Check out my new MH/PC retrofit

[zenn]

I installed the lights i bought. They are 250w MH's and 65w PC bulbs. I just want to know if everything looks safe. Is there anything i did wrong that you guys can see?

 

[bradreef]

I cant see the pc's lasting that long with all of the heat from the halides

 

[Reefdaddy1]

I agree, I would move out the pcs to the outside of the MH reflector

 

[zenn]

it's not a big deal to move them, i just want to know what you guys think might happen. Do you think the MH heat will break the PC bulbs? Or just that over short time, intense heat from the MH's will wear them out quickly?

The only problem i might encounter with trying to mount them outside the reflectors is that the canopy really isn't very wide. Those MH reflectors take up most of the space. I mgiht have to become creative in mounting the PC's.

Thanks

 

[Elmo18]

Offset the PC's in height. Bring them closer to the water line.

Plus, actinics really don't even help with 'par' really.....just for the looks. You will be wasting electricity with them that high.

Best,
Ilham

 

[steve-s]

Agreed with Ilham. The biggest problem with the MH and PC too close together will be the plastic end caps. They will become brittle and crack rather quickly if they don't melt.
I would also suggest you alter the direction of your reflectors. Your actually wasting a fair amount of light having the reflectors running lengthwise of the tank. You'll get alot more punch by turning the fixture 90°. That way most of the light will be directed into the tank rather than out the front and back. If the tank illuminates the room a fair amount, it's wasted light.

Cheers
Steve

 

[zenn]

I will probably lower the PC lights like Elmo suggested. I realize the MH reflectors i have aren't Lumenarc's or Pendant styles but they are still much much better than the 265w PC fixture i use to have. If some of the light is wasted, that's fine. I can adjust things as i go. Thanks for all the input everyone

 

[Scooterman]

I agree with Steve-s & Ilham, also with rotating the reflectors 90 degrees, to get the most of your mh lighting, the reflectors are designed to be used that way. Also I don't like having the ballast above the water like that, they will rust & could cause a possible fire hazard, relocate them, LOL ok they you have it as nice as everything looks sorry just sharing experience with you.

 

[zenn]

I agree with Steve-s & Ilham, also with rotating the reflectors 90 degrees, to get the most of your mh lighting, the reflectors are designed to be used that way. Also I don't like having the ballast above the water like that, they will rust & could cause a possible fire hazard, relocate them, LOL ok they you have it as nice as everything looks sorry just sharing experience with you.

really? They're located 12" above the water line. I know it's humid in the canopy, but isn't it going to be humid underneath in the sump too? Is it possible that they'll rust so slowly that i don't really need to worry about it?

Lighting is really a huge PITA. Without it, no reef though Thanks for the help

 

[Scooterman]

I'd think you would get a good bit of moisture there even at 12", in the sump if it is vented & not directly over the sump it would probably last longer, also safer IMO. Who said reefing was easy? Man If you would of gone through the plumbing I just went through, your lights would be cake

 

[liveforphysics]

PC bulb temp effects bulb life.

Intensity of those PC bulbs drops at the square of the distance (draw your own conclusion).

The MH reflectors are installed in a mannor to illuminate the front tank pannel and the rear tank pannel and a good portion of the canopy.

Rotate them 90deg. This the bennifit of this effect becomes more pronounced with the distance above the water the reflector is sitting.

 

[zenn]

i rotated the MH reflectors 90 degrees, and i lowered the PC bulbs much closer to the water line and further away from the MH's. I relocated the ballasts on top of the canopy. I know having ballasts on top of your canopy sounds ugly, but the canopy stands at about my heigth (6'5") so i'm probably the only person that will ever see them up there. Plus they're black and blend in with the canopy. Now i just have to install my moonlights. Thanks again everyone.

 

[Meche]

If a lot is good and more is better... then too much is just enough!

 

[Krish]

If a lot is good and more is better... then too much is just enough!

ROFL! Then I wish I had too much money

Your new setup sounds great Zenn! Make sure you post some photos when you get a chance! Sorry I'm just getting to see this thread...I must be slipping these days

 

[zenn]

here is a pic i just took.

 

[Scooterman]

That looks awesome zenn, nice lighting man.

 

[Krish]

Very cool!