T5 Cooling Question

[SueQ]

Ok, so I'm installing a diy T5 system on my 75g and I'm curious if I"ll need to put some fans in the canopy? The ballast will be on the backside (exterior) of the canopy. The canopy itself is 12" tall and 50"wide with an open back.

 

[HouseDJSTL]

You shouldn't have any heat w/ T5 lights. They dont run that hot to need fans. And with an open back, you will be just fine....

Good Luck!!

 

[Fast Fred]

You may want to consider remotely mounting the ballast to keep it away from the salt air and splash.

 

[Obi-dad]

T5s will have longer life if you keep them cool. I did not cool my T5s in my 75 diy canopy enough, and after 6 months they were way down on PAR (according to the club PAR meter). My original setup only had 3 small fans blowing into the canopy. I now have the 3 fans blowing out, cut out a much larger hole on the side and have a 6" desk type fan blowing in. Much cooler and the bulbs are retaining their PAR longer. Check out Icecap's forum, they recommend keeping the bulbs cooler also.

 

[horkn]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7359975#post7359975 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by HouseDJSTL
You shouldn't have any heat w/ T5 lights. They dont run that hot to need fans. And with an open back, you will be just fine....

Good Luck!!

Sue, this is how i have mine running. 17months on the original bulbs, no issues, and the corals act the same as they did when the bulbs were new.

now if you overdrive them, you better have fans, otherwise no.

 

[neyugn0w01]

I believe it is best to run a fan or 2 with any lights. I have T5's 39" under my rear open canopy and it gets hot. Not only do I have 2 fans but also a chiller running.

 

[horkn]

well, my t5ho setup (3x39)really doesnt make the water temp raise at all. if you have an open back on the canopy, you really dont need cooling fans.

 

[SueQ]

Horkn-The canopy is open in the back minus the 1x1 supports. And they won't be overdriven. Tha ballast are going to be mounted on either the top of the back on a support or I may just mount them on the top of the canopy. Oh, mine is 4x54, too. I'm not too worried about them raising the temp of the water, just don't want them to heat up the canopy to the point where they reduce the life of the bulbs.
Thanks for all the insight!!!!

 

[The Grim Reefer]

Running a fan on normally driven T5's would never hurt. You want the air temp to peak around 91 degrees for best performance. If it is lower you will only make the lamps last longer.

 

[gregrex]

I've had 4 X 48" T5HOs on and IC 660, and just recently downgraded to a WH7 in a vain attempt to keep soft corals.

On the IceCap ballast, the bulbs got incredibly hot. I understand this doesn't help bulb life any, but it's also worth noting that the appearance changes too. I could sit and watch the colour go from blue -> white -> sickly green/yellow over a period of around 30 seconds whenever I turned off the fan.

On the WH7 ballast, colour difference (fan on vs fan off) is not quite as dramatic, but certainly is still there.

 

[neyugn0w01]

Forgot to mention, mine are also overdriven with IC660. Also, don't forget what temp you are trying to keep your tank at. My tank is set to maintain a temp of 77.0-77.5.

 

[The Grim Reefer]

You could try pulling a reflector off one of your "white" lamps if you are still having trouble with softies in a 55.

An IC system is way too much for a mixed reef on anything shorter than about 20~22" tall.

 

[psimitry]

I have a 4x54 T5HO setup on my tank, and found that it started smelling like plastic that is too hot before I put my fans on the tank.

Now, I not only keep the lights cool, but my tank stays at a PERFECT 79.5F 24/7.

 

[thor32766]

yeah better safe then sorry. I would run a fan on them. I have a fan on my 220 and you can feel the heat coming off of them. so i would just run a fan.

 

[SueQ]

Wow, thanks again!

So, the fans that are on the market... I noticed they are essential computer fans but do they come with their own ac cord or do you have to wire one on?? Also, I'm guessing the fans should be pulling air longways across the bulbs?? I saw this one DIY moonlight setup that installed LED fans (computer fans actually) but they were setup on the very top of the canopy, pulling air out of the top of the canopy. Might that work as well?

 

[psimitry]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7372638#post7372638 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by SueQ
Wow, thanks again!

So, the fans that are on the market... I noticed they are essential computer fans but do they come with their own ac cord or do you have to wire one on?? Also, I'm guessing the fans should be pulling air longways across the bulbs?? I saw this one DIY moonlight setup that installed LED fans (computer fans actually) but they were setup on the very top of the canopy, pulling air out of the top of the canopy. Might that work as well?

LOL - I bought two 80MM fans from a local computer shop for $1 each, and wired them up to an old Sega Genesis power adapter. They're actually only running 9 out of the 12V they're supposed to be getting, but it's producing more than enough air movement and my bulbs stay cool as can be. Total investment: $2

As far as air current, I have two holes cut in the side of the canopy, both fans are blowing inwards along the bulbs, but in such an enclosed area, I don't think it'd really matter where the air was coming in from as long as there was turbulent air coming in.

Edit: And a friend of mine did the whole LED fan thing. Technically, I suppose it could work, but I wouldn't want to do it like that (no ability to control the brightness of the LED's not to mention that they could be off on the spectrum that makes a good moon lamp.