Help with Retrofitting Eclipse

[dabigger]

Hello Everyone,
When i started this lovely hobby a year ago, i never thought i would become a DIYer. This board has been so much help. I built a stand (its not bad - but good be better) - and now I have decided that i wanted to upgrade my lights.
I have an Eclipse 3 - which makes this a bigger project. I know there are retros out there for eclipses up to 65w but i want more watts than that.
Lucky me, a friend gave me his old 36" GE compact fluorescent light. It is 2x55. so It would be nice for my for 30 gallon tank - but i have a 30" tank.
So before i purchase a a kit to retrofit my tank. I wanted to try my luck and see if i could take apart the my friend's lights and put them in mine.
Its been going ok -But I have some questions that maybe you guys and gals can help me out.
#1 The old lights have an internal ballast - and there is no room in eclipse system - i wanted to run the wires and basically make the ballast an external ballast - how do i waterproof the wires - because they have to go over part of the water.
#2 Also how hot does a ballast get? can i put it anywhere (under my tank) or do i have to be careful with it? (it is in just a metal casing)
#3 I am putting the bulbs into the plastic covering that comes with the Eclipse system - is this going to be a problem with heat?
#4 Also I am squeezing the bulbs in a little is it OK if they touch?
Thanks so - much - i would appreciate any answers or any advice.
Also i hope to continue doing it tomorrow (because i needed longer wires - and all the stores are closed now) so if i come up with any problems i will ask.
Thanks so much
Dave

 

[darknes]

I used to have a 29 gallon tank with the eclipse3 hood for about 2 years until I upgraded to a 55 gallon a few months ago.
I started in the same predicament as you...started with the eclipse hood and then wanted to upgrade my lighting. I ended up buying a 2x65Watt retrofit kit for about $100, and had to build my own type of hood to replace the current light section since it was too small. I don't know the answers to all your questions, but I believe having the bulbs touch each other is not good. Also, fitting them into that tiny clear space leaves no aeration room, and they will most likely burn up very quickly.
I might be able to show you some pics of how I set mine up; I'm actually going to try selling my old light setup since I don't think I'll be getting my 29 gallon up again anytime soon, and if I do, it would be a fish only.
Anyway, my advice to you is this: just get rid of the eclipse hood. It does look nice, but in the end it ends up as more of a hassle. If you don't have a skimmer yet, you'll realize how much more of a hassle it makes as well. Also, it forces you to have your lights towards the front, and when you get PC's in, you'll notice that towards the back wall, you get shadows.
That's my experience.

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by dabigger
Hello Everyone,
When i started this lovely hobby a year ago, i never thought i would become a DIYer. This board has been so much help. I built a stand (its not bad - but good be better) - and now I have decided that i wanted to upgrade my lights.
I have an Eclipse 3 - which makes this a bigger project. I know there are retros out there for eclipses up to 65w but i want more watts than that.
Lucky me, a friend gave me his old 36" GE compact fluorescent light. It is 2x55. so It would be nice for my for 30 gallon tank - but i have a 30" tank.
So before i purchase a a kit to retrofit my tank. I wanted to try my luck and see if i could take apart the my friend's lights and put them in mine.
Its been going ok -But I have some questions that maybe you guys and gals can help me out.
#1 The old lights have an internal ballast - and there is no room in eclipse system - i wanted to run the wires and basically make the ballast an external ballast - how do i waterproof the wires - because they have to go over part of the water.
#2 Also how hot does a ballast get? can i put it anywhere (under my tank) or do i have to be careful with it? (it is in just a metal casing)
#3 I am putting the bulbs into the plastic covering that comes with the Eclipse system - is this going to be a problem with heat?
#4 Also I am squeezing the bulbs in a little is it OK if they touch?
Thanks so - much - i would appreciate any answers or any advice.
Also i hope to continue doing it tomorrow (because i needed longer wires - and all the stores are closed now) so if i come up with any problems i will ask.
Thanks so much
Dave
I know it ugly, i have the same tank and setup and predicament,, If i could have stated again i wouldnt have gone with the eclipse, But i made my bed and now i have to sleep in it! My tank looks a little ugly cosmetically but it is super UPGRADED! I now have 130w PC'S on it AND i cut up the hood that I have now added a PROTEIN SKIMMER and REFUGIUM! ALSO I increasedthe water volume by 4 gallons! I lay the PC'S on top , where my old lights were and totally removed the STOCK LIGHTS,, MY TANK HAS NEVER LOOKED HEALTHIER! ALSO I REMOVED THE MARINELAND charcoal and replaced it with a CHEMIPURE and PURIGEN! GOOD LUCK!

 

[dabigger]

thanks for the advice
MiaHeatLvr, how did you upgrade the lights?
thanks

 

[miaheatlvr]

I Just layed my 130w pc's on top of the the old light hood and took my old lights out completely! Take a look at my set-up! If you have any questions feel free to ask! Dont forget i added a REFUGIUM AND PROTEIN SKIMMER COMBO!

 

[dabigger]

Looks great - must have been fun!! I will try to post pictures when i am done with mine.
I might just install the lights into the hood and get a glass/plexi top to protect them.
Thanks again for all the help

 

[dabigger]

I finished!!! i will post pictures tonight or tomorrow - so far no electrocutions of fish or me! I used a lot of electric tape.
It is getting very hot in the plastic cover - so might have to do something about it.
Also - MiaHeatLvr - did you play around with the way the water comes out of the filter - the two "shoots" are driving me mad- because they cause a lot of salt drip -
Also - the inside of your tanks looks great - what can i keep in my tank now that i have 110 watts?
Thanks again for all the help

 

[miaheatlvr]

Originally Posted by dabigger
I finished!!! i will post pictures tonight or tomorrow - so far no electrocutions of fish or me! I used a lot of electric tape.
It is getting very hot in the plastic cover - so might have to do something about it.
Also - MiaHeatLvr - did you play around with the way the water comes out of the filter - the two "shoots" are driving me mad- because they cause a lot of salt drip -
Also - the inside of your tanks looks great - what can i keep in my tank now that i have 110 watts?
Thanks again for all the help
No I havent played with the export! The salt creep doesnt bother me too much!, I have "basic corals" AND ALL are doing fabulous, (KNOCK ON WOOD) Lets see, I have some shrooms, Button polyps, XENIA going out of control, ricordia, A GIANTIC anemone! getting bigger all the time, Hows you water quality? I dont think you can be limited now, I mean as long as your water quality is high, you now have the wattage,, stay away from flower pots and anything that is known to be a pain in in the ass to keep. Good Luck!