canopy fan help with Halide/VHO lighting

[Cozen89]

I have a canopy that measures 62"x18"x8.5" tall. Inside I have a Hamilton Halide retro kit with 2 175 watt halides and 2 140watt VHO's. Needless to say, it puts out a good amount of heat.

The canopy is enclosed on all sides except the back which has the lower 2/3's open. The top lifts up to open, but that will be closed almost all the time since the lights are mounted to it.

I have 1 hole on each side. 1 is 5" the other is 4". I have 1 icecap variable speed fan I was planning on putting in the 5" hole blowing in. What does everyone recommend for the 2nd hole? Another fan blowing out? Another fan blowing in? Neither? I've read a lot of conflicting theories, just wanted to hear from the locals =)


On a side note, since the VHO's are mainly for aesthetic purposes do these need to be changed out often?

Thanks for your help.

 

[eckrynock]

I would put another fan in the second hole and have both fans blowing in. For VHOs, I would replace every 6 to 8 months. You will tell a difference.

 

[Sharkie06]

vho every 12 month, 6 month is to fast

 

[dochou]

I would recommend 2 fans blowing in.
I would change VHO every 12 mo.

 

[eckrynock]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10225226#post10225226 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sharkie06
vho every 12 month, 6 month is to fast

I run my VHOs 12 hrs. a day. I could tell a big difference when I changed mine out. I'm not saying the bulbs are bad after 6 mos., it's just a personal preference for me.

 

[Cozen89]

you could tell a difference in what? color? growth?

 

[eckrynock]

Color and intensity. My VHOs are actinic only.

 

[Cozen89]

so technicaly VHO actinics serve no function other than color so they don't ever really need to be changed unless you want to. Is this correct?

 

[fishnfst]

I think actinic lighting does aid in coloring up your corals.. The higher kelvin mh bulbs seem to help as well.. The side of my tank I run just 10k on has not coloured up anywhere near as close to the side with the 20k.. I'm not sure if the corals prefer the higher kelvin but they do seem to colour up much faster under the 20k lighting..

I've had frags from the same colony and I'd place one on each side of my tank.. They would start out brown and the 20k side would start to change colour way before the 10k would. The colour would be more intense as well... Not just lighting differences...

 

[Cozen89]

Well I know I have to change my Halide bulbs quite often to keep spectrum and good growth/health of my corals. I do notice a difference in colors from 10k to 20k as well. I will most likely be going middle ground 14k halides.

I was just wondering since my VHO actinics are for pure aesthetics complimenting the halides and giving a nice purplish hue to my tank, do they really need to be changed out? Because my VHO's are 60" and after all my upgrades etc etc I'm broke. Trying to see what I can save on till I can afford it later.

 

[Cozen89]

ok, kind of got off topic a bit. So that's 2 votes for 2 fans on each end pointed inward. Any other opinions?

 

[Mr. Ugly]

My PFO canopy came with 2 Icecap fans. One blowing in, and the other blowing out.

 

[Cozen89]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10230796#post10230796 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Mr. Ugly
My PFO canopy came with 2 Icecap fans. One blowing in, and the other blowing out.

How long is your canopy and what kind of lights do you have in them Mr. Ugly?

Thanks for your response.

 

[Mr. Ugly]

It's a 36"long wood canopy with glass bottom.

Lighting is 2x250w MH and 2x96w VHO.