| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
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11-27-2007, 10:25 PM
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#1
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Still Here, But Gone
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The Wal-Mart State
Posts: 1,916
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No Cooling Fan a Fire Hazard ?
i was just wondering if a MH light with no cooling fan might be a fire hazard ?
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''I Glow with the silvery light, a thousand & one stars bright, this labyrinth of life, will take you to home shores...''
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11-27-2007, 10:48 PM
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#2
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Paragould,AR
Posts: 136
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I don't know much about mh, but one of my t5 lights had its fan go out while I was at work and when I came home to gaze at my tank I lost my fingerprints on the metal not knowing, so I'm sure its probably not good to have a fan since mh pull more juice and probably get extremely hot as well just my 2 cents.
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bwillcutt 
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11-27-2007, 10:49 PM
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#3
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Big Fishy
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: miami
Posts: 783
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i dont think so as long as it is not laying on your plastic brace or rim i wouldnt think it can catch on fire.maybe melt worse case senario and if you have the reflector on a wooden canopy trust me it aint going to catch fire my 250 are right on the wood and they havent blown up. YET lol.
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member of the i hate fpl(florida power and light) club beacuse the just jacked up my light bill by 18% club and they made me get rid of my wifes reef tank causing mass comotion in my household. 
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11-27-2007, 10:51 PM
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#4
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I loves me a water change
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: WI
Posts: 7,759
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I don't think I would recommend it. Not for very long, anyway. But stuff like that makes me awful nervous to begin with.
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Chris
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11-27-2007, 11:24 PM
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#5
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: kansas
Posts: 243
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I worried a great deal about how to safely install a MH retrofit kit in my 90 gal canopy. After a bit of research on the combustion point for wood, I learned that MH bulbs can reach a temperature of up to 400 degrees C. When wood reaches 572º, it gives off a gas which reacts with oxygen to make a flame. That is 572 degrees Fahrenheit, so 400 degrees C ( or 752 degrees F) far exceeds the flash point of wood. I think it is safe to say that there should be spacers placed between any wood and reflectors, and there must be adequate ventilation if being placed into a canopy. I did not search to see how much heat radiates to the reflector but that will be influenced by the distance between bulb and its reflector. I should also mention that MH temperature was for a Mogul style bulb. Even with pendants or other types of bulbs/fixtures, I would think it was better to be safe than sorry and provide some type of ventilation.
Last edited by bogey; 11-27-2007 at 11:34 PM.
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11-28-2007, 02:34 AM
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#6
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The Original Clownfish
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Damascus, OR
Posts: 200
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Whatever you do, don't make something that requires a fan to keep it from catching on fire. Go on vacation, fan stops working, you're screwed.
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11-28-2007, 08:10 AM
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#7
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,083
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Definatly not something to haphazardly slap together
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11-28-2007, 01:20 PM
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#8
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Still Here, But Gone
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: The Wal-Mart State
Posts: 1,916
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ok no canopy, how about 2 of those K2 Viper's over my 55g tank ? im using one on my 30g right now, i gets really hot, enough to instantly boil drops of water. just free standing nothing touching them or covering them, is that safe ?
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''I Glow with the silvery light, a thousand & one stars bright, this labyrinth of life, will take you to home shores...''
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11-28-2007, 03:07 PM
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#9
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Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,754
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easy does it folks. if the MH is properly reflected on the tank then it reflects most of the heat away from the wood. I have run 400w MH bulbs with no fan and no issues. just make sure they are installed correclty with about 1-2" of room between the bulb and reflector. make sure you have the right reflector. you will be fine.
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I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
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