heat concern...

Was looking for some input regarding heat emitted from MH vs T5 HO. I live in Florida and heat was a problem when I started up my 50 gallon reef last May. Found that after everything being setup my temps were around 86 degrees F. After switching to some lower wattage pumps, making it an open top, and installing mounted t5's, was able to get temp down to 80-81 (which is still alil higher than I wanted). The tank is also setup directly under one of our central ac vents. I'm looking to upgrade to a 120 gallon, and am really interested in MH/flourscent combo, but am worried that I would run into high temps again. Any thoughts? Do MH really put out that much more heat over t5's? thanks for any help.

 

I have a MH over my 58 gallon that puts out a lot of heat. My temp. usually goes from 77-80 throughout the day. I have a hood over mine and one computer fan cooled it off considerably, before the fan the wood would get so hot and now it's cool to the touch. If you are really worried about the temps. then a chiller might be an option, but a couple of fans on your display tank and your sump will help things cool down.

 

Yes, MH do produce much more heat than T5. The actual T5 bulb produces very little heat, the ballasts are what produce the majority of the heat in a T5 setup.

 

I would rig up some computer fans on the back corners of your tank. My buddy lives in florida and runs mh and doesn't use a chiller, he just runs two large computer fans in the back corners that blow air over the top of the water and his tank has been fine.

 

i am using multiple computer fans for my t5 setup, they are alot more powerful than the one that the lights came with. The water stays at about 78 degrees.

 

I live in Central Oregon and I have MH. I recently burned my hand on them so I can say they are very hot. Anyway with that being said I have a hood on my tank, 4 radio shack fans in the hood, a chiller but I can still really feel the heat in the house. It gets very warm. I have the AC running but I can feel a difference from when I have the MH on and when I don't. They are very warm! My tank is fine with all the chilling things but my house isn't.