Cross Brace Melting

dawaterboy · 09/14/2009, 07:53 AM

I just went from a 36" 2x96w pc fixture, to a 36" 4x39w T5, 250w SE MH with HID ballast fixture. My tank has a cross brace and of course it's right under the halide. I let the halide run for four hours yesterday and I did not see any sign of melting. I plan on an eight hour photo period with the T5's on the whole time and the halide on for four hours in the middle. Has anyone else done this w/o melting the brace and is it even worth running a light like this being that so much of the light is hitting the brace.

spw4949 · 09/14/2009, 09:45 AM

I also have a 46 gallon bowfront & actually stayed away from halide fixtures with the Halide in the middle because of the brace. I'm sure your noticing that because of the brace it creates a shadow in your tank...I just got a 2x250W halide fixture (a little overkill IMO but I got a great deal...) they do make a 2x150W halide, (coralife)..The centerbrace IMO is a huge PIA, I guess as long as you don't mind a big shadow in the middle of your tank then you can use the fixture you have it will just eliminate some spots you can place corals & IMO looks kinda bad with a big shadow in your tank....HTH

Saltyllama · 09/14/2009, 09:45 AM

Most that I see cut that brace and replace it with acrylic or, even better, a glass one.

Good luck

power boat jim · 09/14/2009, 10:58 AM

If it did not melt in 4 hours it wont melt in 8. If you want to cool off the tank and brace just put a small clip on fan to blow across the top of the tank.

dawaterboy · 09/14/2009, 11:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by spw4949
I also have a 46 gallon bowfront & actually stayed away from halide fixtures with the Halide in the middle because of the brace. I'm sure your noticing that because of the brace it creates a shadow in your tank...I just got a 2x250W halide fixture (a little overkill IMO but I got a great deal...) they do make a 2x150W halide, (coralife)..The centerbrace IMO is a huge PIA, I guess as long as you don't mind a big shadow in the middle of your tank then you can use the fixture you have it will just eliminate some spots you can place corals & IMO looks kinda bad with a big shadow in your tank....HTH

I'm with you on the shadow 100%. I am already looking to sell the dang thing. Might go with the 6x39w extreme pro next, or I might get ready to sleep on the couch for a month and pull the 120 out of storage and get a light for that

EnglishRebel · 09/14/2009, 02:28 PM

I've read of acrylic braces crazing and cracking under the heat of a direct MH.

ERICinFL · 09/14/2009, 02:48 PM

The 150 I got from my friend has a cracked center brace from his MH. It cracked where the brace meets the back of the trim ring. Since it's all one piece, he ordered a new one and I'm just waiting on it to arrive. When he had it up and running, he called Perfecto to find out if it would hurt the tank and they weren't to concerned. There was only a 3-4mm gap where it cracked, but he was afraid things would get worse over time. Now that it's empty, you can't even tell it's separated, but it obviously let the tank bow a little.

09/14/2009, 07:53 AM	#1
dawaterboy Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: waterford, mi Posts: 214	Cross Brace Melting I just went from a 36" 2x96w pc fixture, to a 36" 4x39w T5, 250w SE MH with HID ballast fixture. My tank has a cross brace and of course it's right under the halide. I let the halide run for four hours yesterday and I did not see any sign of melting. I plan on an eight hour photo period with the T5's on the whole time and the halide on for four hours in the middle. Has anyone else done this w/o melting the brace and is it even worth running a light like this being that so much of the light is hitting the brace.

09/14/2009, 09:45 AM	#2
spw4949 Registered Member. Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Albany, N.Y. Posts: 1,594	I also have a 46 gallon bowfront & actually stayed away from halide fixtures with the Halide in the middle because of the brace. I'm sure your noticing that because of the brace it creates a shadow in your tank...I just got a 2x250W halide fixture (a little overkill IMO but I got a great deal...) they do make a 2x150W halide, (coralife)..The centerbrace IMO is a huge PIA, I guess as long as you don't mind a big shadow in the middle of your tank then you can use the fixture you have it will just eliminate some spots you can place corals & IMO looks kinda bad with a big shadow in your tank....HTH __________________ Steve Current Tank Info: 46 gal bowfront, mixed reef, 2x250W current outer orbit w/4x39W T5 ,10 gal fuge....38 gallon aggressive FOWLR, 10 gallon sump.

09/14/2009, 09:45 AM	#3
Saltyllama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 283	Most that I see cut that brace and replace it with acrylic or, even better, a glass one. Good luck __________________ 90 gallon RR w/ megaflow, mixed reef softie/LPS/SPS, 22 gallon split sump/fuge, BM NAC7 cone skimmer, GFO reactor, 4 bulb icecap 660 T5 retro Current Tank Info: 90 gallon w/ 22 gallon (actual volume) sump/fuge

09/14/2009, 02:28 PM	#6
EnglishRebel Retired Rebel Reefer Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Triad NC Posts: 1,902	I've read of acrylic braces crazing and cracking under the heat of a direct MH. __________________ Alan "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. " Sir Winston Churchill praising those young RAF pilots. August 20th 1940 Click on my name for drop down list and select "Visit EnglishRebels Home Page" for my build thread. Current Tank Info: 60x30x24 200G AO custom glass tank, basement equipment room, 30G and 55G Fuges, LifeReef sump & 30" skimmer.

09/14/2009, 02:48 PM	#7
ERICinFL Rejisturd Mimbur Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Brevard County, FL Posts: 1,346	The 150 I got from my friend has a cracked center brace from his MH. It cracked where the brace meets the back of the trim ring. Since it's all one piece, he ordered a new one and I'm just waiting on it to arrive. When he had it up and running, he called Perfecto to find out if it would hurt the tank and they weren't to concerned. There was only a 3-4mm gap where it cracked, but he was afraid things would get worse over time. Now that it's empty, you can't even tell it's separated, but it obviously let the tank bow a little. __________________ Ummmm... yeah... don't touch the Mag Float. Sorry kids, your college fund is gone, but the tank looks SWEET right? Current Tank Info: 150gal mixed reef. ER CS135, 65gal sump/fuge with a Mag12 return. (2) Korillia 4s, (1) modded MJ1200, two SunSun 3200gph powerheads. 250+lbs LR.

09/14/2009, 10:58 AM	#4
power boat jim Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Wisconsin, The big peninsula Posts: 2,100	If it did not melt in 4 hours it wont melt in 8. If you want to cool off the tank and brace just put a small clip on fan to blow across the top of the tank.