46G bowfront MH center brace problem!

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 01:35 AM

ok so i was reading on a thread here that by hanging a MH pendant right above your brace, it's going to disintigrate the brace over time.

I was going to add a 250W HQI Phenix bulb with a RO3 pendant, powered by an icecap 250W ballast. Will this mess up my brace? i don't want to cut the brace or mod it in any way other than something like wrapping it with celephane (spelling?) or something.

I was really wanting to do the 250HQI setup. maybe i'll have to go with a smaller 2 pendant setup

waiting for the answers to come streamin' in.

reefshadow · 05/30/2006, 02:11 AM

I think heat is the main culprit. If you are running a fan you should be fine.

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 04:04 AM

i was going to hang this pendant style with an open top.

boxfishpooalot · 05/30/2006, 04:08 AM

If you put the halide there the center brace will crack. Only way is to put a peice of acrylic over top of the glass. But its still risky.

Dont remove the brace as its a structural part of the tank. It prevents bowing of the front and back glass. Removing it could result in a tidal wave from pressure on the glass..

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 04:52 AM

don't get me wrong here, but i know i've seen lots of pictures of ppl with a pendant style MH over the middle of the tank? i'm just not getting it i guess. So i would have to have 2 pendants on a 46G bowfront, one on each side?

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 05:21 AM

I really need to order my lights today. so a few questions:

1. is the 150W HQI Pheniox 14,000K bulb the same as the 250W version, just not as powerful, i mean is the color the same?

2. So i will have to go with 2 x 150HQI bulbs. Is this going to be overkill for my tank? it's the cost what is going to hurt. $550+ compared to $300 the other way.

3. Heating issues? is this new setup going to product alot more heat? do i need fans running pendant style?

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 09:51 AM

still need help

pufferpoison · 05/30/2006, 12:52 PM

WOW nobody else? nobody knows anything about MH's any more?

reefshadow · 05/30/2006, 01:59 PM

Hi Puffer-

With the HQI, shouldn't there be a lens covering the unit? Not sure as I have only run traditional SI moguls. If it comes with the lens that should suck up some of the heat?

FWIW, I ran a mh directly over the glass brace in my 75 once upon a time, w/ no fans. It cracked the brace, resulting in me having to replace the tank, w/ no losses. I am now running 2 175 watt mh's over the glass brace of my 240, w/ a clip on fan. Not even hot to the touch, after 9 full hours.

I still think you are probably safe w/ a fan. Anyone else care to chime in here for Puffer????

If you end up buying the two pendants, an advantage would be that you would be set for an upgrade in tank size down the road, but in your current size, heat may well become an issue anyhow, leaving you in the position of having to put a fan up anyway.

pufferpoison · 05/31/2006, 11:34 AM

anybody else?

pufferpoison · 06/01/2006, 02:28 PM

i have an AGA glass tank with a black plastic center brace. Does this matter?

GSchiemer · 06/01/2006, 02:42 PM

First of all, it's a bad idea to place the fixture directly above the center brace because it will block a considerable amount of light. Second, you run the risk of stressing the plastic brace due to the infrared heat emitted by the metal halide fixture. If you raise the fixture high enough to eliminate the heat issue, you'll again lose a considerable amount of light.

It seems as though you're fishing for someone to tell you that it's okay. It's not. You're tank is not configured to accommodate a single MH pendant. I'd suggest looking into a T-5 fluorescent fixture or two smaller MH pendants, such as 70 watters.

Greg

05/30/2006, 01:35 AM	#1
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	46G bowfront MH center brace problem! ok so i was reading on a thread here that by hanging a MH pendant right above your brace, it's going to disintigrate the brace over time. I was going to add a 250W HQI Phenix bulb with a RO3 pendant, powered by an icecap 250W ballast. Will this mess up my brace? i don't want to cut the brace or mod it in any way other than something like wrapping it with celephane (spelling?) or something. I was really wanting to do the 250HQI setup. maybe i'll have to go with a smaller 2 pendant setup waiting for the answers to come streamin' in. __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 02:11 AM	#2
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	I think heat is the main culprit. If you are running a fan you should be fine. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

05/30/2006, 04:04 AM	#3
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	i was going to hang this pendant style with an open top. __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 04:08 AM	#4
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	If you put the halide there the center brace will crack. Only way is to put a peice of acrylic over top of the glass. But its still risky. Dont remove the brace as its a structural part of the tank. It prevents bowing of the front and back glass. Removing it could result in a tidal wave from pressure on the glass.. __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

05/30/2006, 04:52 AM	#5
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	don't get me wrong here, but i know i've seen lots of pictures of ppl with a pendant style MH over the middle of the tank? i'm just not getting it i guess. So i would have to have 2 pendants on a 46G bowfront, one on each side? __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 05:21 AM	#6
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	I really need to order my lights today. so a few questions: 1. is the 150W HQI Pheniox 14,000K bulb the same as the 250W version, just not as powerful, i mean is the color the same? 2. So i will have to go with 2 x 150HQI bulbs. Is this going to be overkill for my tank? it's the cost what is going to hurt. $550+ compared to $300 the other way. 3. Heating issues? is this new setup going to product alot more heat? do i need fans running pendant style? __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 09:51 AM	#7
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	still need help __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 12:52 PM	#8
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	WOW nobody else? nobody knows anything about MH's any more? __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

05/30/2006, 01:59 PM	#9
reefshadow Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Central Washington Posts: 1,786	Hi Puffer- With the HQI, shouldn't there be a lens covering the unit? Not sure as I have only run traditional SI moguls. If it comes with the lens that should suck up some of the heat? FWIW, I ran a mh directly over the glass brace in my 75 once upon a time, w/ no fans. It cracked the brace, resulting in me having to replace the tank, w/ no losses. I am now running 2 175 watt mh's over the glass brace of my 240, w/ a clip on fan. Not even hot to the touch, after 9 full hours. I still think you are probably safe w/ a fan. Anyone else care to chime in here for Puffer???? If you end up buying the two pendants, an advantage would be that you would be set for an upgrade in tank size down the road, but in your current size, heat may well become an issue anyhow, leaving you in the position of having to put a fan up anyway. __________________ All Your Coral Are Belong To Us Current Tank Info: 30 Deep Blue shallow mixed rimless, MP10, Ecoxotic LED's, SCA 301 skimmer.

05/31/2006, 11:34 AM	#10
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	anybody else? __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

06/01/2006, 02:28 PM	#11
pufferpoison Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: S.E. Kansas Posts: 684	i have an AGA glass tank with a black plastic center brace. Does this matter? __________________ Cage goes in the water, you go in the water. Shark's in the water. Our shark Farewell and adieu to you, fair Spanish ladies. Farewell and adieu, you ladies of Spain. For we've received orders for t Current Tank Info: 65G Reef / 20 Softies / 90 Predator

06/01/2006, 02:42 PM	#12
GSchiemer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 879	First of all, it's a bad idea to place the fixture directly above the center brace because it will block a considerable amount of light. Second, you run the risk of stressing the plastic brace due to the infrared heat emitted by the metal halide fixture. If you raise the fixture high enough to eliminate the heat issue, you'll again lose a considerable amount of light. It seems as though you're fishing for someone to tell you that it's okay. It's not. You're tank is not configured to accommodate a single MH pendant. I'd suggest looking into a T-5 fluorescent fixture or two smaller MH pendants, such as 70 watters. Greg