Aqualight Pro 24" 250 watt is extremely loud!

Pete Harcoff · 03/11/2006, 12:05 PM

I just took delivery of the Aqualight Pro 24" 250w MH/2x65w PC light hood.

First impressions... LOUD! The fan on this thing sounds like a freaking vacuum cleaner!

The design itself doesn't seem like it's promoting very good cooling, either. Or at least, not optimal cooling. It's got the fan facing downward next to the MH bulb in it's own compartment. I guess it's designed to draw air from the top, then blow it through this tiny space on the bottom across the bottom of the compartment where the MH bulb is located. However, it's also got a cooling vent on the other side of the fan, and I think a lot of the air is escaping through there.

The MH bulb also has this thick piece of glass beneath it. I was wondering if removing this glass would be a good thing? Or would that be inviting trouble?

Either way, I'm going to have to mod this thing somehow to get it quiet, but also cool. Right now it's far too noisy for my tastes.

Zoalander · 03/11/2006, 12:33 PM

Mine isn't loud. I''d contact them. The thick piece of glass is a UV shield, don't remove it.

Pete Harcoff · 03/11/2006, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Vetter1980
Mine isn't loud. I''d contact them. The thick piece of glass is a UV shield, don't remove it.

Out of curiosity, which model do you have?

Pete Harcoff · 03/11/2006, 03:05 PM

Something else I noticed is that when I unplug the fan, something electrical (where the transformers are) is making a loud buzzing noise. And only when the MH bulb is on (so I know it's not the power compacts). Again, it's loud enough to be obnoxious. Is that normal?

I'm going to fire an email to the company. Unfortunately, I'm in Canada, so I can't use their 1-800 number.

Pete Harcoff · 03/11/2006, 08:04 PM

*bump*

Any other Aqualight Pro users here?

reefsahoy · 03/11/2006, 08:08 PM

that can't be normal. it's probably the capacitor inside the lighting fisture. you need to return it or get it repaired.

dots · 03/12/2006, 12:21 AM

Mine does that too, I think you are hearing the arc from the bulb being thrown across the contacts.

Pete Harcoff · 03/12/2006, 12:33 AM

For people with the Aqualight Pro, which models do you have? I want to know if this is an issue with the 250 watt version or if this affects other models as well. I may try swapping this for something else, so if the 150 watt setups don't do this, then I may go for one of those instead.

Pyrrhus · 03/12/2006, 12:53 AM

The loud fan is definitely an issue, the noise you hear when the MH is on, does it goe away after a few minutes or stay constant? most MH ballasts produce some noise when firing the bulb. Whatever you do DO NOT remove the glass shield unless you dont mind literally cooking your animals.

why not just contact coralife for repair/replacement? they are excellent about supporting their products and should have no problems addressing these issues for you.

Pete Harcoff · 03/12/2006, 01:09 AM

I posted a message to Coralife's support forum, so I'll see how that goes. Depending on what their response is, I'll also see about contacting my LFS about a possible replacement because I can't live with the amount of noise this thing is putting out. Fortunately, my LFS has a 30 day exchange policy, so I at least have some options.

The buzzing starts off very quiet, but gets louder as the bulb gets brighter. I've left it on for over 10 mins and the sound is still there. Just a constant, loud buzz.

I never expected this thing to be perfectly quiet, but I'm shocked at the amount of noise it produces. With the fan on, I can hear it in the bedrooms in the other end of my house (the tank is in the living room). It's bloody loud.

waterloomarc · 03/12/2006, 08:38 AM

Interesting, I thinking about buying this model myself. Keep us posted on the results....

Pete Harcoff · 03/13/2006, 11:40 AM

Still haven't heard back from ESU (Coralife) yet. But I guess it's only Monday morning for them, so I can wait.

Also called my LFS, but apparently the manager (who I had been dealing with when I got all my stuff) won't be in until Thursday.

So the waiting game continues...

Pete Harcoff · 03/15/2006, 12:17 PM

Got a reply from them. They said they could send me a replacement fan, but didn't mention anything about the buzzing noise. I sent them another email asking them about the buzzing and if it's normal behavior for this light.

Pete Harcoff · 03/17/2006, 05:59 PM

Another reply. Now they say to send them the ballast and they'll send a replacement. However, according to their warranty policy, they won't cover shipping charges to them. Given that I live in Eastern Canada and they are all the way in California, I can only imagine how much that would cost (the ballast is damn heavy, too).

So instead, I'm going to return it to the LFS and have them order me a 150 watt version of the same fixture. Hopefully, I'll have that in about a week.

Blackgagt1 · 03/29/2006, 11:53 PM

does anyone know if the 250 watt version is electronic ballasts?

fade2black · 03/30/2006, 07:53 AM

Yes, it is an electronic ballast. I got one of these as soon as my distrubutor got them in stock. It's the 24" 250W HQI. Mine is pretty quiet though. Nothing is loud enough to complain about anyway.

RichConley · 03/30/2006, 08:59 AM

If its an Eballast, its not really an HQI, just a 250DE. Not that it really matters.

Anyways, I dont have this light, but have other metal halides, and electronic ballasts. Mine buzz a little when firing up, but are silent after that. If yours are elecronic, they should be too.

Pete Harcoff · 04/05/2006, 11:02 AM

*bump*

Got the 150 watt version. Much better! There's no electrical buzzing noise in this one. However, the fan is still noisy for my taste, so I'm going to look at rigging up a DIY cooling solution.

03/11/2006, 12:05 PM	#1
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Aqualight Pro 24" 250 watt is extremely loud! I just took delivery of the Aqualight Pro 24" 250w MH/2x65w PC light hood. First impressions... LOUD! The fan on this thing sounds like a freaking vacuum cleaner! The design itself doesn't seem like it's promoting very good cooling, either. Or at least, not optimal cooling. It's got the fan facing downward next to the MH bulb in it's own compartment. I guess it's designed to draw air from the top, then blow it through this tiny space on the bottom across the bottom of the compartment where the MH bulb is located. However, it's also got a cooling vent on the other side of the fan, and I think a lot of the air is escaping through there. The MH bulb also has this thick piece of glass beneath it. I was wondering if removing this glass would be a good thing? Or would that be inviting trouble? Either way, I'm going to have to mod this thing somehow to get it quiet, but also cool. Right now it's far too noisy for my tastes.

03/11/2006, 12:33 PM	#2
Zoalander Registered Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Oak Park Illinois Posts: 1,571	Mine isn't loud. I''d contact them. The thick piece of glass is a UV shield, don't remove it. __________________ Previously known as Vetter1980 Current Tank Info: 36x36x10 frag tank

03/12/2006, 12:21 AM	#7
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Mine does that too, I think you are hearing the arc from the bulb being thrown across the contacts. __________________ ~Doug

03/12/2006, 12:53 AM	#9
Pyrrhus Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Tempe, AZ Posts: 2,713	The loud fan is definitely an issue, the noise you hear when the MH is on, does it goe away after a few minutes or stay constant? most MH ballasts produce some noise when firing the bulb. Whatever you do DO NOT remove the glass shield unless you dont mind literally cooking your animals. why not just contact coralife for repair/replacement? they are excellent about supporting their products and should have no problems addressing these issues for you. __________________ Severe Knowledge In Plumbing

03/12/2006, 08:38 AM	#11
waterloomarc Premium Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Trussville, AL Posts: 173	Interesting, I thinking about buying this model myself. Keep us posted on the results.... __________________ -Marc Current Tank Info: 37g Oceanic, Octopus 800s, MP-10, Tunze Nano 6025

03/11/2006, 03:05 PM	#4
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Something else I noticed is that when I unplug the fan, something electrical (where the transformers are) is making a loud buzzing noise. And only when the MH bulb is on (so I know it's not the power compacts). Again, it's loud enough to be obnoxious. Is that normal? I'm going to fire an email to the company. Unfortunately, I'm in Canada, so I can't use their 1-800 number.

03/11/2006, 08:04 PM	#5
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	bump Any other Aqualight Pro users here?

03/11/2006, 08:08 PM	#6
reefsahoy I can see thru you! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Milky Way Galaxy 3rd planet from the sun, in a country called USA! Posts: 2,685	that can't be normal. it's probably the capacitor inside the lighting fisture. you need to return it or get it repaired.

03/12/2006, 12:33 AM	#8
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	For people with the Aqualight Pro, which models do you have? I want to know if this is an issue with the 250 watt version or if this affects other models as well. I may try swapping this for something else, so if the 150 watt setups don't do this, then I may go for one of those instead.

03/12/2006, 01:09 AM	#10
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	I posted a message to Coralife's support forum, so I'll see how that goes. Depending on what their response is, I'll also see about contacting my LFS about a possible replacement because I can't live with the amount of noise this thing is putting out. Fortunately, my LFS has a 30 day exchange policy, so I at least have some options. The buzzing starts off very quiet, but gets louder as the bulb gets brighter. I've left it on for over 10 mins and the sound is still there. Just a constant, loud buzz. I never expected this thing to be perfectly quiet, but I'm shocked at the amount of noise it produces. With the fan on, I can hear it in the bedrooms in the other end of my house (the tank is in the living room). It's bloody loud.

03/13/2006, 11:40 AM	#12
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Still haven't heard back from ESU (Coralife) yet. But I guess it's only Monday morning for them, so I can wait. Also called my LFS, but apparently the manager (who I had been dealing with when I got all my stuff) won't be in until Thursday. So the waiting game continues...

03/15/2006, 12:17 PM	#13
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Got a reply from them. They said they could send me a replacement fan, but didn't mention anything about the buzzing noise. I sent them another email asking them about the buzzing and if it's normal behavior for this light.

03/17/2006, 05:59 PM	#14
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	Another reply. Now they say to send them the ballast and they'll send a replacement. However, according to their warranty policy, they won't cover shipping charges to them. Given that I live in Eastern Canada and they are all the way in California, I can only imagine how much that would cost (the ballast is damn heavy, too). So instead, I'm going to return it to the LFS and have them order me a 150 watt version of the same fixture. Hopefully, I'll have that in about a week.

03/29/2006, 11:53 PM	#15
Blackgagt1 Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Subs of Chicago Posts: 339	does anyone know if the 250 watt version is electronic ballasts?

03/30/2006, 07:53 AM	#16
fade2black Premium Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Mentor, Ohio Posts: 1,358	Yes, it is an electronic ballast. I got one of these as soon as my distrubutor got them in stock. It's the 24" 250W HQI. Mine is pretty quiet though. Nothing is loud enough to complain about anyway.

03/30/2006, 08:59 AM	#17
RichConley Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Bostonian in Chicago going to DC Posts: 9,908	If its an Eballast, its not really an HQI, just a 250DE. Not that it really matters. Anyways, I dont have this light, but have other metal halides, and electronic ballasts. Mine buzz a little when firing up, but are silent after that. If yours are elecronic, they should be too. __________________ NO TANKS!!!

04/05/2006, 11:02 AM	#18
Pete Harcoff Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Canada Posts: 196	bump Got the 150 watt version. Much better! There's no electrical buzzing noise in this one. However, the fan is still noisy for my taste, so I'm going to look at rigging up a DIY cooling solution.