Rebel
Premium Member
Hi all. I have not been on the board in, oh, about a bajillion years (that's the new math we're teaching these days), but thought I would put out a plea for some help/advice. This may get wordy and lengthy--sorry.
As some of you know, I installed a large reef aquarium in the library at Columbine High School, where I teach, just after the shootings in '99. Over the years I have taken on a more difficult course load, had two children, and begun various other hobbies. The tank is still up and running, and certain parts of it are thriving (including some algae--yikes), but I am looking to re-do things and start fresh. I have two students who are very interested in learning and helping, and I also am training a student teacher for two hours a day, so eventually I will have some extra time and help.
My problem is: the school district. A year ago, I broke down my reef at home, but I wanted to keep the lighting for the CHS reef. I worked out a way that the school could purchase them from me for a fair price, and all is well. Except that they are still sitting on the floor of the fish room. The district absolutely will not let me install them. They have to have their engineers and electricians do it. And you can imagine what those guys know about reef lighting or aquariums in general. In fact, the CHS reef is the cause of many a raised eyebrow at the district office. They tend to wish it would wash back into the ocean.
The lighting is three 250w DE PFO pendants (I am told PFO is now out of business?) on IceCap ballasts. I have a lighting rack I built using aluminum angle riveted together so that all the lights can be hung as one unit.
The district electricians are concerned that the pendants have slots in them, potentially allowing moisture into them. When I said they are for ventilation, they were still skeptical. They are hoping I can find some literature, manufacturer's instructions, etc showing the proper installation of the units. They do not think they should be hung over open water (my attempts to explain that they are designed for that, as they are aquarium lights got only more raised eyebrows).
Does anyone have anything--any literature, instructional photos, etc. that might serve to prove to these guys that I am not insane? I have done some preliminary web-searches, but most just show the lights themselves, not their application. Any ideas?
Oh, and I might be posting back for anyone with engineering skills, as they are also skeptical that the entire 18lbs. light rack/pendant combo can be hung safely from the metal-studded wall above the aquarium. I am not making this up.
As some of you know, I installed a large reef aquarium in the library at Columbine High School, where I teach, just after the shootings in '99. Over the years I have taken on a more difficult course load, had two children, and begun various other hobbies. The tank is still up and running, and certain parts of it are thriving (including some algae--yikes), but I am looking to re-do things and start fresh. I have two students who are very interested in learning and helping, and I also am training a student teacher for two hours a day, so eventually I will have some extra time and help.
My problem is: the school district. A year ago, I broke down my reef at home, but I wanted to keep the lighting for the CHS reef. I worked out a way that the school could purchase them from me for a fair price, and all is well. Except that they are still sitting on the floor of the fish room. The district absolutely will not let me install them. They have to have their engineers and electricians do it. And you can imagine what those guys know about reef lighting or aquariums in general. In fact, the CHS reef is the cause of many a raised eyebrow at the district office. They tend to wish it would wash back into the ocean.
The lighting is three 250w DE PFO pendants (I am told PFO is now out of business?) on IceCap ballasts. I have a lighting rack I built using aluminum angle riveted together so that all the lights can be hung as one unit.
The district electricians are concerned that the pendants have slots in them, potentially allowing moisture into them. When I said they are for ventilation, they were still skeptical. They are hoping I can find some literature, manufacturer's instructions, etc showing the proper installation of the units. They do not think they should be hung over open water (my attempts to explain that they are designed for that, as they are aquarium lights got only more raised eyebrows).
Does anyone have anything--any literature, instructional photos, etc. that might serve to prove to these guys that I am not insane? I have done some preliminary web-searches, but most just show the lights themselves, not their application. Any ideas?
Oh, and I might be posting back for anyone with engineering skills, as they are also skeptical that the entire 18lbs. light rack/pendant combo can be hung safely from the metal-studded wall above the aquarium. I am not making this up.
