Finished my hanging light hood

[Dave VG]

Ok so yesterday I finished my hanging light hood. XM 10k 250 watt MH in that sucker driven by a Lumatek ballast. To much light? Maybe…..I guess we’ll see. I have it about 24 inches off the water with more room to take it up if I have to. I would have gone with a 150 or 175 but I wanted to use what I had on hand. I had been using an old 4 bulb t-5 fixture that I had laying around for the last week or so just to get by until the hood was done. Besides recycling leaves me more money for more corals lol. We’ll see how the corals respond and if I can keep the heat in check. The corals were under a 250 MH in the frag tank prior to the transfer so I don’t think there will be an issue light wise. I had it going for about 4 hrs yesterday and only a half a degree rise so it shouldn’t be too bad. Everything seemed to be really be puffed up and polyp extension was off the wall. Today it will run for an extra 2 hrs at my full 6 hr cycle and I will be watching it closely to be sure the heat doesn’t go crazy.

 

[fatrip]

very cool Dave but wheres the pictures...lol... Also do you have an supplemental lighting in the hood?

 

[drbronx]

Yeah Dave...sounds cool. tell us more about that hood design. I was thinking of doing the same. What did you use for reflectors? Supplemental lighting etc. As far as heat, a fan across the water's surface to produce evaporative cooling goes a long way. Of course that means replacing more water during the day.

 

[Dave VG]

very cool Dave but wheres the pictures...lol... Also do you have an supplemental lighting in the hood?

Ya ya Vince pics are coming lol. No supplemental lighting yet to expensive. Wow could not believe the prices still. Know anyone with cheap 2 light system for sale? I'm trying to keep a budget on hardware you know. I need the mula for more corals lol. I might skip it altogether and buy a 14 or 20 k bulb down the road.

Yeah Dave...sounds cool. tell us more about that hood design. I was thinking of doing the same. What did you use for reflectors? Supplemental lighting etc. As far as heat, a fan across the water's surface to produce evaporative cooling goes a long way. Of course that means replacing more water during the day.

Jerry it's nothing special just a rectangular box with a spider reflector in the middle and chain hangers. Like I've said, this tank is for my salt addiction not a show piece. I'm sure you would want something nicer over yours. I may line the inside with foil but I'm thinking there is enough light as it is. I have fans on top pulling the heat away and a fan over the sump and they turn on with the light. I knew there would be a lot of evaporation so I setup a simple 5 gal top off system. My topoff consists of a 5 gal salt pail and a float in a cage in the sump. Don't want any varmints getting in there and sticking it open. Still debating on kalk dosing. I am going to do two part dosing tho. I have a whole bag of the good mag flake still.

 

[Dave VG]

Here ya go

Top off

<a href="http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/davevg_photo/?action=view&current=PICT2084.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/davevg_photo/PICT2084.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>


Light

<a href="http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/davevg_photo/?action=view&current=PICT2083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa289/davevg_photo/PICT2083.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

 

[Dave VG]

Still have some tidying up to do yet.