MH question

jamest0o0 · 03/07/2008, 04:09 PM

well my tank seems to always be around 77 degrees my house temp is usually 70 degrees +/- a few..... with MH's how much will this increase the temp and will I need a chiller?

papagimp · 03/07/2008, 04:18 PM

hard to say. but I don't think it would increase the temp to an unsafe level. you can reach a stable 84 degrees and the tank will be fine. Some claim higher, I never kept a tank higher than that so i can't say for sure. You can always place a fan over the waters surface to help cool the tank in lieu of an expensive chiller. I kept a tank, a 55g with 3 x 250w MH's in a house with no heat/air besides a small window unit running constantly, would sit 84 most the time. granted it took another larger heater to keep the temp like that throughout the chilly nights. Don't want temp dropping and raising way to much (seen this tank go from 74-84 in a 24hour period, so got the heater going)

jimwat · 03/07/2008, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamest0o0
well my tank seems to always be around 77 degrees my house temp is usually 70 degrees +/- a few..... with MH's how much will this increase the temp and will I need a chiller?

It will heat up your tank, but how much will depend on the wattage, how close it is mounted to your tank, ventilation, etc..

If you end up only needing to cool your tank a few degrees, you might consider just adding a fan for evaporative cooling.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2008, 04:40 PM

To give you an idea, I have a 90 gallon tank with 2 250 watt halides.

I keep my heater set at 78, when the halides are on I see 81 to 82 degrees. I keep my halides 12 inches from the top of my tanks frame. I do have 2 4 inch fans in the halide canopy. I wouldnt be alarmed unless the temp goes over 84.

jamest0o0 · 03/07/2008, 05:05 PM

well actually in a few months Ill have a much larger tank

OneReef · 03/07/2008, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blown 346
To give you an idea, I have a 90 gallon tank with 2 250 watt halides.

I keep my heater set at 78, when the halides are on I see 81 to 82 degrees. I keep my halides 12 inches from the top of my tanks frame. I do have 2 4 inch fans in the halide canopy. I wouldnt be alarmed unless the temp goes over 84.

One important question is what do you keep your ambient room temp at? That seems to really impact tank temps.

papagimp · 03/07/2008, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jamest0o0
well actually in a few months Ill have a much larger tank

You poor poor man. This is how it starts. You get one tank and 3 months later.....well just look at my current tank list. I've only been at it for 3 years and my list doesn't include the 10 tanks systems that have been upgrade, swapped over, and replaced altogether or just plain gotten rid of.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2008, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by OneReef
One important question is what do you keep your ambient room temp at? That seems to really impact tank temps.

My temp is set at 72, upstairs, My tank is in the basement in my fish room with the furnance, so temps in there are at max 76.

vr697getta · 03/07/2008, 05:32 PM

i have to 175 mh and i still have to run a heater in my tank just for winter summer its never needed

jamest0o0 · 03/07/2008, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by papagimp
You poor poor man. This is how it starts. You get one tank and 3 months later.....well just look at my current tank list. I've only been at it for 3 years and my list doesn't include the 10 tanks systems that have been upgrade, swapped over, and replaced altogether or just plain gotten rid of.

haha yeah.... took me 3 months to realize I loved tangs and wanted something bigger than just a 55

Larah · 03/07/2008, 07:03 PM

I havea silly question... I was at Hoem Depot today and saw MH 250 Watt bulbs for $25.00.. I assumethese are NOT the same MH bulbs that one would use for aquaria???

Cuz if they area then why is everyone spending such a fortune for a damn light fixture?

Larah · 03/07/2008, 07:04 PM

Oh and yeah I already want an 8' long tank so I can have some tangs and triggers......... Jsut gotta convince the hubby........

Larah · 03/07/2008, 07:19 PM

I am dying to know if the MH bulbs at HD are the same as the expensive Reef ones...........

jimwat · 03/07/2008, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Larah
I am dying to know if the MH bulbs at HD are the same as the expensive Reef ones...........

Not. They will be the wrong color. Much too yellow. I'm guessing 4000k.

Blown 346 · 03/07/2008, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Larah
I am dying to know if the MH bulbs at HD are the same as the expensive Reef ones...........

They are totally different.

Larah · 03/07/2008, 10:13 PM

Yeah I figured...

that would have been WAYYYYYYYY too easy! LOL!

03/07/2008, 04:09 PM	#1
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	MH question well my tank seems to always be around 77 degrees my house temp is usually 70 degrees +/- a few..... with MH's how much will this increase the temp and will I need a chiller?

03/07/2008, 04:18 PM	#2
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	hard to say. but I don't think it would increase the temp to an unsafe level. you can reach a stable 84 degrees and the tank will be fine. Some claim higher, I never kept a tank higher than that so i can't say for sure. You can always place a fan over the waters surface to help cool the tank in lieu of an expensive chiller. I kept a tank, a 55g with 3 x 250w MH's in a house with no heat/air besides a small window unit running constantly, would sit 84 most the time. granted it took another larger heater to keep the temp like that throughout the chilly nights. Don't want temp dropping and raising way to much (seen this tank go from 74-84 in a 24hour period, so got the heater going) __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

03/07/2008, 05:05 PM	#5
jamest0o0 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 2,325	well actually in a few months Ill have a much larger tank __________________ Planning on new tank, been about 5-6 years since I've been in the hobby

03/07/2008, 04:40 PM	#4
Blown 346 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Rockford, Illinois Posts: 6,596	To give you an idea, I have a 90 gallon tank with 2 250 watt halides. I keep my heater set at 78, when the halides are on I see 81 to 82 degrees. I keep my halides 12 inches from the top of my tanks frame. I do have 2 4 inch fans in the halide canopy. I wouldnt be alarmed unless the temp goes over 84.

03/07/2008, 05:32 PM	#9
vr697getta Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: white oak Posts: 1,974	i have to 175 mh and i still have to run a heater in my tank just for winter summer its never needed

03/07/2008, 07:03 PM	#11
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	I havea silly question... I was at Hoem Depot today and saw MH 250 Watt bulbs for $25.00.. I assumethese are NOT the same MH bulbs that one would use for aquaria??? Cuz if they area then why is everyone spending such a fortune for a damn light fixture?

03/07/2008, 07:04 PM	#12
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	Oh and yeah I already want an 8' long tank so I can have some tangs and triggers......... Jsut gotta convince the hubby........

03/07/2008, 07:19 PM	#13
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	I am dying to know if the MH bulbs at HD are the same as the expensive Reef ones...........

03/07/2008, 10:13 PM	#16
Larah Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Portland, Oregon USA Posts: 1,932	Yeah I figured... that would have been WAYYYYYYYY too easy! LOL!