Aquaspacelight 250w Fixture Users

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

I am trying to determine the best height to keep this. I currently have the fixture 7.5" above the water surface and I am thinking it might be a bit low.

Anyone using this unit care to comment on the height they use and what factors were used in calculating this (if any).

Thanks, Marco

 

[GSchiemer]

Hello,

I am trying to determine the best height to keep this. I currently have the fixture 7.5" above the water surface and I am thinking it might be a bit low.

Anyone using this unit care to comment on the height they use and what factors were used in calculating this (if any).

Thanks, Marco

It's not too low. My hood is 4 inches from the top of the aquarium with 400 watt bulbs.

Greg Schiemer

 

[Len]

My 250W Aquaspacelights are 5" from the surface of the water. Not really by choice or design, but because I needed it to sit inside my canopy. Yes, I know what you're saying right now .... what a waste of a wonderfully crafted pendant I had no choice since I wanted to use actinics and because I needed the top of my aquarium sealed (to insure wrasses stay wet).

 

[Marcosreef]

Thanks for the responses

I was also thinking of adding a couple of VHO actinics. I like the color of the 10k's, but really miss the dawn/dusk I had before.

Marco

 

[Dt'sReef]

I supplement my Aquaspacelight with 2x110w actinic by having a canopy made without a top. Works/looks great, and is easy to take on and off for tank work.

I just wish my Aquaspacelight was quiet. Mine hums/buzzes loudly.

 

[Len]

Hey there, fellow reefkeeper and fellow Aqualine user ....

WELCOME TO REEFS.ORG!

 

[ronhaake]

I have the 2 x 250 w/pc light and mine is only 3 1/2" off of the surface of the water. I raise mine to do maintenence (what a snap!). No problems with bleaching, so I see no reason to raise mine. Lower gives more PAR at depth and helps with the light spill as well.

 

[MiNdErAsR]

Pay attention to the required minimum distance of 30 cm to the water surface!

Taken directly from the instruction booklet which accompanied the canopy. This is where mine are set.

 

[Dt'sReef]

Is it possible that bleaching could also be caused when the coral receives a large increase of light which it tries to respond to, but part of the equation (e.g., sufficient food in the water column) is deficient, so it tries to compensate by bleaching?

Something similar happens in planted freshwater tanks when you increase the lighting without increasing the CO2 supply.

Just a guess....

 

[Len]

Bleaching can occur when light intensity is suddenly elevated. Corals may expel zooxanthellae from their gastrodermis as a reaction to the increased photo energy since less zooxanthallae is needed to collect the same amount of light and also as a protective measure against super-oxidation within their cells (after all, photosynthesis' byproduct is oxygen). Another hypothesis is that corals, when stressed, don't lend enough nutrients to zooxanthellae, so these symbiotic algae either die off or leave.

I've also seen corals bleach when I change bulbs of different spectral composition (PAR may be less with the new bulbs). This happened when I switched from a Ushio 10KK to a Sunburst 12KK (400W).

 

[reefland]

I have my 3x250 and 2x24w PC Aquaspace light 10.5 inches from the water surface. A little bit under the recommended level in the documentation.

 

[reefland]

I just wish my Aquaspacelight was quiet. Mine hums/buzzes loudly.

Welcome to the board!

I would suggest you look into that. It should be silent.

 

[Dt'sReef]

I would suggest you look into that. It should be silent.

Do you have a 2x25w or 3x250w Aquaspacelight?

Yes, I agree it should be silent except for a slight hum if the room is silent and you're standing right next to it.

I've spoken with AquaMedic 3 or 4 times and they agreed it shouldn't be buzzing. They have the light now and gave me a loaner (2x250w with moonlight; no PCs). It's more quiet than the other light but it still buzzes quiet a bit.

It's definitely not something loose and vibrating. I've taken it apart somewhat, exposed the ballasts and discovered that the igniters are making the noise. I bought a voltage meter and tested my wall voltage to eliminate it as a possible cause. The voltage was exactly at 120, so no problem there.

I have yet to see a 3x250w fixture that buzzes. Most people I've spoken to with a 2x250w set-up claim it buzzes. I wonder what's different about the 3x250w? Maybe they use a different igniter?

Darin

 

[Marcosreef]

Hello,

Yes my unit also hums (or buzzes). Unfortunately, all conventional coil ballasts will hum to an extent. Yes mine hums rather loudly next to it, but my room and stand are very silent. It's not a problem, but rather a slight annoyance of having all that electrical stuffed into a little neat and cool looking package.

Marco

 

[reefland]

They have the light now and gave me a loaner (2x250w with moonlight; no PCs). It's more quiet than the other light but it still buzzes quiet a bit.

My father has this unit and it doesn't hum. He has it over a 55g tank with only internal power heads. Pretty quiet as far as tanks go. If it had a hum you'd be able to hear it.

 

[Dt'sReef]

Rich,

Thanks for that info. I now know it's technically possible to have a silent or near silent 2x250w Aquaspacelight. I'm not sure why one would buzz and another won't, and I have a feeling it'll be a mystery to AquaMedic as well. I was told I would have my fixture back in about 6 weeks. I'll call them on Monday.

 

[MiNdErAsR]

Mine is 48" and has a slight hum. But it's barely noticable over the rest of the tank noise. In fact I almost posted there was no noise until I put my ear next to the canopy!

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I have a crazy request: would someone measure the distance from the end of their six foot long aquaspacelight hood to where the cable suspends the fixture? THANKS!

 

[Carpentersreef]

14.5 cm. (or about 5 3/4")

Mitch

 

[Jimmy G]

I've got the 3X250W and its 10" from the water surface. Now ,thanks to you guys, I do notice that there is a slight hum....never noticed it over the other noises.

I recently switched to the 20K Halides from the 10K AB's. Alot bluer but I like them.