Hamilton white or get reflectors?

junkzoo · 08-26-2001, 08:15 PM

just got used to the blinding light out of my newly-installed 2-400W 10K MH and 4- 55W PC actinics(a used retro Hamilton light "board" with new bulbs)now i want to get more light into the tank ,(75 gal.)the surface of the canopy is white, with a bit of the white coating "worn" off just above where the MH's are,remember it was used when i got it.was looking at the acro's i 've had in there for a week or so,up near the top,,,and looks like i'm not getting the light intensity i should . could this be caused by the "worn " spots above the bulbs? (aluminum is showing from under where white coating was) am i just getting used to the lights now or am i correct in thinking that light is getting "not bounced" down in this area?might be my imagination,but looks like i might be getting more light in other areas then directly below the bulb.the canopy is about 10 inches above water surface.would i benefit from some kind of half-round reflector installed above the bulbs?i figured that since i have such high wattage MH's (400W x2)it would overcome the fact that the lights are so high up and that the inside of the wood canopy is not covered in white or reflector material. just looks to me to be a "dead" spot in places that are (i think) , that ought to be bright enough. think this is due to the bare aluminum showing??

anyone have links to get some reflectors .or any ideas for DIY reflectors?i seem to remember someone using hardware store type aluminum sheet curved to fit.THANKS

ScottC · 08-27-2001, 12:08 AM

How much has the temp gone up in your room since adding the lights?

I'm looking to light my 150, so I need to know these things

Scott

junkzoo · 08-27-2001, 07:23 AM

Scott, temp might go up in the area 5 degrees or do ,it's in a large area so it's not as noticable as if it was in a smaller ,enclosed room. you can "feel the furnace" if you went by either end fan.i have 2 -4' muffin fans blowing out and one inward.my wife jokes about not needing the furnace this winter

she might be too far off on this one.but i took her with the other day to the LSF ,and got more SPS's than if i went alone,so "I" am not the sole culprit for blame on heat or electric bills

(she stops and has to check out the tank every time she walks by it.)if this was totally my "hobby" things would be different !no doubt about it it DOES put out some heat, but i have her convinced that it's got to be expelled from the tank,and something to live with to have this system of lighting.in the future both my 75 reef and 180 fish only will get up-sized and located in the basement,so the heat issue will be of no concern

08-26-2001, 08:15 PM	#1
junkzoo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wheatfield,In. US Posts: 113	Hamilton white or get reflectors? just got used to the blinding light out of my newly-installed 2-400W 10K MH and 4- 55W PC actinics(a used retro Hamilton light "board" with new bulbs)now i want to get more light into the tank ,(75 gal.)the surface of the canopy is white, with a bit of the white coating "worn" off just above where the MH's are,remember it was used when i got it.was looking at the acro's i 've had in there for a week or so,up near the top,,,and looks like i'm not getting the light intensity i should . could this be caused by the "worn " spots above the bulbs? (aluminum is showing from under where white coating was) am i just getting used to the lights now or am i correct in thinking that light is getting "not bounced" down in this area?might be my imagination,but looks like i might be getting more light in other areas then directly below the bulb.the canopy is about 10 inches above water surface.would i benefit from some kind of half-round reflector installed above the bulbs?i figured that since i have such high wattage MH's (400W x2)it would overcome the fact that the lights are so high up and that the inside of the wood canopy is not covered in white or reflector material. just looks to me to be a "dead" spot in places that are (i think) , that ought to be bright enough. think this is due to the bare aluminum showing?? anyone have links to get some reflectors .or any ideas for DIY reflectors?i seem to remember someone using hardware store type aluminum sheet curved to fit.THANKS

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08-27-2001, 12:08 AM	#2
ScottC Council Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Ft Lauderdale, FL Posts: 297	How much has the temp gone up in your room since adding the lights? I'm looking to light my 150, so I need to know these things Scott

08-27-2001, 07:23 AM	#3
junkzoo Citizen Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wheatfield,In. US Posts: 113	Scott, temp might go up in the area 5 degrees or do ,it's in a large area so it's not as noticable as if it was in a smaller ,enclosed room. you can "feel the furnace" if you went by either end fan.i have 2 -4' muffin fans blowing out and one inward.my wife jokes about not needing the furnace this winter she might be too far off on this one.but i took her with the other day to the LSF ,and got more SPS's than if i went alone,so "I" am not the sole culprit for blame on heat or electric bills (she stops and has to check out the tank every time she walks by it.)if this was totally my "hobby" things would be different !no doubt about it it DOES put out some heat, but i have her convinced that it's got to be expelled from the tank,and something to live with to have this system of lighting.in the future both my 75 reef and 180 fish only will get up-sized and located in the basement,so the heat issue will be of no concern

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