Lights of America thread Qs

[Nelliereefster]

Hey, new to this board. I read the post on LOA. Did some farting around in Home Depot. I couldn't discern Kelvin ratings on any of the bulbs. Can anyone who is in the know elaborate on fixture type, and bulb types they are using on their refugium? I saw high pressure sodium fixtures/flourescent bulbs/MH bulbs. I want to make sure I'm not buying a 3000K bulk and promote a bad algae explosion...

I'm running a 120G and a 90G into a common 80G sump/Refugium/plenum. It's actually one of those big black rubber rock curing vats you see in the LFS. Tanks are plumbed thru the wall in the basement to an unfinished portion --less noise, more room for "elaborance." I've currently got a CSL pendant fixture that uses 3x32 watt PC bulbs on the refugium. Caulerpa is growing nicely, but thoughts of upgrading keep wandering through my brain. :wink:

 

[reefland]

Welcome to the board.

I use this light over my sump:

It's a 65w power compact, rated at 6500K. Hard to find these days. I got mine at Walmart. Home Depot around me doesn't carry power compact lighting above 28w.

 

[clk2609]

depending on wear you are located, some home depot's carry this LOA you just have to wire a plug to the fixture. i currently use the same type but 2 have "burnt" out, not sure if it is from too much heat, i know some people put vent holes in there fixtures.

anyways, maintenance warehouse, a subsidiary of home depot has them for $40, probably cheaper at wal-mart.

call 1800-431-3000 or web address is www.mwh.com
part #: 324558

good luck.
chris

 

[Anonymous]

As a matter of fact I just saw them yesterday at a local walmart for $24.

HTH

 

[liquid]

These fixtures run hot and if not properly ventillated you can burn out the circuitry. I did it on one of my LOA's. I've since removed the plastic lense housing that covers the bulb and haven't had a problem yet.

Shane

 

[reefland]

Any ideas where to get a replacement bulb?

 

[Sandyreef]

Reefland,

They usually sell them at the place you purchased your fixture at.

I picked up extra bulbs for mine when I purchased them just to have in stock.

Sandy

 

[clk2609]

rich duroso,

www.mwh.com or 1-800-431-3000 part #313942 if you buy 1-5 bulbs they cost $12.86 each. hope this helps.
chris

 

[liquid]

I got mine from Menard's where I purchased the fixture...

Shane

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder why they would make a self enclosed lamp like that which overheated unless the end user altered it somehow to provide ventilation?

THose who had it fail...are you keeping it on 24/7? Maybe that's the reason.

 

[liquid]

Nope, mine wasn't on 24/7 and it burned out after about 9 months and it was the electronics that burned out and not the lamp as the lamp fired in the other fixture I have. Keep in mind that these units were made to be outside with nothing covering them, thus they have a lot of cooling potential there with wind and whatnot. When we use them, we are placing them in hoods where there is little air circulation and heat can build up.

fwiw

Shane

 

[SPC]

12 hours for me, had 3 fail even with vent holes in 2 of them .
Steve

 

[Nelliereefster]

Thanks everybody. My sump refugium is 5 fet by 4 feet, how many fixtures do I need? Any problem with hair/bad algae due to spectral decay over the life of the bulb?
If not placed in a hood, but left suspended above the sump in open air in a basement, heat shouldn't be a problem, correct?

 

[liquid]

Suspended should work fine as that's how I currently have it on my freshwater planted tank. I'd think that 1 unit should light a 1.5'x1.5' square to a 2'x2' square so I'd imagine that you'd be looking at maybe 4?

Shane