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From: carlw@ka.excelan.com (Carl Wohlforth)
Newsgroups: alt.aquaria
Subject: Re: (M) reef lighting
Keywords: Metal Halide
Message-ID: <970@excelan.COM>
Date: 16 Jan 90 16:57:08 GMT
Sender: news@excelan.COM
Organization: Novell, San Jose CA.
Lines: 61


> From: daq@hpfcso.HP.COM (Doug Quarnstrom)
> Message-ID: <8210023@hpfcso.HP.COM>
> 
> > (from me:)
> >	I have an acrylic tank with a non removable acrylic support
> >across the middle of the tank.  If you put florescents lights above
> >a covered tank why not put a metal halide over a covered tank?  
> 
> Well, I was considering getting a hood with flourescent tubes that
> had waterproof encaps to that there did not have to be a glass
> cover.  This lets more light throught and you do not have to
> clean the cover.

	This sounds like a great idea to me.  I would like to do
this, but with the permanent top on my tank I don't think it is
possible for me.

> 
> Since then, I have been looking at the advertisements, and there
> are several companies that are selling fan-cooled hoods with
> a combination of metal-halide and actinic lighting.  I am 
> considering going for one of these although they are bad-assed
> expensive.  One thing I am concerned about is, is it safe to 

	I got my 175 watt lamp (with reflector but no hood) cheaply
at a local 'indoor hydroponics' store.  After epoxying the ballast
(to make it quiet) I like it very much.  Since I enjoy fabricating
things I don't mind building a hood.  If I didn't I would have 
bought one of the neat ones described in the ads.

> have a hot metal-halide light withing 4-8 inches of the surface
> of the water?  You said you were doing this, so it must be ok.
> 
> 
	I'm not exactly doing this... and even if I was that 
doesn't necessarily make it ok.  I have the acrylic top between
the bulb and water surface, though the bulb is 4" from the surface.
If I splash the bulb, and it breaks, I'm in trouble.  The bulbs
are expensive and glass would get everywhere.  In addition the
bulb is very hot and I might burn myself if I brush it while
cleaning the tank.  I am living by myself and currently have no
cats or kids or anything that might cause trouble.  It will be
safer after I finish building my hood.

> ----------
> Doug Q
> 

	On another subject, I've finished fabricating my protein
skimmer.  It is 3' long and 3" wide.  Lots of nasty looking stuff
is comming out of it now.  It cost $40, 10 for parts and 30 for a
Fritz 80/30 air pump.  The pump produces prodigous amounts of air,
but is very loud.  Can I add epoxy to the magnets in air pumps to
quiet them down?  I don't mind the sound of water falling through
my trickle filter, but this electronic humming drives me crazy!


Carl Wohlforth, 2180 Fortune Dr., San Jose Ca., 95131      | "Live free or die"
carlw@EXCELAN.COM                 408-473-8230             | N.H. license plates
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