2 x 175 mh for a 65 ?

[bigbioballs]

In an oceanic tank with canopy hood...lights would be about 8 inches from water line or so with full glass canopy between themm....do you think i will have a heat prob?

I could also go with a 4 x 96w PC setup rerofir much closer to the waterline..

I DO NOT WANT to have to get a chiller...

any comments>? I just want to buy the right lights the first time...i am a newbie and dont want to be told...cant do cuz of lighting...

thanks

 

[damonbrodie]

My 65G is going to have 2 x 175 MH and 2 VHO actinic 03

 

[madrefkepr]

A single 250W metal halide sould be enough, and should not be a heat problem. Or, someone will correct me if I am wrong! The AGA 65 has a brace in the center, which would create a shadow with one bulb, but I don't think the oceanic does?

 

[texasreefer]

I would use the 2 175W MH's, but I would remove the glass to get better gas exchange in your tank. It will also help w/ evaporation which will help w/ cooling. You will need to add a couple of fans to help cool the tank.

 

[4angel]

Hay big What are you planing to keep in the tank. If you believe that eventually you are going to get SPS corals go with the MH for sure. then what you do is you hook up a fan or two. I run a fan during the summer. the fan is placed on the side of the tank where it can pull in cool air from the AC. This time of the year the tank getting to hot is not a prob.
_________________
ak47

 

[Anonymous]

You might consider going with 250w and use a fan in the hood. Not that much more expensive (some bulbs are cheaper) and would give you more flexibility...

 

[King Jason]

I ran 2 175w MH's on my 60g tank and live in Huntington Beach CA. It never gets too hot here and I still had to run a chiller during the summer. I had my MH's 12" above the water and 2 5" radio shack fans blowing on them. With a small volume of water it's tuff to stop the hot MH's from heating up the water.

 

[Anonymous]

I ran a 250w mh over a 29 gallon tank for a long time and never had any heat issues. My bulb was 4-5" from the top of the water. I evaporated alot (1-1.5 gallons per day) but my temperature stayed fine. A lot will depend on your hood design and your fan placement. 250 watt bulbs over that size of tank is pretty common.

 

[Freedom75@work]

I would recommend the 175's and add a fan to the hood. they are cheap enough . just use a PC power supply fan and a 12 volt dc power supply that you can buy at radio shack. or get one off of an old answering machine. Face it so it is pulling the air off the bulbs this way it is not blowing dust into the water.

John

 

[Bobzarry]

I have 2 - 175w over a 55 with a radioShack fan....no problems keeping heat down. in fact I keep the fan on a temp controller to keep the tank from getting to cool.


Bob

 

[Freedom75@work]

bob

was the temp controll expensive and where did you get it and how did you hook it up. I would be interested in getting one to add for my winter months

John