How much heat do MH and t5's really put off???
- Thread starter newbreefer316
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JOKER
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The fans are actually a little loud, but pleasantly so in sorts. They are actually louder than my tank. LOL. Better than hearing constant splashing for sure. I plumbed this tank with ghost overflow, and run all DC pumps so it is very quiet. The fans are nowhere near as loud as a mag drive IMO. Only center MH and 2 T5 on in this photo. I will get one ASAP with all lights on
Mark Gray
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I ran MH many years ago my AC never shut off in the summer. Then I moved to VHO florescent with an Ice Cap ballast cooler but still hot, then changed to T5's on same ballast, I think better light but heat was about the same. Then some family things happened and I got out of the hobby sold everything. Then I went to Thailand and went diving, now I am back in the hobby, Love my LEDs the AC turns off in the summer, best thing that has come out I think.
mtraylor
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If you want MH's. This is my recommendation. I ran them for years and have had plenty of experience. If you don't want to run a chiller then do the following setup.
3-250watt MH
t5-supplement
LED-supplement
With this setup, the 250MH lights will not over heat your aquarium is you have fans across the fixture. Also do not run any MAG pumps or anything like that internal in the sump to increase heat. Get yourself an external sump like a dart or something (DC) whatever and run your return and equipment from that. YOu will have no issues.
Now that being said. If you want the ultimate coral color for say Sps and adequate growth...then you will need the 400watt MH's. The 400MH's will simply cook the aquarium without a chiller.
HOpe that helps.
3-250watt MH
t5-supplement
LED-supplement
With this setup, the 250MH lights will not over heat your aquarium is you have fans across the fixture. Also do not run any MAG pumps or anything like that internal in the sump to increase heat. Get yourself an external sump like a dart or something (DC) whatever and run your return and equipment from that. YOu will have no issues.
Now that being said. If you want the ultimate coral color for say Sps and adequate growth...then you will need the 400watt MH's. The 400MH's will simply cook the aquarium without a chiller.
HOpe that helps.
10Seconds
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With my 250w MHs I can run a fan with then and keep temps steady. Without the fans running it will climb about 2 degrees while I am running them. This is in the summer as I just switched to MH from LED so havent run the MH through the winter yet.
Turning the fans on with the lights is paramount in the summer - just put the fans on the same timer. If you wait for water to heat up, you are already behind a bit and have to catch up. In the cooler months, then a dual-stage thermostat is totally fine.
Even in Missouri where the temp would get over 95-100 all summer with humidity at 100 each morning and usually over 70-80% all day, the fan on with the lights would keep less than a 1 degree swing in a 240G with 4 250W MH over it.
Chillers need to be mounted outside, garage or in another room. Nobody puts the condenser of an AC unit in the home. People use those plastic dog houses or put them under a covered porch.
Even in Missouri where the temp would get over 95-100 all summer with humidity at 100 each morning and usually over 70-80% all day, the fan on with the lights would keep less than a 1 degree swing in a 240G with 4 250W MH over it.
Chillers need to be mounted outside, garage or in another room. Nobody puts the condenser of an AC unit in the home. People use those plastic dog houses or put them under a covered porch.
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A. grandis
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Do you have a link for the dual-stage thermostat?
How do you place your fans? At an angle towards the water surface?
One fan per halide? What type of fan?
I used to put a small clip fan right under the halides directed to the water surface on a ~45° angle back in the day.
Summer time is really hot here when there is no wind in the house.
My chiller has to be in my apartment, there is no way to place it outside because it's against the rules.
I don't see any problems with that, but it's well ventilated close to the windows.
Another tank sits in an air conditioner room 24/7. I love it. The system has only T5s running for now.
Planing to set up another system with halides in the future...
Grandis.
