(First Reef Tank Ever) **** 600gal Display **** 1300gal System

[melev]

Rather than using aluminum and having to deal with oxidation, just use acrylic. Make a heat shield that fits on the tank (in pieces perhaps) that has small feet or strips to allow a space between the shield and the tank. As the shield declines over time, it can be easily replaced but your tank will stay safe from the brunt of the heat.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957069#post9957069 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Rather than using aluminum and having to deal with oxidation, just use acrylic. Make a heat shield that fits on the tank (in pieces perhaps) that has small feet or strips to allow a space between the shield and the tank. As the shield declines over time, it can be easily replaced but your tank will stay safe from the brunt of the heat.

thanks melev, would it be better if glass was use instead acrylic. my friends works at the glass company and have plenty of scrap for me, if not I will use acrylic. the main reason I wanted to use plates was to protect the brace and by the time I finished the plates only 1" will be viewable from MH which I doubt that would cause any stress on brace. if it does I will install some type of material on the edge of brace to reflect heat. I will leave them on til morning to see how much more heat it will accumulate that should be true test leaving them on that long.

here's are some more pics,
all 3 MH were on from 10-7pm. I placed my hands on the middle of the eurobrace which I didn't even felt any heat issue at all.
also the 2x4 support on both left and right block some more light array from the side of eurobrace.

 

[melev]

Acrylic tends to be cheaper in some cases, and it is easy to smooth over the edges. If you get the glass for free, just get them to polish the edges so you don't get cut when working in the tank. I doubt you'll be leaning on these ever, so that isn't a concern.

 

[Reefski's]

why cut down on your light transmission at all? both glass and acrylic will decrease the light reaching the tank and block UV which is very important for corals.

Carl

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957341#post9957341 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by carloskoi
why cut down on your light transmission at all? both glass and acrylic will decrease the light reaching the tank and block UV which is very important for corals.

Carl

thanks carl, but the only glass I have is installed on the reflectors itself other than that I am trying to stop or if I do have any heat issue at all regarding my eurobrace since the lighting is not directly on my eurobrace. the footprint on LM3 19.5x19.5 and eurobrace 33x21 so no light transmission is directly over eurobrace causing not to have any heat issue at all. this is what I am trying to get to. I will just leave them on all night till the next morning to see how much hotter will it reach, or if it even get hot on the brace. as of right now my brace temp is 85-90deg, but it is not burning hot since I felt all of them. they been on from 10am-7pm so far.

 

[erics3000]

WOW...LOOKS GREAT..How do the MH's have a blue tint..Or did I miss attics??

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9957693#post9957693 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by erics3000
WOW...LOOKS GREAT..How do the MH's have a blue tint..Or did I miss attics??

thanks, 14k hamilton is what i am using.

 

[MSU Fan]

Wow, that is one amazing tank. All that plumbing - absolutely speechless. I can't wait to see this beast when it matures! Congratulations!!!

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9955400#post9955400 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
his point is good though...especially with acrylic, having the lamps near it causes crazing/distress etc. I have a 1.5" PVC pipe going from my fuge and down into the tank. The lamp on that end passes very close to the pipe, and it is blackened from the heat.

ok jonathan, i have left the MH on for 30hrs straight and as of this morning i turn them off. euro brace and its edges is 75deg so i think any problems will occur.

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9962961#post9962961 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
ok jonathan, i have left the MH on for 30hrs straight and as of this morning i turn them off. euro brace and its edges is 75deg so i think any problems will occur.

You won't have any problem with that temperature.

 

[cbui2]

thanks goodwin, i will install 4 vho on the top of each eurobrace but i know that shouldnt be hot at all.

 

[Goodwin9]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9963167#post9963167 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by cbui2
thanks goodwin, i will install 4 vho on the top of each eurobrace but i know that shouldnt be hot at all.

Are your VHO's DIY, or a fixture?

 

[jnarowe]

75F will be fine. Be careful about the VHOs. Most people have the idea that they, T5s etc do not put off much heat but that is usually not true. The T5 array I have on my snail grow-out tank puts out so much heat that I had to shut half of them down. It was baking the tank with more than 12" clearance.

 

[cbui2]

vho's will probably mounted about the tank 5" on aluminum bracket but is this too close. I know vho doesn't put out that might lighting unlike MH correct.

 

[Von_Rahvin]

VHO's get HOT. not as hot as a MH, but still far to hot to touch.

sweet looking tank btw.

 

[jnarowe]

Can you mount them so they are not over bracing? Bracing will get salt on it, get dull from the heat etc. and not allow the light through.

 

[gig]

I can touch my VHO's they don't get that hot, not like my compact PC's those get burning hot.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9963350#post9963350 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
Can you mount them so they are not over bracing? Bracing will get salt on it, get dull from the heat etc. and not allow the light through.

another way i was going to do it, 3 PFO MH Illuminator Reflectors 21"L x 10.5"W x 5"H across the front where the openings for eurobrace. that way i can elimnate all VHO's and have combination of 14k and 20k for lighting. since VHO's are only supplements, so 6 400watts MH should be more than enough then i can always set them on controller so they wont be on all the times. i can alternate all of them. would this be also a good idea?

 

[jnarowe]

That's basically what I do. I only have 20K MH lamps on my system, plus moonlights. The MH lamps provide all the light I need and the color is great. Every reefer that has visited has been very impressed with my lighting. Unfortunately, becuase I use 1000W lamps, I don't seem to do well with LPS and softies.

 

[cbui2]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9963705#post9963705 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by jnarowe
That's basically what I do. I only have 20K MH lamps on my system, plus moonlights. The MH lamps provide all the light I need and the color is great. Every reefer that has visited has been very impressed with my lighting. Unfortunately, because I use 1000W lamps, I don't seem to do well with LPS and softies.

that's why if I install 6 400watters I can control better then using the beast like you have 1000w BTW that's definitely cool. i can then have mixture of everything.