Installing metal halides into a canopy questions.

[siptang]

they are 4" off the water and I'm having issues with my health atm so I can't really do much. (hard time even with water changes atm) I was thinking putting a piece of plywood cut to the size of the plastic piece and leave it on top of it so that it protects the plastic. Bad idea?

 

[meowzer]

IDK...My MH lights are hanging 7" off my 225G BUT the lights are not directly over a brace......you could try to cover it with somethig ..just watch it
I hope you are ok....

 

[siptang]

Thanks Meowser.
I haven't been very productive last couple of days. (you can see that I have been absent this whole week, although I don't think no one would have missed me since they have such awesome crew here helping them lol)
I have been getting sick and after talking to my friend Jeff from this site, I think my nutrients are depleting for some reason and I'm lacking my fundamental nutrients. Which explains, sudden black out visions, tunnel visions, waking up with shakes in the middle of the night, dizziness, light headed etc. Going to the doctors to confirm it. I have been running on 11-14 hour work days 6 days a week to keep my mind off things and to save money for a long vacation for Mrs and I and I have been getting only 4 hours of sleep a night. (if that) (just can't sleep these days... too many nightmares)
been taking melatonin and I think it's helping a bit. I'm hoping that doc will give me some tips on sleeping issues...

 

[meowzer]

I bet a lot of it is stress and depression.....be careful and take care of yourself.....you and your wife need eachother

and slow down

 

[siptang]

Yea, I think so too. :/
But trying to deal with it... I guess it's not working too well...

 

[meowzer]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang http:///forum/thread/387027/installing-metal-halides-into-a-canopy-questions/20#post_3404592
Yea, I think so too. :/
But trying to deal with it... I guess it's not working too well...
HEY....listen to me....it takes time...A LOT OF TIME....it has only been a couple of months for you....do not think there is something wrong cause you still feel this way......take your time with this......take deep breaths.....BUT keep moving ahead...
life throws some really crappy curves sometimes......BUT we have to keep moving on....and you will....you will be ok...you and your wife seem to have a stong bond..and that will keep you going

 

[siptang]

Thanks Meowser.
I honestly thought that I'm handling this rather well but on my body in verge of breaking down, I'm having my doubts.
I'm off tomorrow so after church, I'm going to just try to come home and just sleep all day.
yea, we are taking it a day at a time.
Going back to the original post, I was told from somebody to wrap around the brace and it will keep the temperature cooler. Any truth behind this theory?

 

[meowzer]

wrap what around the brace? and yes...if you can take the heat off...it should work....BUT don't use something flammable

 

[siptang]

Oops... silly me... lack of sleep will do this to ya lol.
Wrap around aluminum foil he said, pretty crazy but may work I thinks.

 

[acrylic51]

Your best option would be what Corey suggested as far as building 2 boxes. Your going to have to get them up away from the plastic trim.... It will melt it for sure.

 

[2quills]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Siptang http:///forum/thread/387027/installing-metal-halides-into-a-canopy-questions/20#post_3404610
Going back to the original post, I was told from somebody to wrap around the brace and it will keep the temperature cooler. Any truth behind this theory?
Hey, Sip. You could try it and see how it does, you'd probably want to put at least a few wraps around it. But the one thing to look out for is that if those lights are hot enough to melt the trim, then what kind of heat is being transferred to the tank water? So definitely keep an eye on temps. Did you end up getting any fans? I still think that getting those lights outside and on top of the canopy would be a lot better for your but it's just a suggestion. Keep us posted. Get some rest and feel better soon.

 

[acrylic51]

I would try the foil....Nothing really lost if it doesn't work....I know you have a limited amount of space in mounting the MH's, but how close proximity are the MH's to the center brace? I know the height is 4" but side to side distance?

 

[siptang]

I'm going to measure everything up tonight when i go home.
I put wooden paint mixer that I had for spare from homedepot and put it on top of my brace and it's doing the job for now.
Tank temperature is 84 degrees at the moment and I leave it on for 5 hours a day with 1 1/2 hour with the lid open just so that it doesn't over heat until I come up with a permanent solution. Here are some pictures of the tank so far.
https://forums.saltwaterfish.com/forum/thread/387209/my-tank#post_3405196

 

[siptang]

Couple of questions.
I wasn't able to measure the length yesterday due to late work hours but i was wondering few things.
1.) My tank has a fan down in sump and it's keeping the tank temp at 84 degrees in the hottest and 82-81 in the normal settings with the lights off. Is this ok?
2.) My tank has currently 250 mh light + 96w 50/50 pc light. I'm planning to change the 50/50 light into a all blue pc light. Would this affect my corals? My tank is 72 g btw. LFS says that I can do hard corals now. What are your thoughts on this guys?
Thanks guys for putting up with my noobness. : )

 

[meowzer]

By all blue I am guessing you mean actinic? and if so IMO that would be fine
84 is a little high....78-80 would be better....get a small fan (or 2) and have them so they blow the water across the top of your tank....I ahve 2 4" fans on my tank that I got from Walmart for about $7 each

 

[siptang]

thanks meowser.
I have tried that route but my canopy couldn't hold it in place and it fell in the water. (yikes I know.. gave me the jolts for a sec.)
84 was the highest during my observation and it stayed around 80-82 regularly but I will look into more fan options on the top. I have put one 7" fan on the bottom sump and it has shaved off couple of degrees. I'm going to home depot for possible 3" fans tomorrow. sigh...

 

[meowzer]

Some people use those little flat computer fans and mount them in their canopies

 

[siptang]

I was trying that but I don't know how to wire things and didn't want to risk burning down my house lol.

 

[sweatervest13]

Quote:
Originally Posted by 2Quills http:///forum/thread/387027/installing-metal-halides-into-a-canopy-questions/20#post_3404669
Hey, Sip. You could try it and see how it does, you'd probably want to put at least a few wraps around it. But the one thing to look out for is that if those lights are hot enough to melt the trim, then what kind of heat is being transferred to the tank water? So definitely keep an eye on temps. Did you end up getting any fans? I still think that getting those lights outside and on top of the canopy would be a lot better for your but it's just a suggestion. Keep us posted. Get some rest and feel better soon.
I read somewhere on this site that you can wrap the center brace in foil as well. But not just wrap it around, make kind of like a tent (try to make a equilateral triangle with the foil) that way the heat will not be blasting the center brace. IF my memory serves me correctly it was BangGuy that had suggested it. So you know its good. LOL

 

[siptang]

hmm look into that. thank you!