Where do you guys hide 3 250w ballasts?

bradam · 03/30/2011, 05:26 PM

I currently just have mine lined up on the floor next to the tank. Looks kinda like 3 very tacky car batteries.

I have been pondering putting them in a cabinet stand but unsure how/if to really vent them as they get kinda warm just sitting on the tile floor out in the open.

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2011, 05:32 PM

A lot of people put them on the top of their canopy.

I have mine on top of my light rack.

You don't want them on the floor. One flood and you will need new ballasts.

bradam · 03/30/2011, 05:37 PM

Oddly enough the one time I had a flood due to a stuck float valve all the water that went on the floor rolled behind the tank, under the wall, and pooled up and flooded that bathroom pretty bad >.<

I had pondered building a top for the tank but currently I have one of these

http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife_...S53530-vi.html

it just has 4 legs and sits perched on top of the tank. No where up top to set the ballasts.

When you say light rack is that something attached to the wall or part of the hood?

das75 · 03/30/2011, 05:56 PM

mine are in the basement (you can remote them)

tkeracer619 · 03/30/2011, 05:59 PM

Its where I hang my DIY 1500w lighting setup. It was supposed to be temporary until I had the time and willpower to build a canopy but... it has been temporary for years.

You can make them much nicer if they are going to be visible. I can adjust the entire lighting racks height with that chain on the left upright.

There is probably $15 into it other then equipment.

rbredding · 03/30/2011, 06:05 PM

Here.....

on the back of the stand, in the center section (to the left and right, my stand is open)

this picture is looking down into the stand before I set everything up

I use two pieces of bent plate to hold the top of the ballasts (the bottom is held in place using screws that aren't fully inserted, the bottom tabs of the ballast rest on the screws, to remove the ballast, pull up, and swing the bottom out...

and yes, those are both 250W MH ballasts...

grigsy · 03/30/2011, 07:36 PM

I sit mine on top of cinder blocks. That keeps them off the ground and not as much a heat concern. Mine are remote so I hide them behind the tanks and give them plenty of room for ventilation and I keep a fan in the area also. If you keep the ballast area cooler, they tend to last longer.

mfinn · 03/30/2011, 07:49 PM

I put mine on top of the canopy. They can't be seen up there.

sfboarders · 03/30/2011, 11:10 PM

Mine are mounted on the back side of my canopy. I have enough room in between my stand/canopy and the wall. If my canopy was taller I'd put it on top but it's low enough that I can see the top and it would be an eye sore.

rbredding · 03/30/2011, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sfboarders

Mine are mounted on the back side of my canopy. I have enough room in between my stand/canopy and the wall. If my canopy was taller I'd put it on top but it's low enough that I can see the top and it would be an eye sore.

^^ Thats where my Icecap 660 is...

03/30/2011, 05:26 PM	#1
bradam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Temple Terrace FL Posts: 196	Where do you guys hide 3 250w ballasts? I currently just have mine lined up on the floor next to the tank. Looks kinda like 3 very tacky car batteries. I have been pondering putting them in a cabinet stand but unsure how/if to really vent them as they get kinda warm just sitting on the tile floor out in the open.

03/30/2011, 05:32 PM	#2
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	A lot of people put them on the top of their canopy. I have mine on top of my light rack. You don't want them on the floor. One flood and you will need new ballasts. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2011, 05:56 PM	#4
das75 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Edmonton AB Posts: 2,269	mine are in the basement (you can remote them) __________________ . Current Tank Info: 145g Starfire display (mixed reef) w/75g basement sump & 20g refugium, Barracuda return, Dart w/OM 4way CL, AI Hydras and Director.

03/30/2011, 05:59 PM	#5
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Its where I hang my DIY 1500w lighting setup. It was supposed to be temporary until I had the time and willpower to build a canopy but... it has been temporary for years. You can make them much nicer if they are going to be visible. I can adjust the entire lighting racks height with that chain on the left upright. There is probably $15 into it other then equipment. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

03/30/2011, 06:05 PM	#6
rbredding I HEART BUILD THREADS!!! Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Alpharetta, Ga Posts: 337	Here..... on the back of the stand, in the center section (to the left and right, my stand is open) this picture is looking down into the stand before I set everything up I use two pieces of bent plate to hold the top of the ballasts (the bottom is held in place using screws that aren't fully inserted, the bottom tabs of the ballast rest on the screws, to remove the ballast, pull up, and swing the bottom out... and yes, those are both 250W MH ballasts... __________________ There are no stupid questions... especially when I ask them.. Current Tank Info: 90gal Reef & 30L Dwarf Fish Only

03/30/2011, 05:37 PM	#3
bradam Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Temple Terrace FL Posts: 196	Oddly enough the one time I had a flood due to a stuck float valve all the water that went on the floor rolled behind the tank, under the wall, and pooled up and flooded that bathroom pretty bad >.< I had pondered building a top for the tank but currently I have one of these http://www.marinedepot.com/Coralife_...S53530-vi.html it just has 4 legs and sits perched on top of the tank. No where up top to set the ballasts. When you say light rack is that something attached to the wall or part of the hood?

03/30/2011, 07:36 PM	#7
grigsy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Santa Cruz, CA Posts: 2,307	I sit mine on top of cinder blocks. That keeps them off the ground and not as much a heat concern. Mine are remote so I hide them behind the tanks and give them plenty of room for ventilation and I keep a fan in the area also. If you keep the ballast area cooler, they tend to last longer.

03/30/2011, 07:49 PM	#8
mfinn Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Olympia. WA. Posts: 8,648	I put mine on top of the canopy. They can't be seen up there. __________________ 240 gallon soft coral tank 50 gallon lps tank

03/30/2011, 11:10 PM	#9
sfboarders Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: 808 State Posts: 1,356	Mine are mounted on the back side of my canopy. I have enough room in between my stand/canopy and the wall. If my canopy was taller I'd put it on top but it's low enough that I can see the top and it would be an eye sore.

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