400W over center brace?

[fishypets]

Anyone running this set up? I am adding a chiller this week and would also like to add more light to my 125. I have concerns about the center brace and what the heat would do. Any help appreciated.

[aquadoc]

I have a light over my center brace, no porblems my chiller just breezes on though.

[fishypets]

Does anyone have a 125 with 3 400W?

[aquadoc]

Doesn't a 250 de have close the the same heat out put?

[TexasTodd]

I don't know about the center brace, but I was running 3x400w on my old 92corner. ;)

Todd

[fx300]

If your center brace is made out of glass no problem as I have my 400w that way but if it is plastic it will melt. I know this cause last summer I was taking care of a friend's tank and his center brace melted due to his new 400w MH.

Fabian
;) Brownsville

[fishypets]

Thanks for the help guys. I now thinking about turning my reflectors sideways and adding two more 400W stagering 12K with 10K. What you guys think?

[TexasTodd]

For sps, more light is better...if your chiller etc. can handle it.

I think a mix of different bulbs is still the best. There's no one perfect bulb out there yet although the RF10kk is pretty darn close.

Interested to see some data on the 12kk.

Todd

[fishypets]

My only concern is I would have major RTG! Not sure if I'm ready for that or not :P

[TexasTodd]

:roll I'm sure you'd get use to it.

:)

[fishypets]

:D

[mathias]

electric bill would be my concern I run 2 400 watts and I couldn't imagine more light :) my fish already get a tan....

[fishypets]

Surprisingly my bill is cheap. I keep the a.c. @72 and the bill never gets over $200 in a 1800 s.f. house.

[mathias]

wow that is pretty good even in the summer months?

[fishypets]

yep. Highest yet was 220 average is 160. I should add that I have a gas stove/H2O heater.

[Flobex]

if you do go with 4 llights sideways, you should mmake thhe bulbs, so tht the cennter is brightest, annd as you get further out, the light is a little less intense/dif. spectrum. i think it makes the tannk seem even bigger...

[fishypets]

That is exactly what I was thinking. This will be one less thing I have to upgrade when I get a bigger system.

[mathias]

yea if you know your getting a bigger system I would say go for it.... but make sure the center brace is not plastic because then you will be upgrading sooner than expected....

[fishypets]

my next tank will be brick style or euro braced

[thedude]

Why not upgrade reflectors first and see if the two bulbs you're running now are more effective? Run those SE bulbs in lumenarc reflectors and I'm sure you'll see results.

[fishypets]

I thought about that but they don't fit in my canopy.

[monica]

Fishy,

My 135 has 3- 400w 10k's over it and the center bulb is right over the black plastic brace. I have had no trouble with it at all except for the shadow line that runs the center of the tank, not really noticable but you can tell it there. I posted pic's of my tank on the Austin forum- you can see the line, but its not that big of a deal.