HaNs Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Are you sure I won't need a fan, they do run pretty hot. yes just dont touch them when they are running... the only heat issues you may get is water temp being to hot in summer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 7, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 So in theory, these could actually help save money on power bills? Running a hot bulb ontop and a ballast underneath could heat the aquarium along with a heater? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Over winter, yeah. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Wont save power as they are inefficient Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 7, 2009 Report Share Posted October 7, 2009 Wont save power as they are inefficient Sure it will. Using the waste heat to heat the tank vs blowing the waste heat away and then using a heater to heat the tank. And they're not that inefficient as heaters, all but whatever light is absorbed by photosynthesis gets turned into heat. They're just not that effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Sorry about the confusion. What I meant to say was: Is it good to have the Ballast near the sump to help with heating instead of running fans? I'd imagine it'd be a good use of the heat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 Argh, painted on ears! You could try and utilise the heat for the tank in winter, but in summer you will have the problem of trying to get rid of the excess heat, sometimes necessitating the need for a chiller. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 The new ballasts run quite cool, all the heat is from the lamp Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
suphew Posted October 8, 2009 Report Share Posted October 8, 2009 I think there is confusion between two different heat issues. If you have your Mh light enclosed in a hood, depending on what the hood and other surrounding bits are made from, very likely you will need to remove the heat from the hood, or risk melting, setting fire to or otherwise damaging it. A computer fan or two is ideal for doing this. The water may or may not over heat from the lights, sometimes the heating can work in your favour, sometimes it's a pain. The simplest way to combat this type of overheating problem is to have a fan directed over the water surface (a $15 warehouse deskfan works well for this). This increases your evaporation and cools the tank. There can actually be a third lighting heat issue, the room can also get too hot or be full of moist air. I have a ducted extractor fan taking the warm damp air from my tank to outside. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Does this look any good? http://www.addlighting.co.nz/index.php? ... &Itemid=26 Do you think it's complete (ready to go) and how much do you reckon it'd be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Or this? http://www.trademe.co.nz/Home-living/Pe ... 949569.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 Looks like it's a high pressure sodium, not a metal halide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 And, the low bay lights might work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 So the TM one is no good then? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zev Posted October 9, 2009 Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 The Addlighting one is High Pressure Soduim (HPS) and is not the correct type of light for a fishtank. Does it say how old the TM one is - I mean the lamp, they need replacing every 6000 - 10000 hours depending on the brand. Also you should find out how much a replacement lamp is, and how readily available they are for the colour temperature it is. You looking at marine or freshwater? I was wondering what wattage would be needed for a 2ft cube tank for... A) Growing decent plants? Have a look here, http://www.fitchfamily.com/lighting.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 9, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 9, 2009 I was going to replace the bulb regardless of how old it was, how much it's been used, etc. Thanks Zev, I had seen that before but a few marine people have told me that 250w is good and 400w is overkill. Only looking at marine at this stage, it'd habe to be a long term project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 Okay, flagged the marine idea, going for my biggest planted tank yet. Really want to go down the MH route but I've heard mostly bad things about them, people can only have them on for 2 hours a day and that T5's are far better. Are T5 tubes easy to source in NZL? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Okay, flagged the marine idea, going for my biggest planted tank yet. Really want to go down the MH route but I've heard mostly bad things about them, people can only have them on for 2 hours a day and that T5's are far better. Only 2 hours a day? What the hell kinda crack monkeys have you been listening to? There are people all over the place with 500-1000+ watts of lighting over their tanks running 12+ hours/day. If someone can't run his lights for more than 2 hours a day he is doing it wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 The crack monkeys on the PT Forums. They say they run T5's for most of the time but MH's only for a little bit. But I'm guessing my Cube couldn't handle even 400w of light without getting some nasty algae? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ira Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 The crack monkeys on the PT Forums. They say they run T5's for most of the time but MH's only for a little bit. But I'm guessing my Cube couldn't handle even 400w of light without getting some nasty algae? Then use 250s, or 150s. Sounds more like they're trying simulate the varying brightness throughout the day, use the dimmer T5s most of the day then nice bright MHs at noon. Some people have too much money. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Find the Amano graph of lighting Dont bother with intense lighting on a planted if you dont have injected CO2 IMO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I've seen that graph before, must try and find it again. I was most certainly going to inject CO2 but I haven't yet found a decent cylinder and I'm not sure what size I need? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 I've seen that graph before, must try and find it again. I was most certainly going to inject CO2 but I haven't yet found a decent cylinder and I'm not sure what size I need? Bigger the better Try and get a fire extinguisher bottle, would be around $200 if certed. Then another $200 for reg and solenoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Those little paintball ones are no good aye? More for the nano tanks right? Are you talking $200 new HaNs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HaNs Posted October 18, 2009 Report Share Posted October 18, 2009 Those little paintball ones are no good aye? More for the nano tanks right? Are you talking $200 new HaNs? Paint ball ones are no good. $200 2nd hand... Not cheap Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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