250 HQI MH and Center Brace

[OUsnakebyte]

If I mount a single 250 watt HQI MH pendant over the center of a 65 gallon tank's plastic center brace, say, 8-10 inches above the brace, do you think it will melt it?  This would be suspended from the ceiling, not mounted in a canopy...

 

Cheers

Mike

[Grav]

Hey Mike!

 

I dunno.

 

HOWEVER, I was thinking of going HQI for the future 150g and decided not to based on heat & space.

 

I've got an acrylic and I guess I'm playing it save.

 

Phil

[miller]

i have a 250w bulb over a 46gl and i just have a fan blowing right on the center brace (back to front) and it stays alot cooler then i thought it would

[OUsnakebyte]

Hey Phil - is that split-happy BTA of yours cloning itself again...?  

 

Miller - how far above the brace is your fixture mounted?  Is it in a canopy?

 

I guess I should mention that I know the brace will cast a shadow, but this tank is not for SPS (it's not even my tank - a friend's).  It's a new tank that will be mostly soft and a few LPS.  But, IME, if you stick with this hobby long enough, you will eventually want MH.  Just trying to save a few bucks up front...  Then, if the SPS bug bites, just get a second fixture and call it a day...  

 

Later

Mike

[tygger]

I'm not sure either. Initial instincts say "no". How about wraping aluminum foil around the brace as a preventative measure?

[michaelg]

if it is high enough it should be fine.  most of the uv is filtered from the fixture, so it is just a heat issue.  As suggested, if he has a fan that will remove any worry (which he might need anyway).

[OUsnakebyte]

if it is high enough it should be fine.  most of the uv is filtered from the fixture, so it is just a heat issue.  As suggested, if he has a fan that will remove any worry (which he might need anyway).

Yeah, I was just worried about heat - to tell you the truth, I totally for got about UV...

 

Ha!  How quick we are to assume that this a guy entering this male-dominated hobby!  I'm actually getting a female addicted!!!   ]]]bdwn

[krish]

Or add a metallic fixture ontop of the brace like Chip has

 

-krish

[miller]

the bulb is not in a canopy and it is about 6 inches or so above the brace

[flowerseller]

Actually, I had to replace my plastic brace since they both broke.

I used angle iron and painted it like crazy.

I believe it was UV/combined with heat that caused them to become brittle and snap.

I use 3x250w MH with 70cfm fans and the tank is a Perfecto 220h.

Chip

[Grav]

Mike,

 

Now that you mention it, yea, she is looking pretty fat.

 

Boy a split right now would be a real PITA.