Cooling a 50 Gallon with 400watt MHS?

[balakoth]

I was curious as to cooling requirements with fans, so that in all hopes I can keep away from the chiller. I like the 400 Watt Radiums (Havent seen the 250 watt yet) But 400 Watter MHs in that area of space is going to heat up.

I planned for 2 4 inch icecap fans in the back with two exhausts on the side. I also have a small l brace in my canopy where i can attach a clip on fan to blow across the water.

Can anyone share their cooling setups with their tank size? I guess ill go with the 250s if I have to. But 800 Watts of 20k would be beautifull IMO.


I also just thought of something else. I live in an apartment complex and realized that 800 watts plus all my others running (probably a good amount of 1k watts of electricty) am I going to have problems?

Ive heard of people having to install differnet breakers and like to handle all their equipment. im going to assume thats for the higher range 4 + halide setups and the like? If not; well Phooey!


Thanks for any help

Joe

[jegel]

I don't have any experience with cooling MH's (yet) but I've ran large PC's on my tank in the past that really heat up under the hood. I'll be installing MH's in a few months and will use at least 3 4" cooling fans. I just go to Best Buy or your local computer store and get the cooling fans for PC's (the computer kind). You have to do some rewiring since PC (computer) fans don't use a standard outlet. You probably have to use some type of transformer to lower the voltage going to the fan. Most computer fans are 8 - 12 volts and the wall outlet is 120 volts. Without the transformer lowering the voltage your fan won't last long, but it will make a pretty display of sparks.

Once the wiring is all done you just plug them into the same timer system your MH's are on so they run at the same time.

Also, I'm going to be running 2 250 watt MH's so with 400 watts you may want to go for more fans with 400's

[seahawkjohnny]

Originally posted by jegel
I don't have any experience with cooling MH's (yet) but I've ran large PC's on my tank in the past that really heat up under the hood. I'll be installing MH's in a few months and will use at least 3 4" cooling fans. I just go to Best Buy or your local computer store and get the cooling fans for PC's (the computer kind). You have to do some rewiring since PC (computer) fans don't use a standard outlet. You probably have to use some type of transformer to lower the voltage going to the fan. Most computer fans are 8 - 12 volts and the wall outlet is 120 volts. Without the transformer lowering the voltage your fan won't last long, but it will make a pretty display of sparks.

Once the wiring is all done you just plug them into the same timer system your MH's are on so they run at the same time.

Also, I'm going to be running 2 250 watt MH's so with 400 watts you may want to go for more fans with 400's

I would use the Icecap fans they are more pricey than the puter fans but are a much beter product, you will keep replacin the puter fans, and they also dont mve as much air as the Icecap model

[balakoth]

Either way I go with bulbs, I was going to add 2 4 inch fans on the back. They were going to be the icecaps. The clip on would be el cepo from Fred meyer but they back a punch, especially with my area to cover.

My bulbs will be 11 to 12 inches off the water and I will be removing my glass top. I have somewhat of a low rock lagoon aquascaping. (Middle is about ot be raised up a bit higher with another piece of Marshall)

That gives about 16 to 18 inches from the highest point possibly. 24 inches or more to the sand. Which is why I chose to go with the 400s. Can someone contradict me and possibly give me some insight on why 250s would be fine? I would be using 20k Radiums (on a Standard PFO ballast tho ) so my 200 watt actinics would be for a 100 warm up period before 800 watts of blue white hit the corals. then actinics would then go off.

I figured that 400s would be nice since Iw as going with a low setup and a semi-high top.