MH opinion
- Thread starter Striike
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scouncil
Valuable Member
Maybe not if you run fans over the sump. I have 250w MHs (4) over my 250 and I have gotten away with just using fans so far. No problem during the winter because of the cold house temp, but the fans run frequently in the summer. I'm borderline with needed a chiller during the summer. And heaven forbid we lose power (but then the MH won't be running anyway.....).
Susan
Susan
H@rry
Troll
I don't think there is a single answer to that question. It will depend on several things such as how warm/cool your room is, size of your tank, how long the lights are on during the day, etc. Many people overlook the benefits of fans for cooling. I have 10 MHs in a single room that burn for 6 hours per day. Also 8 VHO Actinics on for 12 hours per day. This is in a sunroom with a lot of windows that are not very well insulated. We have a dedicated HVAC hang-on-the-wall unit that helps a lot but cannot cope with the high temps in the summer. I have fans in the canopies that come on @ 77* and a big fan that blows over the sump @ 77.5*. The total gallons of all the tanks is about 530 gallons. The average daily temp will very between 76.8* and 79.5*. The high/low temp range since 5/31 has been 81.4 and 76.1. The temp in the room itself will get in the high 80s in the evenings though. I don't really think a chiller is necessary in most cases.
bigdaddytanner450r
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I've been running two fans for three years now on a 29 gallon with a 20 gallon sump that has a 250watt mh. The two fans are on timers to come on when the light comes on. I have yet to have a temperature concern.
scouncil
Valuable Member
I think Harry is right. Fans are good! Chillers are good, but noisier and more expensive. I have one, I just don't have it hooked up currently. My fan comes on at 80 degrees. Without the fan, my tank would get up to 85-86 degrees (hence purchase of a used chiller), but fans seem to be doing the job so far. I have a floor fan (not quite the "box" version, but not far from it) pointed into the sump area- and need to put something more permanant and maybe more quiet in the sump area (like in the wall of the cabinet). My lights hang over the tank without a canopy.
Do you think a fan over the top of the tank would be better than a fan over the sump? And any suggestion on type/strength of fan if I'm going to put it in a side wall of my sump cabinet?
Do you think a fan over the top of the tank would be better than a fan over the sump? And any suggestion on type/strength of fan if I'm going to put it in a side wall of my sump cabinet?
Captain Nemo
Look Ma, it's Nemo!!
Also where is your tank located? The reason I ask is if it's in the basement (which is normally underground) it would be cooler. I however think i you will be fine with a fan or two just to be safe.
H@rry
Troll
I bought the floor fan this spring when I built the controller because it would be easy to use. I have three tanks in a horseshoe arrangement with a common sump under the center tank. The fan is on a pedestal about 30 inches high and osculates from side to side inside the horseshoe blowing into the open backs of the stands. I was really surprised to see how well that works. I sat on a salt bucket behind the tanks where I could watch it and get it adjusted to swing over all the sump. In the process of adjusting it, it also swings into the stands without the sump. I was sitting there turning the fan on and off and watching the temp (the temp probe is in the sump). I was surprised to see the temp move in just a couple of minutes of turning the fan on and off. I realized that in addition of blowing over the sump, it was blowing over all the plumbing pipes and hoses for the drains and returns as well as the return pump and manifold.
I was sitting on the salt bucket with a cold beverage in my hand watching all this going on. I got up to adjust something and put the beverage on the salt bucket. When I got through I forgot about putting it there and sat on it. Aw, nothing a few paper towels didn't clean up!
I was sitting on the salt bucket with a cold beverage in my hand watching all this going on. I got up to adjust something and put the beverage on the salt bucket. When I got through I forgot about putting it there and sat on it. Aw, nothing a few paper towels didn't clean up!
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
LOL@ harry.
I run a chiller on my system with my 3x250wt halides. I also have a fan in the hood blowing air across the lights and water surface. My sump is located in my garage and it does get HOT in there. the chiller is plumbed in with a set point of 80°. I also have a fan that blows directly down on the sump which does a very surprising job of cooling the water during the night. my chiller cycles maybe 4 times a day. 5 if it is really hot.
I run a chiller on my system with my 3x250wt halides. I also have a fan in the hood blowing air across the lights and water surface. My sump is located in my garage and it does get HOT in there. the chiller is plumbed in with a set point of 80°. I also have a fan that blows directly down on the sump which does a very surprising job of cooling the water during the night. my chiller cycles maybe 4 times a day. 5 if it is really hot.
Striike
Active Member
Nice, I love the feedback. I really don't mind Susan piggy backing this thread. My tank is in the living room, average temp during the summer is 72-74 (room), my ceilings are vaulted so I am not too concerned with ambient room temperature being raised. The reason for this question is I am in need of a lighting upgrade. I bought a cheap point of sale light fixture back when I got into this hobby 2 years ago. I have been replacing the bulbs as necessary, but my coral growth is not what it should be with everything I read. I have a frogspawn and a torch in case you are curious. I thought of sticking with t5, and just getting a better fixture, but I fail to believe a better fixture will improve the output of the same bulbs by a substantial amount. LED's are still too expensive, I'm not interested in spending $1600 even if it would save me money over 10 years. So it brings me to MH. I am thinking 2 175w, I have an open top, and I can easily install fans in the sump, but I have no intention on installing a loud chiller in my living room. From what I'm reading I can get a away with MH with just air cooling, let me know if I miss interpreted please.
H@rry
Troll
Right on, you should have no problem with temps with MH. Speaking of LEDs, if I were just starting out with new lighting I would try the DIY LEDs. Seems like quite a few people have had good results with them. I agree that the ready made fixtures are too overpriced. In a couple of years the technology and pricing will have "matured". But by then the next craze will be plasma lighting.
Striike
Active Member
I looked into this a little, but I couldn't find a way to keep it looking good. I don't have the luxury of hiding it in a canopy with my current set up. If I ever sell this house, I'll re-open that thought process with my next tank...enlargement
Striike
Active Member
Those prices look too good to be true. $300 for a LED system? Do you have any personal experience, or know someone that has? The last time I bought something cheap (my first light fixture), I regretted it.
spscrazy
Well-Known Member
I have been running Lukes fixture for several months now on my 95 it replaced a 250 MH I have had more color & growth in a few months than I did in 3 years with the MH the color is really nice mine is between 14 & 20 k more purple than blue also the one I got if 1 bulb goes out the rest stay lit & it can be replaced love love love them!!!
Striike
Active Member
Thank you for that!!! Do you have a variety of corals? Any restrictions on placement in the tank? This looks like a steal.
spscrazy
Well-Known Member
all sps I only have 1 fixture tank is 36Lx24Dx24H the led's are much brighter than the mh I keep some birdnest & monti digi on the sides about 16" down and they are doing really good. plus being in MS it is HOT & the tank & room has stayed cooler without the heat from the MH
pickupman66
5000 Club Member
whats the site for these Lukes Fixtures? also, if you do go MH, the 175's should be good.
