i just got MH's...what should i know?

[peckhead]

what are things i should watch for since i just got mh. they get really hot but i think that is normal right?
how should i handle bulbs when replacing? and how often dothe bulbs need to be replaced?
i turned them off before for a minute, then went to turn them on and they wouldnt turn on, it said somethign about that in the directions but i didnt quite understand it.
mine smell a little by the vents where air escapes from the mh fixture, but not like its on fire, is thisnormal? it just smells...idk...hot..
dont hate, but i have oddysea 48" 760w.
let me know things i dont no, because i dont know anything about mh's.
but please dont tell me how they suck and stuff like that

thankssssssssss! ***) ***)

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by peckhead
what are things i should watch for since i just got mh. they get really hot but i think that is normal right?
how should i handle bulbs when replacing? and how often dothe bulbs need to be replaced?
i turned them off before for a minute, then went to turn them on and they wouldnt turn on, it said somethign about that in the directions but i didnt quite understand it.
mine smell a little by the vents where air escapes from the mh fixture, but not like its on fire, is thisnormal? it just smells...idk...hot..
dont hate, but i have oddysea 48" 760w.
let me know things i dont no, because i dont know anything about mh's.
but please dont tell me how they suck and stuff like that

thankssssssssss! ***) ***)

Yes, they get hot! Monitor at first to make sure something is not touching where it shouldn't be. Most people blow a fan across the top of the water to reduce tank temp. CHange bulbs at a minimum of once a year. I assume it has internal fans? Those should be inspected and cleaned every three months or as needed.
I bet the tank looks better huh!
Mc

 

[peckhead]

yeah im gonna go to homedepot, get a fan, some power strips, and i guesssome egg crate and hope my eel doesnt get out, the glass is getting really hot.
where should i put the ballasts?
yes the tank looks awesome. the moon lights are really cool too.
should i be getting any kinda hot smell out of the vents?
yes it has internal fans..

 

[grumpygils]

Originally Posted by peckhead
yeah im gonna go to homedepot, get a fan, some power strips, and i guesssome egg crate and hope my eel doesnt get out, the glass is getting really hot.
where should i put the ballasts?
yes the tank looks awesome. the moon lights are really cool too.
should i be getting any kinda hot smell out of the vents?
yes it has internal fans..
I don't know what your set up is, but put the ballasts somewhere away from the lights and tank or sump. They generate a fair amount of heat. How close to the glass are the lights? Glass shouldn't be too hot. Definitley not too hot to touch. I would also look through the vents to make sure no wires are near the lights or reflectors. That smell should go away after a few days.
Good Luck,
Mc

 

[peckhead]

should i leave the fan on all the time or should i unplug it when the mh is off? could it hurt to always leave it on

 

[mpls man]

what are things i should watch for since i just got mh. they get really hot but i think that is normal right?
how should i handle bulbs when replacing? and how often dothe bulbs need to be replaced?
i turned them off before for a minute, then went to turn them on and they wouldnt turn on, it said somethign about that in the directions but i didnt quite understand it.
mine smell a little by the vents where air escapes from the mh fixture, but not like its on fire, is thisnormal? it just smells...idk...hot..
dont hate, but i have oddysea 48" 760w.
let me know things i dont no, because i dont know anything about mh's.
but please dont tell me how they suck and stuff like that

thankssssssssss! ***) ***)[/QUOTE
]handeling the bulbs will be fine just clen the fingerprints off when not hot.
most replace bulbs when about 1 year old, they loose their par.
i write the date on the base with a permenant marker(when you put them in) easyer to remember

when you turn the MHs off and they take a while to come back..that is normal, the ballest does that, mine do the same..dont worry
as far as the smell i wouldn't worry either unless it continues. :joy:
the MHs are in a fixture, correct, if they have 2 fans you'll be fine, 1 in 1 out, i'm assuming.
sounds like a very nice light for 760 watt :joy:

 

[scubaguy]

about changing the MH make sure you do not handle with bare hands. Oils will burn out the bulb faster, use either paper towel or wear some medical gloves. I am not sure if you are going to be able to use egg crates because from what I have heard the MH get hot enough to melt plastic. Keep fan on or turn off when the MH goes out. It will not hurt anything to keep it on.

 

[mpls man]

i have everything on timers, just get the heavy duty timers from homedepot, or what ever you have there. set the fans to come on when the lights come on, from reading on you other post the fans are in the fixture, they dont come on with the lights already?
here the timers i have.