Do 20k bulbs run any cooler than 10k?

[PeeJ]

Well......??? Maybe a stupid question...perhaps I am overthinking, or underthinking.

 

[DaisyPolyp]

for our puposes in this hobby, yes. The higher wavelengths will excite water much more rapidly than lower wavelengths and generate heat.

 

[PeeJ]

Ok so in theory....if i ditch 2 of the 10ks 250 watters and put on 20ks my temp shouldn't run so high?

I'm hitting about 97 right now with 2x250 10k and 2x250 20k

 

[DaisyPolyp]

The key here is "theory"... all though this is true on paper, the effect in an aquarium environment is going to be slight. I would PM reefnutz or search some of his posts for information on the heat output of high-wattage 10K's versus 20K's. I think if you are at 97 you are going to have to bite the bullet and get a chiller... or evap about 10gallons of water a day.

 

[reefann]

As daisy said you will probably not be able to get your temps into an acceptable range with a switch to 20k IF you have glass over your top try removing that and see how much that helps.
Plus how close are your halides to the water.
A few inches can sometimes make a huge heat difference.
Good luck on avoiding the chiller!
JJ
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Television Forum

 

[PeeJ]

Well i raised the lights and threw a big fan over the sump and got the temp down to a steady 89....Now I'm going to purchase 2 small clip on fans and blow them accross the top of the acutal tank and try to kill some of the heat before it hits the water.

 

[Anonymous]

Run an air conditioner. It will cool you and your tank. Unless you are ready to plumb a chiller from the garage or basement?

 

[ruski]

you might want to try aiming the fans at the bulbs and not across the top of the tank. you will be suprised how that can cool the glass of the bulb down. also if you can. try to have a cross breeze in the canopy(if you have one) one fan blowing in and the other pulling the air out. I did this on my 210 with 3 250MH droped the temp about 4-5 degrees.
ruski

 

[Anonymous]

IIRC, you shouldn't cool the bulbs directly, rather move air through the canopy. The bulbs need to be hot to burn correctly.

 

[PeeJ]

Yup...bad idea to hit the bulbs directly. It appears as though I have no room for fans in the canopy itself....I believe I am going to construct some sort of "pendant" to house all four lights hanging from the ceiling. I can't afford 400 dollars for all new pendants.