Please help...I'm sick over this!

[mariatags]

Hello everyone,
My question is, I just built my acrylic aquarium into my wall...Great! it was a lot of work. Now, I hear that my metal halide lighting, along with my atinic vho will ruin the acrylic tank. I have my halide and vho a good 13 inches above. Tell me I don't have to change everything....PLEASE. Any experience?

 

[Krish]

Welcome to RF!! Hope you enjoy it here


As for the tank and the lighting, many people run halides over their acrylic tanks without any issues. I've done it myself. Infact, probably 50% of the people who have saltwater setups have an acylic tank so it's nothing new...I guess them main concern would be the thicknesss of the acrylic the tank is made out of, the quality of the acrylic and also, how close to the tank the halides are placed. The VHO's won't produce as much heat as the halides (especially being actinics) so they are not as much of a concern when comparing them to halides, but give us a bit more info on the tank itself in terms of thickness etc

 

[class clown]

shouldn't be any issues - I've had halides over acrylic for about 3-4 yrs in an enclosed hood at about 6-8 inches above the acrlic and haven't had any issues. My fans did turn off at one point and melted a couple lids on top, but those were easy enough to replace.

I don't think you have anything to worry about.

 

[gloo]

Do you have any cross bracers across the top that is below the MH? I believe this is what gets damaged, and when that brace starts to crack or show signs of stress, then its bad news. I would talk to someone with acrylic experience like Jason from clear fabrications who might be able to help you out.

 

[DonW]

Like everyone else said you sould be fine. Fans do help to keep heat down. I have a 250w sitting directly over a centerbrace 8" up for the past few years. No problems as of yet.

Don

 

[Bainic]

Another source you could check with is Brian at IAP (Innovative Aquarium Products), check his thread under sponsors here on RF.

 

[CCR]

I had 5 MH 400WT and 4 VHO atinic over my 220. Never a problem. But you do NEED fans. Ice cap are what I used. 4 of them. They "speed up" as temp increases and are a lot quieter than others I tried.

 

[pledosophy]

IME there is no problem if you have exhaust fans. JME

 

[mariatags]

Thank you all so much!
I feel much better. I do have fans, the tank is a seaclear, with 3/8" acrylic. Wish it were thicker, but what can you do.
The person I spoke with said it wasn't so much the heat as IR light that degenerates the tank. I will say, he was a bit pompous, and said that halides were intended to light
parking lots only!!! Don't know, my corals love them!