Another Grand Bites the Dust!

[schigara]

I still am not sure if this is a hobby or just a way to help out someones elses retirement plan. I love saltwater fish and coral but sometimes I think I need professional help.

I changed my mind on going with just T5's because I want to keep Maxima's and wanted to be sure to have enough light for them.

This a pic of my latest waste of money. I usually opt for the cheapest diy alternative on just about anything but this time I got lazy and bought a pre packaged retrofit for T5's and MH's for my 75g.

The T5 retro came from MarineDepot and is their 48" Tek retro and got the GEISEMANN POWERCHROME Pure Actinic and Actinic + bulbs.

I picked up the MH retro from my LFS. The ballasts are Blueline 250w electronic's with DE 250w XM 15000k bulbs.

The first go round with this tank, I spent a total of $300 for the Iwasaki 250w 6500K's and Advance Mercury Vapor ballasts but always hated the color in the tank so this time, I decided to splurge on the good stuff.

I feel sooooo guilty! I think I should join a support group.

I love maxima clams and perfect purple coraline so I hope my choice of lighting will help to promote growth in both of them. ****, I think I could use a drink!

It's amazing how bright and straining to the eyes it is with just the Actinic T5's on.

I plan to keep just softies and 2-3 maxima clams. What do you guys think about 6 hours on with MH's and 10 hours of the T5 actinics with 2 hours before and after the MH's?

 

[clown-lover]

Hi my name is Mark and I to have MPS (multiple purchase syndrome).. I think I'm at like 150.00 for the week.. sigh.

Timing wise I think it should be ok with the only exception to that your MH may cause your temps to rise. If I am seeing this correctly it doesn't look like they are going to be that far off the water. I'd watch this closely. It looks like you have room to add fans if this becomes an issue for you.

I have my 175w MH 12" off of my tank and they cause a 1 degree rise in my temp at that height. I also don't use any fans as of this point but I don't have a canopy. I have my lights suspended.

Hope that helps.

 

[schigara]

I have two doors on the back of the canopy that are always open and have a 8 in. fan blowing in one door and it circulates and comes out the other door. The fan is on a medium setting and the tank temp has risen from 78.1 to 78.7 in five hours with all the lights on. I think they are about 3-4 in. off the water.

 

[trainedkilla]

Between my tank and my pond...I am also in severe debt. My name is Chris and I too, have a problem.

 

[clown-lover]

I have two doors on the back of the canopy that are always open and have a 8 in. fan blowing in one door and it circulates and comes out the other door. The fan is on a medium setting and the tank temp has risen from 78.1 to 78.7 in five hours with all the lights on. I think they are about 3-4 in. off the water.

Cool.. I have the mogul style bulbs which throw a ton of heat.. I have the hamilton tech double reefsun setup and they throw a lot of heat.. Looks like yours won't be an issue.

 

[Grins]

I think your MHs are going to be too close to the water surface. I'd keep them at least 8" off the water, I personally keep mine 13" above. I would also use a longer MH cycle with the clams, 8 hours. I actually run mine 10 hours.

 

[Reefscape]

from the looks of the corner mounts on the hood, i would say they shall only be about 3 inches from the water surface and i think that will cause a huge evap...certainly agree with Grins's statement above....

Niko

 

[silentskream]

thats a very intimidating light contraption you have there.

 

[clown-lover]

from the looks of the corner mounts on the hood, i would say they shall only be about 3 inches from the water surface and i think that will cause a huge evap...certainly agree with Grins's statement above....

Niko

I forgot to add that.. I loose about 2/3 of a gallon a day from my system, between the lights and the protein skimmer.. I wanted to do an auto-top off but really am paranoid about it getting stuck and flooding, as I'm apartment bound I don't think that is an option. But if his temps are only going up to what he said (I'm assuming he doesn't have a chiller) that should minimize his evap shouldn't it? Or is my logic flawed?

 

[schigara]

Years ago when I built the canopy, I had not planned for the MH's but am going to redo it by adding about 8 inches to the sides for extra height.

I think your MHs are going to be too close to the water surface. I'd keep them at least 8" off the water, I personally keep mine 13" above. I would also use a longer MH cycle with the clams, 8 hours. I actually run mine 10 hours.