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03-13-2004, 04:10 PM
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#1
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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scared of my MH lights
Well I inherited a tank and with it were some MH bulbs, reflectors, a bunch of fans and the power supplies. I can get them all going but am afraid of screwing up my tank.
ATM got a minimal cleaning crew, a couple of shrimp and a detritovore kit running around in there and three months on my live rock. The live rock is done dropping off dirt and has pretty coraline all over. There is minimal algae.
Should I power em up?
Phishnoob
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03-13-2004, 04:24 PM
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#2
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,093
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Why wouldn't you want to. I hope you will do a dry run so to speak and fire up the MH no where near the tank the first time to check for function, after making sure there are no exposed wires or other hazards present
__________________
When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
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03-16-2004, 11:01 PM
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#3
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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Got the heat shields installed and fired those puppies up. OMG those are bright. I hope I did not burn out the corneas of my fish.
The only problem is that after four hours my tank hit 82 with the fans so I turned them off...time to hit the keeping your tank cool search stuff.
Phishnoob  |
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03-16-2004, 11:28 PM
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#4
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Super Moderator
Join Date: Jan 1999
Location: Southern Oregon, Way West of Dimples ;)
Posts: 22,093
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How far off the water? what kind of fans, do you have a sump. or the glass covers on the tank
__________________
When considering courage in battle, one should remember that there are 2 sides to every conflict.
The heroism of the losing side rarely gets remembered
but we were all husbands and fathers, sons and bros
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03-17-2004, 12:40 AM
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#5
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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Got a goes in and goes out fan. These are in a closed canopy dang close to an acrylic cover that I am debating removing to cut the heat and put up with a bit more evaporation. I am debating adding more fans or just running the MH on one side.
Phishnoob
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03-17-2004, 12:56 AM
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#6
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shark bait
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: south of the north pole
Posts: 778
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great score, awesome freebie! what's the wattage, phishnoob?
__________________
Remember, today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday. -- Dale Carnegie
Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day. Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.
-- Terry Pratchett
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03-17-2004, 10:51 AM
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#7
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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Well hooked them both up and the temp went up over a few hours to 83 even with the two little fans going. I have a cover over the tank but wonder if that is good or bad. The lights are installed inside the hood about six inches from the tank.
There are only fish in there now, so I am not going to run these until I get the temp under control. I'll post the wattage and take a pic over the weekend and see if you guys have any ideas how to improve this. A chiller is way too extravagent right now. This might sound weird but I was thinking of adding a couple more fans in the bottom stand to cool the sump as well. The tank is put in a corner with only about 4" airspace on the back and one side.
Phishnoob |
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03-17-2004, 11:18 AM
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#8
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jasper GA
Posts: 474
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I would try to raise the canopy higher to get a little more space between the bulbs and water. Is the canopy completly enclosed? If so you can cut some holes in the back for more airflow. Also, unless you know how old the bulbs are you may want to replace them soon.
Steve
__________________
Proud Card Carrying Member of the Deltec Club.
37 Oceanic with 6X24 T-5 Tek Light, Deltec Turbo 1250, Korallin 1502 and 3 Seio 800's.
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03-17-2004, 11:45 AM
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#9
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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I was thinking of reversing the supply fan and drilling a few big 3" holes on the back of the canopy. It is completely enclosed now. With more inlet holes and the two outlet fans it might work.
Anyone on the boards run a wind tunnel?
Phishnoob |
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03-19-2004, 07:09 PM
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#10
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jasper GA
Posts: 474
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Sounds like a good idea to drill the holes in the back. I would have the fans blowing into the canopy, if they pull the air out they will be pulling salt creep with them and eventually it will wear the fans. Also, putting more space between the lights and water will help. I have two 400 watt mh's on my 90 so I know all about dealing with heat.
Steve
__________________
Proud Card Carrying Member of the Deltec Club.
37 Oceanic with 6X24 T-5 Tek Light, Deltec Turbo 1250, Korallin 1502 and 3 Seio 800's.
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03-19-2004, 08:07 PM
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#11
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Oh no...not again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Colorado Springs
Posts: 5,441
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Two fans blowing across the water kept the heat down so far with the plastic cover off. My evaporation rate is another story now. Tomorrow my beer fridge chiller will have all the glue dry and time to fire that bad boy up after a couple hour flush and hydro test.
I plan to get everything ok then fire up the MH's again. These enclosed canopy tanks seem designed for trouble. I would disagree though about two fans blowing in as one going in and one going out seems like it would cause a little bit of flow. The only way to find out is to get the data and see. Any students out there looking for a project for the science fair?
Phishnoob |
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03-19-2004, 08:58 PM
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#12
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Little Fishy
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: Pompano Beach, Fl. U.S.A.
Posts: 180
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If you are going to try and make a chiller out of a small fridge / freezer , you may find out it's alot a work for nothing.
It's fun trying to make the thing but you might just be dissapointed when you fid out how it works.
Good luck anyway from an old DIY fridge cooler tryer outer 
I ended up reaching deep in the pocket for the real thing after that .
[\[\ark
__________________
[\[\ark / aka / FISH / FISHme
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