TEK T5 users: shield or fan?

[tripinpn01]

hey guys, i just recently acquired a tek fixture. it is the 6x39w. i was just wondering if anyone runs it with a acrylic shield and if any runs it with fans. the reason i ask is because the fixture is running hot although it is not emitting much heat to the tank.

 

[DCartagena]

Thats the lights I wanted to get I had 4 x 24" Nova Extreme and the fans really help extend the life of the bulbs. have to keep them cool over the writing portion its the hottest point.

 

[DCartagena]

Im building up a 50G breeder and thoses 8 x 39W TEK looking as a good choice

 

[tripinpn01]

yah i love the lights. i have them on legs and want to take the acrylic shield off so i can run fans on the ends. just seeing if this is a good idea and if people are doing this

 

[z3r0ko0l]

Take a look at the T5 QandA section. Grim states that PAR levels drop (over 20%) due to heat generated from the Passively cooled TEK fixtures. To correct this 1. take the shield off and 2. get a small fan and have it blow across the center of the fixture from the rear. You also dont want to cool the fixture to much, or the bulb wont "warm-up."

 

[tripinpn01]

So i should have it blowing across the middle and not at the ends?

 

[nikon187]

T5 have a hot spot on one of there ends, this is what should be cooled not the center.

 

[dwilly]

I don't use the shield and I have 2 fans at the end of the fixture running the long way across the bulbs starting at the end w/ the writing on the bulbs.

 

[z3r0ko0l]

I just took a look at the T5 thread, give it a read. Grim suggests having the fan point from just above or across pointing toward the rear of the fixture. Check out the post... There is a ton of info in there and Grim (along with others) have done alot of testing.