metal halides

[illal]

alright the time has come im not guna have much money any time soon since im buying a house but id like to pick them up 1 at a time and eventually have 3x250w ..... im looking at hello lights.com at the retrofit kits and i guess i have a few questions... first of all i dont have a canopy and rather than build one myself id like to just pick one up..will a regular wood canopy work?? like one of the one from big al's? also for you guys that have mh's how do you keep them water tight?? am i even looking at the right thing that i need on that web site???

 

[racermike27]

Regular off the shelf canopies might not be tall enough. I keep my halides roughly 9 inches off the water. Any lower and my corals would cook LOL. I built my canopy myself and it is fairly simple, made of wood.
There are some canopies available for purchase that come with a little more height on them, these would be better suited for use with halides. I have seen these types of canopies around a lot lately at the LFS-es.

My SE mogul based halides are open inside the canopy and are not "water tight" They will get splashed occasionally but I just wipe the bulbs and reflectors every so often. They are not being hit by water all the time though just the occasional splash.

I got my retrofit from Vince at www.oceanencounter.com

Also DE halides need to be shielded with glass to block the UV.
DE's are most seen in pendants which are retrofitted into canopy easily or can be mounted in canopy with a glass shield if not using a pendant.

HTH

-Mike-

 

[instrance]

Check this out.

Check this out.

Here are the link I would use to purchase the eq.

http://www.hellolights.com/25hqidenmhre.html

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dual-250-Watt-Electronic-Metal-Halide-Ballast-Aquarium_W0QQitemZ120100006600QQcategoryZ46314QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Re: metal halides

You decided on anything yet?

I was thinking about doing what Instrance linked to @ hellolights.com.

For all, here's my question:

I have a 72g bowfront, with an oak canopy that has the D shaped trap door on top. I have roughly a 34" x 11" space to work with. It's not really THAT high off the water, so would 2 x 250W MH be too much inside the canopy, being just a few inches off the water? This:
http://www.hellolights.com/25hqidenmhre.html

is 3" high, which would leave about 3-4" between the bottom of the fixture, and top of the water.


Tony
PPines

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=9514790#post9514790 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by illal
alright the time has come im not guna have much money any time soon since im buying a house but id like to pick them up 1 at a time and eventually have 3x250w ..... im looking at hello lights.com at the retrofit kits and i guess i have a few questions... first of all i dont have a canopy and rather than build one myself id like to just pick one up..will a regular wood canopy work?? like one of the one from big al's? also for you guys that have mh's how do you keep them water tight?? am i even looking at the right thing that i need on that web site???

 

[Bebo77]

this is what i would run with either helios or radium 20K bulbs

http://lumenarclighting.com/proddetail.asp?prod=L3

 

[Sharkonwheels]

Man - that thing is HUGE! 20" x 20", and 8.5" tall.

I don;t even think my canopy HAS 8.5" of clearance to the water line!!

It schweet though...

Got a 2nd choice?


Tony
PPines

 

[Sharkonwheels]

I'm leaning towards DIY on the MH.

Anyone know if T316 Stainless Steel makes a good reflector?
I assume if it;s mentioned to use white paint, that SS has to be better! I believe T316 is the good stuff for corrosion resistance.

Might as well put all these metal-shop tools I have in the garage to good use!

BTW - if anyone near me (PPines) needs access to metalworking tools, let me know. I have:

7"x14" mini-lathe
mini-mill (not a drill press)
Mini Drill Press
9" width Delta bandsaw
10" dual-wheel grinder
air compressor with air tools (socket, impact, stapler, etc...)

Only thing I don't have (yet) is a welder(s)

Beyond that, my cousin has a meta fab shop in Medley (Near 74th st and 826/Palmetto Xpy in Miami) with more stuff, on a MUCH larger scale


Tony