Do i need a Chiller????

the instructions that came with the light fixture specifically says not to place over an open tank, although I'm not sure why cause it has an acrylic cover

 

When I had my 75, I had the Nova Extreme 4 bulb set up....still had an open top. I guess I never read the manual. LOL!

 

ha, thats funny. did you ever have salt creep issues by the ballast/endcaps???? or anywhere behind the cover.

 

Love this thread answered most of my ?'s. Im going to have a 45 gallon with a 250 watt MH. Im thinking with the open top, sump, and fans I shouldn't climb above 82 right? I dont have 800 to spend on a chiller.

 

not sure about any exact temp you'll get, especially with no experience with MH and little in aquariums in general, but you should be able to minimize heat from the MH by suspending it higher, although if i remember correctly a 45 in kind of deep so gotta take that into consideration when setting the height of your light

 

No I didnt, but I am a clean freak when it comes to the tank. So once a week, during regular cleanings I would wipe any overspray on the lights off. Never had any problems with it!

I wonder how many other people run an open top with the Nova Extreme lights?

 

I've got a NovaExtreme over my open sump (don't hate me, I got a really good deal on it used).

bluemoon, can I get you swing by every week or two and clean my tank?

 

250 MH will raise the temp in your DT. How much is questionable. Ambient (room) temperature should be taken into consideration. You don't want to raise it too much because your corals will get less light, also.. This applies more if you have SPS. If you house LSP and/or softies, raising the light wont matter much.

I have a 250w setup and I have a fan blowing on it to help keep the light cool, but I can still feel the heat coming down on the water surface. My DT is SPS dominated so I keep the light about 6in off the water surface. I could raise it up to 10in, but I like the color I'm getting right now out of the corals..

I also LOVE much chiller if I didn't mention that already!! Best money I ever spent on my reef..

 

I run an open top tank and my temps in teh AM is like 77.2 and by night is is 78.3...that was on my 50....my new 65 is running 76.3 after all t5's have been on for 2hrs....

 

: your tank is a little bigger than my 75 was........