Question about VHA Lighting

misty7850

misty7850

Member
We are building a hood for our 46 gallon bowfront and I have a couple question about who lighting we are putting in, and couple other questions.
1. Does the ballast get really hot.
We are planning to install that on the side of the aquarium stand, but don't know if we
need to take any special precautions ?
2. when installing the cooling fans (2) should they both be pulling air into the hood, or
should on be in and the other out ?
3. we are using marine white paint on the inside of the hood, but want to know what is
the best thing to use between the bulb itself and the wood canapy top for
protection from the heat of the bulb ?
4. We bought the ballast which can have four bulbs connected to it, but the guy at lfs told
us to use 3 bulbs.. is this efficient for 46 gallon bowfront, is it two little ? or to much l
lighting ? for the bulbs we got 3-36" bulbs; one Actinic white and 2 super actinic both
95 watt.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
1. Does the ballast get really hot.
Magnetic VHO ballasts get very hot. Electronic ballasts typically do not. I use IceCap660's and they are normally barely warm.
fyi - Magnetic ballasts are cheap but the bulbs will last at least twice as long on an IceCap. I wouldn't use a Magnetic on VHO even if it were free.
2. when installing the cooling fans (2) should they both be pulling air into the hood, or should on be in and the other out ?
They should both be pulling air into the hood. Hook them up to the same timer the lights are on for best performance. For cooling the bulbs (they last longer) point the fans at the bulbs. For cooling the water point the fans so they blow air across the water. The idea isn't to evacuate the hot air from the hood, it's to keep either flourescent bulbs (not MH) and/or tank water cooler.
3. we are using marine white paint on the inside of the hood, but want to know what is the best thing to use between the bulb itself and the wood canapy top for
protection from the heat of the bulb ?
Spectral Aluminum.
4. We bought the ballast which can have four bulbs connected to it, but the guy at lfs told us to use 3 bulbs.. is this efficient for 46 gallon bowfront, is it two little ? or to much lighting ?
It depends, what animals are you planning to keep?
 
misty7850

misty7850

Member
Thanks Bang Guy for the info. The place I got the ballast says it is not magnetic
I plan to keep mostly soft corals, mushrooms, xenias, leather, star polyps, etc. I would like to eventually get a dorcea or crocea clam, but that will be further down the road.
Well I gotsa go to work to support my habit here... LOL
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
If you can fit all 4 bulbs I think you'll be happier. It's not critical though.
A Crocea Clam isn't going to work with VHO lighting in my opinion. Be warned that Derasa get very large very fast.
 
misty7850

misty7850

Member
Hey Bang Guy, we were going to try and put all 4 bulbs in, but the guy at lfs said we should only do 3, of course, I take your opinion over his anyday.. Now if we can fit all 4, should we put another actinic white, super actinic bulb or other ?
as for the clams, when I said that will be eventually down the road, that is for my dream tank... I keep seeing this 180 gallon tank at one of our LFS.. I keep telling my husband as soon as he builds me a house, with room big enough to house this tank, I'm gonna buy it.. LOL..
and where the heck does everyone keep their ballasts.. Was gonna put it in the cabinet below, but wasn't sure if that would be ok, make get splashed from the sump..
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
I'd suggest another ActinicWhite.
I have my ballasts below in the cabinet. Make darn sure they can't get splashed though. Splach = salt creep. Salt Creep and electricity do not mix.
Also make sure that water can't follow the wires down and go into the ballast - drip loop.
 
misty7850

misty7850

Member
Thanks Bang Guy
There is enough room to add the fourth light.
Yup, we make sure we have drip loops, thanks for the reminder though.
Probably will put the ballast in the cabinet, or maybe hang on outside of cabinet that faces the wall.
Thanks again, you are always so helpful
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
That works but the added heat will shorten the lifespan of the ballast. With all those fans it might not make a difference but heat is bad for electronics.
 
jayc

jayc

Active Member
Bang Guy said:
Magnetic VHO ballasts get very hot. Electronic ballasts typically do not. I use IceCap660's and they are normally barely warm.
fyi - Magnetic ballasts are cheap but the bulbs will last at least twice as long on an IceCap. I wouldn't use a Magnetic on VHO even if it were free.
How do u tell if its a magnetic ballast?
Josh
Click to expand...
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by JayC
How do u tell if its a magnetic ballast?
Josh

Price or weight. Magnetic ballasts are typically $10 - $40 where electronic are typically $80-$160. Electronic ballasts weigh a couple pounds, a magnetic several pounds+.
Also, most electronic ballasts will advertise that fact plainly.
 
misty7850

misty7850

Member
k, heres my lights.. have actinic, super actinic, actinic, super actinic,,, should I rearrange them another way ?
 
ebsochin

ebsochin

Member
They should both be pulling air into the hood. Hook them up to the same timer the lights are on for best performance. For cooling the bulbs (they last longer) point the fans at the bulbs. For cooling the water point the fans so they blow air across the water. The idea isn't to evacuate the hot air from the hood, it's to keep either flourescent bulbs (not MH) and/or tank water cooler.
Bang Guy- I just wanted to make sure that this wasn't for MH too. I thought the idea of the fans was to keep air flowing throught he fixture in order to help cool. If I'm reading this wrong I appoligize. I have my fans set up one pulling air in and the other expelling the air. Of course I have VHO as well as MH but like I said I just wanted to make sure you were only saying this was for the VHO bulbs.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by misty7850
k, heres my lights.. have actinic, super actinic, actinic, super actinic,,, should I rearrange them another way ?
I would have the Actinic as the first bulb in front because I like to see the corals glow. It's really just personal preference though.
 
bang guy

bang guy

Moderator
Originally Posted by ebsOCHIN
I thought the idea of the fans was to keep air flowing throught he fixture in order to help cool
Every situation is different.
Typically people add fans to cool the water. If this is the case then blowing air through the canopy won't help much. To cool the water the fans need to blow away the humid air right above the water and replace it with drier air. The temp of the air makes little difference.
If your water temp is fine and you want to keep your flourescent bulbs lasting longer then blowing cool air across the bulbs will help flourescent bulbs. In this case temp does make a difference.
There is no reason I can think of to blow air at a MH bulb. MH operates better at higher temperatures so cooling the bulb will make it slightly less efficient. Cooling off a MH bulb will not have an effect on water temperature.
 
ebsochin

ebsochin

Member
Bang Guy- Okay I see your point. I wasn't thinking along the lines of cooling the water temp, more along the lines of cooling the fixture/bulbs. I think the reason I placed mine the way I have them is because the temp inside the lighting fixture was getting to hot and cracking the low-e glass I have enclosing the canopy to shield from the UV radiation. Just wanted to clarify.
 
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