Retro Fit Lighting

[bodine]

Has anyone had any experience retro fitting a ten gallon light strip with the AH Supply 2x13 watt kit? I am wondering about the heat. AH Supply's web site says to make sure and use a glass canopy instead of a plastic one. I am wondering if this is really necessary or if they are just wanting to cover their rears :D .
Thanks in advance for any replies!

[superstein61]

I haven't done that exact retrofit - but let me assure you they are very correct about the heat.

You can search for my thread in the General forum where I talk about the heat from a retrofitted 48" strip with 2x55W cracking the glass in my glass top (either because of not enough ventiliation to take the heat away - or the glass in the top not haveing enough room to expand)

[BluEyes]

make sure there is airspace between the light and the lid!

My cats knocked the mounting screw off one end of my AH supply 55W light. One end of the bulb was resting directly on the glass. I didn't think anything of it, but the heat right against the glass made my nice cover crack :(
It is even one of the thicker ones, and with the hinge offset to the front so the light can sit more over the middle of the tank!

Someday, I'll order a new pane of glass...

[carpguy]

The heat is for real. CF bulbs get much hotter than regular flourescents. I have a 2x36 kit from them and I'm very happy with it -- they are very nice lamps. The bulbs get hot enough that I can't touch them for more than a few seconds -- its not quite incandescent but its heading in that direction. Mine are set up so that there is about a half-inch gap between the reflector and the glass, a little more to the bulb, and the ballast is mounted behind the tank.

For a 10g you might want to look at the 36w kit. Either way its about $1.65 per watt. The reflector is definitely worth the $15, IMO.

[kuhli]

Why not put 2 screw in 5000k compact fl in. It's way cheaper. I have done it it works fine!!