Lighting upgrade for prop tank

**myreef** · 01-30-2002 11:42 PM

I have an opportunity (wifes permission) to upgrade my lighting on my prop tank. I currently have one 250 watt Iwasaki IceCap ballast and bulb. i also have two 75 watt VHO actinics. The canopy I have on my tank is too tall and I want to use a pendant. I want to be able to work in it easily. My tank is a custom acrylic tank that is 36x18x16. I am thinking of doing a 20k Radium ....if this was your tank, what would you put on there? If I went the 20k Radium route, I am assuming I would not have to supplement it with actinics unless I wanted it for dawn/dusk, but since this is a prop tank....I wouldn't think it would matter as much. TIA

**Ironreef** · 01-31-2002 01:20 AM

I don't think it matters but record your growth with the 250w 20k. compared to the 6.5k, At least if theres a noticable diff. in growth rate

**Nanook01** · 01-31-2002 03:56 AM

I just setup a 58g prop tank. I made a very lightweight DIY canopy that is suspended from the ceiling with a bicycle pulley system. I can raise and lower that baby as high/low as I want. I put a 400w Iwasaki and 4 VHOs for light. The spiderlight reflector does a pretty good job at lighting the whole tank. I am going for fast growth with the sakis (hopefully).

I run all 10000K's on my 120g. I am going to take some of the coral frags from there and see what they do under the saki.

Nanook

**myreef** · 01-31-2002 08:10 AM

Any pictures of your pulley system Nanook? I have thought about that as well.

**Ninong** · 01-31-2002 09:15 AM

Andy,

If your 250w Ice Cap ballast was tuned for Iwasaki lamps, you need to send it back to Ice Cap and ask them to retune it. I believe they charge $10 for that.

Ninong

**Nanook01** · 01-31-2002 11:52 AM

I need to borrow a digital camera again

i will see if I can get one next week for some pics. It was a very easy installation. The pulley system I got cost $50, but they had them for $25-30 too, I just went for the deluxe model.

I got mine from Performance Bicycle.

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...268$Store=Bike

Nanook

**Nanook01** · 01-31-2002 11:57 AM

I couldn't edit that URL successfully, here try this one:

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...268$Store=Bike

nanook

**Nanook01** · 01-31-2002 11:59 AM

http://www.performancebike.com/shop/...268&Store=Bike

Now it is finally showing up and it is on sale for 34.99$...not bad at all.

nook

**myreef** · 01-31-2002 12:04 PM

Pretty sweet looking system.

Might have to look into that even if I go the horizontal pendant route. Would make it easy to hoist up and out of the way, so I don't burn/bump my head.

**Nanook01** · 01-31-2002 12:18 PM

OH BTW, that long metal bar does not come with the setup. I just used two toggle bolts on each side to attach it securely to my drywall.

nook

**PerryinCA** · 01-31-2002 12:51 PM

Originally posted by Ninong
Andy,

If your 250w Ice Cap ballast was tuned for Iwasaki lamps, you need to send it back to Ice Cap and ask them to retune it. I believe they charge $10 for that.

Ninong

I would try running the 20k without sending it in. Even Andy will tell you that the frequency differences in the tunings of the ballasts will effect the outcome less than the differences in the manufacturing of the lamps. Many people (myself included) have had no problem swapping all types of lamps. Being that the Iwasaki ballast already has the restart, I will start without a second guess IME.

Nanook - Nice looking setup.

-Perry

**myreef** · 01-31-2002 02:12 PM

I talked to Andy at Icecap via email today and I am going to send my ballast in since it is flickering anyway when it runs the bulb.

Perry--I can run the 20k Radium on the Icecap ballast? This might be the best solution since all I would have to do is add the pendant. Thanks!

**Ninong** · 01-31-2002 02:28 PM

Andy,

Ice Cap makes two different 250w metal halide ballasts. One is tuned for Iwasaki only and the other is for all other 250w metal halide lamps.

They can switch either ballast to the other for $10.

Ninong

**myreef** · 01-31-2002 02:32 PM

Oh OK...I knew that! :-p I was thinking of something else. Anyway, mine runs only the Iwasaki bulb, but it flickers pretty badly.

**Ninong** · 01-31-2002 03:03 PM

Andy,

If you send it back to Ice Cap, be sure to tell them which way you want it tuned.

Ninong

**PerryinCA** · 01-31-2002 07:50 PM

I know that they make two different models....but as mentioned above, they are so minutely different, there is a good chance that it will run the 20k without a hitch or throb. If you want to be sure that there is no throb, buy the lamp first, and send it in to icecap with the lamp and they will tune the ballast for the best operation of that lamp.

From what I understand, the new IC MH ballast will run all lamps with no flicker and no retuning, keeping the increased output.

-Perry

Thread: Lighting upgrade for prop tank

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Lighting upgrade for prop tank

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions