VHO lights only 2.5" above water level?

[ScottWV1]

Hey Gang -

I'd been planning on using a glass separater between my lights and the water (only under the lights, not covering the entire tank), but after searching the contraversial posts on the topic, I'm wondering if I can get away without the separater/cover.

My VHO lights with IceCaps endcaps can be mounted as far as 2.5" above the water. Is this safe if there is no cover/separater between the lights and the water? There will be fish in this tank eventually.

Without the glass cover, will the life of the bulbs be reduced? Will they get covered with salt creep (there are no air stones in this tank ), and reduce their effectiveness?

If acrylic is a better choice for a cover, can it handle the heat generated by VHOs that close (or even sitting on the cover?)?

[wastedincome420]

Well heres what I think....
By putting "any" type of glass or acrylic (which can heat up and warp) will cause "heat build up" and "cut" some of the bulbs "intensity" (amount of light penatrating the waters surface).
Also I do believe that you will be fine with mounting the VHO bulbs at 2.5" above the water;) I have some PC's and VHO's that are at about the same highth. I find that that do get a lil' salt creep on them but just wipe with clean freash water.

Hope this helps ,
Mark

[ScottWV1]

Thanks Wasted -

Cool pix. I gotta learn how to do that! I've noticed that it's easier to answer [some] questions when people are able to show a picture rather than just describe a setup.

Scott

[wastedincome420]

Thanks Scott, I was able to tale that by removing one of the fans I have on the end of hood, then aimed the camera in the 4" hole.
What Brand buulb do you plan to run?? URI's are said to be the best (plus they have a built in reflecter).

[ScottWV1]

Yep, URIs... I don't have any experience with'em - just went by what the concensus was on this forum... runnin' an IC 660 ballast.

Scott

[wastedincome420]

So I really think that you will be fine with having the bulbs about 2,5" off the water. I would suggest you to wipe the bulbs every 1-2 months. Are yo going to use a couple of fans?? I think yo put one fan at each end of the hood blowing in you should be just fine

[tendar]

I have my VHO and PC's a couple inches off the water and have had no problems. Like mentioned I do wipe them off once a mounth with damp clothe.

[ScottWV1]

Yep, I'll wipe them down as needed...

As for fans, that is another post going on in the equipment forum. Sounds like I need atleast one due to the moisture build-up inside the hood.... my hood is completely closed, so even if heat build-up is not an issue, moisture will be.

Do you know of any cheap/quiet fans?

thx,
Scott

[wastedincome420]

Well My first pick would be IceCaps Fans as they are tempature controlled. As the hood gets hotter the fan will spin faster. They AREN'T cheap though. about $50.
Or you could go down to your local Radio Shack and pick up a 4" Fan. I think they are about $15 or so. I have a pair of them and they aren't too loud;)

[reefdope]

Wasted -

Don't you need to wire those Radio Shack fans to a special power supply?

[reefdope]

Sorry, I meant like a computer power supply, rather than straight into the wall. I got my fans at hellolights.com, and they plug straight into the wall, but boy are they loud!

[wastedincome420]

Well ReefDope it really depends on which fans you get. The fans That I have from radio Shack run on 120v. You could also get fans that are 12v or 24v which would cause the need to get an adapter of some sort. The 4" fans I have aren't too loud compared to a 2.5" computer fan that I found at work ( that sucker is loud);)

[hllywd]

Reefdope, If you have a 12 V fan just get a "plug in the wall" adapter, otherwise if what you get is rated for 120V wire it up and plug it in the wall. Mine are actually for 240v but I have them running on 120 and they're fine, still move plenty of air and very quiet.
As for the IceCap fans, I recently read about a 'puter cooling fan that worked the same way for 10 or 15 bucks. I'll see if I can find that article again and post the source.
Tim

[reefdope]

Wasted - Thanks, I didn't realize you could get both kinds and of course the Radio Shack guys in my area don't even know what a fan is, until I start doing the hand signals to them.


Hllywd - Thats cool. Where did you get the 240v version. I have a couple buddies overseas that could probably use those.

[ScottWV1]

Good discussion guys/gals..

hllywd, if you come across that posting I sure would be interested in learning more... when you say they are like the icecaps, can I assume you mean variable speed? are these $10-$15 fans quiet?

Thx!
Scott

[hllywd]

I

[reefdope]

As a general question though, has anyone here ever tested 120v fan noise levels agains the 12v fans? I mean, it really didn't strike me as something that would be that different, but I just sparked up a couple 12v fans (Fry's Electronics ::gag:: ) and they are very quiet...I just need to find an adapter to actually run them without having my computer hooked up to my tank!

[hllywd]

I "aquired" the 240V fans from a shop that builds industrial ovens for making cookies, cereals and so on. They were actually ordered by mistake though they should be easy to find if someone did a little looking online. At 240V they aren't nearly as quiet as 120V, sorta loud in fact...
As for the variables I read about them in the 3/02 issue of MaximumPC, it says "it adjusts it's speed based on the temp. inside the case. This minimizes unnecessary noise but still gives maximum cooling when necessary". The fan is a Thermaltake A1214. The article says $15.00, at www.thermaltake.com . My guess without taking the time to look is that these will be 12V and you'll also need an adapter so for 1 you should still be able to put it in service for under 25 bucks.
Tim

[hllywd]

Reefdope, Any 12V plug-in adapter should work, you know the kind you have laying around from an old answering machine or cd player. Just make sure it's rated for what the fan draws. As for the noise issue it's the individual fan not whether its 12VDC or 120VAC, a stronger fan moving more air is gonna make more noise than a weaker one moving less cfm.
Tim

[reefdope]

hllywd,

OMG, that's the adapter you guys have been talking about! Sheesh I feel like an idiot! That's so cool! Thank you! I have plenty of those around somewhere. As far as the noise though, I thought it may have to do with the number or type or quality of bearings, or motor as well as say the CFM or angle of the blades or something. I mean, I can't believe (and don't get me wrong I mean no disrespect to what you are telling me) that its just a function of how strong the fan is, since these other factors have to contribute somewhat? No?