best. Do I keep the MH and suffer from the
> heat and hi cost of electric or should I switch to compacts or something
> else that will still be good for the corals, be much cooler and more
> cost effective.
> I appreciate your answers.
> Thanks
> Rob
--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
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Posted by rs11 on July 9, 2005, 10:40 pm
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Marc
I have considered the solutions already, none work the way I would like.
I have 2 computer fans in my canopy, the doors are open. The sump hasa
fan on top of it and there is egg crate overthe tank with two computer
fans also. The heater is unplugged most of the year, and the MH are more
than 10 inches above the tank. The only way I can keep the tank temp
down is to run the air conditioner in my den almost always. I am looking
for lights that will work as well as MH but not generate the heat and
electric expense that they do. The tank is a 65 gallon high tank.
Thanks
Rob
Marc Levenson wrote:
> Rob, if you already own the lights, let's consider heat solutions instead.
>
> Computer fans blowing ambient room temperature INTO your canopy will
> help force the hot air out any openings.
>
> Cracking the canopy doors open just slightly will allow heat to exit.
>
> Putting a cheapo fan over your sump will help lower temperatures.
>
> Removing a canister filter (Magnum 350, for example) reduces heat.
>
> Checking your heaters to make sure they aren't adding to the problem.
>
> Reducing the amount of powerheads you have in the tank and replacing
> those with a closed loop might help.
>
> Clean the return pump to reduce overheat-related issues.
>
> Remove the glass top on your tank if it is there.
>
> Raise the MH bulbs 9" off the water.
>
> Marc
>
>
> rs11 wrote:
>
>> I have a 65 gallon reef setup that I have had for years. I am thinking
>> of changing the lighting on it and would like some input. I have been
>> using Metal halide with 2 actinic. The corals are doing well, soft
>> and stoney corals. The problem is the heat that is generated by the
>> MH. I have no chiller and do not intend to buy nor have the room for
>> one. I know there are many different lighting systems on the market
>> now, all claiming to be the best. I would like some input from all of
>> you as to which lighting you think is best. Do I keep the MH and
>> suffer from the heat and hi cost of electric or should I switch to
>> compacts or something else that will still be good for the corals, be
>> much cooler and more cost effective.
>> I appreciate your answers.
>> Thanks
>> Rob
>
>
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Posted by Marc Levenson on July 9, 2005, 11:26 pm
Please log in for more thread options
What temperature is your reef tank running at?
Marc
rs11 wrote:
> Marc
> I have considered the solutions already, none work the way I would like.
> I have 2 computer fans in my canopy, the doors are open. The sump hasa
> fan on top of it and there is egg crate overthe tank with two computer
> fans also. The heater is unplugged most of the year, and the MH are more
> than 10 inches above the tank. The only way I can keep the tank temp
> down is to run the air conditioner in my den almost always. I am looking
> for lights that will work as well as MH but not generate the heat and
> electric expense that they do. The tank is a 65 gallon high tank.
> Thanks
> Rob
>
> Marc Levenson wrote:
>
>> Rob, if you already own the lights, let's consider heat solutions
>> instead.
>>
>> Computer fans blowing ambient room temperature INTO your canopy will
>> help force the hot air out any openings.
>>
>> Cracking the canopy doors open just slightly will allow heat to exit.
>>
>> Putting a cheapo fan over your sump will help lower temperatures.
>>
>> Removing a canister filter (Magnum 350, for example) reduces heat.
>>
>> Checking your heaters to make sure they aren't adding to the problem.
>>
>> Reducing the amount of powerheads you have in the tank and replacing
>> those with a closed loop might help.
>>
>> Clean the return pump to reduce overheat-related issues.
>>
>> Remove the glass top on your tank if it is there.
>>
>> Raise the MH bulbs 9" off the water.
>>
>> Marc
>>
>>
>> rs11 wrote:
>>
>>> I have a 65 gallon reef setup that I have had for years. I am
>>> thinking of changing the lighting on it and would like some input. I
>>> have been using Metal halide with 2 actinic. The corals are doing
>>> well, soft and stoney corals. The problem is the heat that is
>>> generated by the MH. I have no chiller and do not intend to buy nor
>>> have the room for one. I know there are many different lighting
>>> systems on the market now, all claiming to be the best. I would like
>>> some input from all of you as to which lighting you think is best. Do
>>> I keep the MH and suffer from the heat and hi cost of electric or
>>> should I switch to compacts or something else that will still be good
>>> for the corals, be much cooler and more cost effective.
>>> I appreciate your answers.
>>> Thanks
>>> Rob
>>
>>
>>
--
Personal Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com/oanda/index.html
Business Page: http://www.sparklingfloorservice.com
Marine Hobbyist: http://www.melevsreef.com
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> of changing the lighting on it and would like some input. I have been
> using Metal halide with 2 actinic. The corals are doing well, soft and
> stoney corals. The problem is the heat that is generated by the MH. I
> have no chiller and do not intend to buy nor have the room for one. I
> know there are many different lighting systems on the market now, all
> claiming to be the best. I would like some input from all of you as to
> which lighting you think is best. Do I keep the MH and suffer from the
> heat and hi cost of electric or should I switch to compacts or something
> else that will still be good for the corals, be much cooler and more
> cost effective.
> I appreciate your answers.
> Thanks
> Rob