M59 400w MH Ballast

[iVgOnMaD]

Your opinions on this Ballast please. M59 400w MH (got it on ebay for 100 bucks with a bulb, mogul socket, reflector & shipping)

I plan on making a canopy for my 60g tank that will have this 400w MH setup and supplemental 8 x 30w 6500k screw-in PC bulbs. Can there be too much light? I was worried that the 400w MH might be too much, but it is all I have to work with.


Any suggestions will help.

[hummer]

you will need a chiller for the water for sure with them lights

[perpetual98]

you will need a chiller for the water for sure with them lights

Not necessarily. A well designed canopy with ventilation in it would be fine

[hummer]

wow.... did not know (sorry) for the bad info

[perpetual98]

No biggie. All you need to do is evacuate some heat from the canopy so that it's not heating the tank. A couple well placed computer fans and a way for the hot air to escape and you should be good.

Eric

[iVgOnMaD]

What about the distance from the water?

I was planning on doing an enclosed canopy with a 8" computer fan that moves a whole lot of air. The only problem I can think of is what kind of glass to use tho protect the Bulb from getting splashed. Will acrylic work or will the heat be too much for it? I was planning on hanging it from the ceiling about 8" above the tank.

Thanks

[dakar]

8-10" over that water surface for the halide is generally a safe bet. As for splashes.... the outter envelope of the halide is usually more than sufficient to protect the bulb from minor splashes, it will not harm it. If you HAVE to put something between the lamp and water then I'd recommend against acrylic or plexi... it will tend to melt from the heat and stop a lot of light from reaching your tank, not to mention the UV will turn it yellow over time and make it quite brittle... tempered glass would be the best bet. Again the amount of light you loose from reflection off the glass can be significant.

[iVgOnMaD]

ok cool, so I don't have to worry about the bulb exploding all over my fish like a glass grenade if a LITTLE water manages to sprinkle on the bulb like I would with normal incandescent bulbs right?

I was really worrying about that. I think I had nightmares about it.

[at]

It wouldn't hurt to put ashield over the bulb. Dakar is right you should use glass as plexiglass could bubble or turn yellow. I have never seen one crack up over an aquarium but have seen several completely disintegrated at work.

[ewaitob]

I've a 400 watt MH on my 55. Does well. You need a good fan though as the 400 in a canopy makes alot of heat.