MH lights too hot for small tank ?

[mling]

My LFS guy tells me that MH lighting is often too hot for small tanks like my 16" high 45 gallon; that customers often return them to the store.
They say I only need compact florescents.

Is this just a sales pitch to sell JBJ compact flourescents that they specialize in ?

 

[hillbilly]

Lots of people use MH on tanks as small as 10gals. If you want to keep sps, it's the only way to go. I think the heat issue would depend on how you had them mounted above the tank.

 

[Anonymous]

Lets put it this way...i have a 20gal with 175W MH over it..its a Pendant system that hangs about 10" above my tank..I was running PC roughly 8" above my tank..those seem to run my tank hotter than the MH..That could have been due to the fact the PC are in an enclosed canopy..but ive actually had to increase the thermometer temp since ive gone with the MH's...I agree with Hillbilly..thats gonna depend on the height of the MH's...if it sits 3" above the water it will probably heat up dramatically..MH's are hot! HTH

 

[qwiksilver]

As long as you have good air circulation you'll be fine. I have a friend that has a 400W halide on a 20 with sps, and if anyone should have a heat problem it should be him. He doesn't have a chiller or anything to keep the temp down, just cooling fans mounted in his hood. So, go for the halide and you won't go wrong.

 

[Anonymous]

sweet i dont even have fans...

 

[Anonymous]

I am getting ready to put 2-175 watt mh's over my 55 gal corner bow, and I know they will heat up the water way way to much, that is why I am installing fans in the hood

I would go with them

They look awesome

Bryan

 

[ADS]

I agree with the above responses-shouldn't be a problem and will enable you versatility in keeping different organisms.
Adam

 

[cdeakle]

ditto!

 

[Anonymous]

I have heard it said that halides actually aren't hotter than flourescents, they just have the heat consolidated in one point. Not sure if that's true or not, but at any rate what will make the big difference is how its ventilated, not what light type you use.

Hanging the light as a pendant or using a fan is the way to go.