Halides over acrylic

rsantangelo3@co · 01/05/2009, 04:35 PM

will they mess it up and jeapordize the structure? What if they are mounted 6" off top? Any difference?

Untamed12 · 01/05/2009, 05:09 PM

No....don't do it. At some height, you will get away with it....but it is risky. You warm up the cross braces, which cause them to expand relative to the rest of the tank. That puts strange forces on things and leads to failure of the brace or worse.

Ensure that the MH are always hung over the tank openings and not on top of the braces.

kuyatwo · 01/05/2009, 05:59 PM

i have large lumenbright reflectors over my acrylic tank but they are 12 inches from bottom of the reflector to the top of my tank..

6" is to close to acrylic in my opinion.

rsantangelo3@co · 01/05/2009, 08:14 PM

So as long as the actual bulb itself is over the cutoff where the glass sits, it is safe? Even if the fixture site over it a little? Also 96watt pc. If they are over the top brace a little are they a cncern as well?

wmilas · 01/05/2009, 08:52 PM

MH's can, and will first discolor then melt acrylic if close enough. How close? I have no idea. I never wanted to test it on my tank. Good acrylic tanks come with Lexan lids if you want to keep a sealed tank (for evaporation purposes) and still use MH's. Lexan won't discolor or melt.

rsantangelo3@co · 01/05/2009, 09:07 PM

Mine came with glass hinged lids that fit snug inside the cut-outs. No evaporation there. My question is isnt the light safer right over the opening as opposed to hanging over the openings where the light can dispurse over the top more readily? Also a possible answer on the 96watt actinic p.cs and if they have the same negative impact on halides???

kuyatwo · 01/05/2009, 09:55 PM

Put your hand under reflector it will be hottest closest to the reflector.

kuyatwo · 01/05/2009, 10:01 PM

Double post

01/05/2009, 04:35 PM	#1
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	Halides over acrylic will they mess it up and jeapordize the structure? What if they are mounted 6" off top? Any difference?

01/05/2009, 05:09 PM	#2
Untamed12 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Canada Posts: 1,578	No....don't do it. At some height, you will get away with it....but it is risky. You warm up the cross braces, which cause them to expand relative to the rest of the tank. That puts strange forces on things and leads to failure of the brace or worse. Ensure that the MH are always hung over the tank openings and not on top of the braces. __________________ Fishlist: Tangs: Yellow, Vlamingi, Blonde Naso, Unicorn, Atlantic Blue Others: Maroon Clown(s), Foxface, Majestic Angel, Hawkfish and more.. Current Tank Info: 400gal Envision Acrylic reef started 04/07

01/05/2009, 08:52 PM	#5
wmilas Keep magnets 9" apart! Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lemont, Il Posts: 1,023	MH's can, and will first discolor then melt acrylic if close enough. How close? I have no idea. I never wanted to test it on my tank. Good acrylic tanks come with Lexan lids if you want to keep a sealed tank (for evaporation purposes) and still use MH's. Lexan won't discolor or melt. __________________ 120x36x30 acrylic display, 1000 gallon sps with lots o fish

01/05/2009, 05:59 PM	#3
kuyatwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 409	i have large lumenbright reflectors over my acrylic tank but they are 12 inches from bottom of the reflector to the top of my tank.. 6" is to close to acrylic in my opinion.

01/05/2009, 08:14 PM	#4
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	So as long as the actual bulb itself is over the cutoff where the glass sits, it is safe? Even if the fixture site over it a little? Also 96watt pc. If they are over the top brace a little are they a cncern as well?

01/05/2009, 09:07 PM	#6
rsantangelo3@co Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Ct Posts: 846	Mine came with glass hinged lids that fit snug inside the cut-outs. No evaporation there. My question is isnt the light safer right over the opening as opposed to hanging over the openings where the light can dispurse over the top more readily? Also a possible answer on the 96watt actinic p.cs and if they have the same negative impact on halides???

01/05/2009, 09:55 PM	#7
kuyatwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 409	Put your hand under reflector it will be hottest closest to the reflector.

01/05/2009, 10:01 PM	#8
kuyatwo Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Flower Mound, Texas Posts: 409	Double post