MH too hot for sea horse tank

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I got the canopy built and in place (still needs trim) and the MH (250w 20K) installed. It is way too warm. I can't afford a chiller so I was thinking......

Why can't I tape a bag around the output of the airconditioner and run a hose from the bag into the canopy? I will also cut extra holes in the bag untill I can get some bigger hose. All I have now is an old vacuume hose. (I'm thinking dryer vent hose.) Kind of a redneck chiller, lol. My husband said it won't work and I will burn out the airconditioner. For what I'd spend on a chiller, I could buy 4 airconditioners at WalMart. I'm going to try it to see of it works. What's the worst that could happen? I currently am freezing my butt off trying to keep the room cool enough for the seahorses. I'm frozen, but the Sea horse tank is 76-78. I have to do something, and getting rid of the MH is not an option. I need high light for the sea grasses ( will be adding soon) and the tank is 31" deep.

I think I will use an old airconditioner, lol just in case.

Angie

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Here's the pics.

[lReef lKeeper]

your husband is right, it will burn up the A/C unit. can you raise the halide a few inches ?? even if you have to build a new canopy, or lose the canopy and just suspend the halide from the ceiling. the halide should be AT LEAST 6" from the top of the water with some kind of fan blowing across the top of the water.

[mutts]

i love the redneck chiller though!

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

The MH is 14" from the top of the water. I didn't want to sunburn the sea horses. They were under a 24w PC before. From a 24w PC to a 250w MH is a HUGE difference to them That another reason for using a 20K bulb on this tank. Not so intense.

We do own a computer store, so I can get the cooling fans below cost. I was thinking 4 - 5 inch cooling fans ought to do it. I could also build a box for the halide and suspend it from the ceiling. I was trying to avoid that, lol. (I don't like the light spilling out and blinding me when I look at the tank from my desk. Remember the tank is 31" and the stand is 30" = 61 inches tall plus the light will be 12-14 inches higher then that. Now imagine sitting on a desk chair next to the tank. Blinding, lol.)

I like the redneck chiller, but it doesn't seem very effective. Temp stayed the same after 1.5 hours with the airconditioner on high. Back to the drawing board.

[dakar]

Here's another idea to mill around with... a couple three fans to the top of your canopy to draw heat up and out. Another pair to blow across the water surface for evaporative cooling. Finally maybe adding a piece of tempered glass between the halide and tank (to trap heat so it can be drawn upwards by the fans, and also serve as another UV shield for the ponies).

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

Ok, I cut a few BIG holes in the top of the canopy and cut out 3/4 of the back, added an 8 inch fan and I have the halide on now to see if that works. If it doesn't, on to plan C.

Plan C:

Walmart has the dorm refrigerators on sale for 69.99. I will make a DIY chiller with that. If you take the icecube tray out and insert it into a tub of water(the icecube tray is what controls the temp. in the dorm friges) in the refrigerator, it will chill alot better then just the tubing put into the refrigerator alone. I have small maxijets and 200 foot of tubing just in case I go that direction. The tubing size is the same size as the regular tubing that you use for the in the door water on a full size refrigerator.

Geeze, by the time I'm done screwing around I could have bought the blasted chiller. But, what fun would that be???



Angie

[Whoyah]

Just a suggestion. Buy the chiller. I know how much time and enegry you have wrapped up in your ponies, so why risk everything on some sort of crazy set-up that could potential fail and kill the whole tank. Just my 2 cents.

[Sea~Horse~Whisperer]

I agree, I'm looking for a chiller now. I don't want to take any chances. I've read mixed results with the DIY chillers. Who would have thought I'd ever need a chiller living in the frozen butt tundra? (Wisconsin)

I'm going to buy a chiller in the 1/3 to 1/5 hp range. Just in case I get a bigger tank in the future, lol. No sense buying 2.

Angie

[Whoyah]

I am glad to here it. Having good equipment/tools always makes a job easier. Good luck.