Upgrading lighting of new tank but keep stock hood?

[Matt]

Just bought a BOYU TL-550 and it comes with a power saving light (24Wx2). Is there any way I could possibly ugrade this but keep my stock hood?

 

[jacquesb]

Hi Matt - have a look at Tom's tank's upgrades. He added T5's to his Boyu tank. Just take into account that you WILL need to add PC or similar fans to your BOYU as well, to ensure that you do not suffer heat problems as well with your tank!

 

[viper357]

Have no idea what you're talking about show us a pic of the hood to give us an idea.

 

[Matt]

jacquesb: so i'd need to add additional fans (even if i'm running a chiller) ??

 

[Matt]

here's the hood:

 

[jacquesb]

Matt - I have PM'ed you. The problem I foresee, is that fact that you have an ENCLOSED hood. IF you upgrade to T5's, they WILL produce a LOT more heat than PC globes.... I still think that fan's would be a failsafe - you would not want something to happen to you, like what happened to Tom's tank, or even Sean's tank.... Sorry guys for using your tanks as examples...

 

[Matt]

jacquesb: the hood has fans in it (same as my JBJ Nano Cube), its not completely enclosed

 

[Mad_Max]

Are you sure those are power saving lights? I have the smaller Boyu TL-450. I am sure they are compact fluorescents (T5 in a U bend X 2). Why do you want to upgrade the lighting?

 

[Matt]

I can visibly see they aren't as bright as the T5's in by JBJ Nano Cube. Not sure my coral will be ok under this light as it's only 2x24W

 

[jacquesb]

Hi Matt / Mad_Max - those lights are also commonly known as PC lamps, or power compacts. NO - they are NOT the same as the T5's we use in our aquariums. They are "normal output" globes, compared to the T5's we use, being "high output" lamps....

Matt - how many fans does your new Boyu have in? 1 / 2?

 

[Mad_Max]

Two fans

 

[Matt]

I have noticed though that the 36W lamps in my nano cube are about 10cm longer than the 24W lamps in my BOYU.

 

[jacquesb]

OK - two fans is better - do the fans blow DOWN onto the water? Or suck the air upwards?

 

[Mad_Max]

They suck air outwards

 

[Kanga]

PC Retrofit: Aquarium Equipment and Supplies - Aqua Buys

Have a look there Matt

Or the real Upgrade

http://www.aquabuys.com/page/aqb/PROD/jbj-viper-light-150

 

[jacquesb]

They suck air outwards

OK - thanks Max. Personally I think that they would have been more successful in keeping the water temp stable if they had blow ON the water..... Are these fans AC or DC?

If they are DC, you can just swap the polarity and they will reverse.... IF AC, this will not work, of course...

 

[jacquesb]

OK - found the link to Tom's tank:
Tom`s tank - Marine Aquariums of South Africa

 

[Kanga]

OK - thanks Max. Personally I think that they would have been more successful in keeping the water temp stable if they had blow ON the water..... Are these fans AC or DC?

If they are DC, you can just swap the polarity and they will reverse.... IF AC, this will not work, of course...

The man has a chiller so temp wont really be an issue

 

[jacquesb]

Dunno hey, Kanga - I am scared of a chiller - look at what it did to Sean's tank! I have heard MANY horror stories where chiller pumps give in.... and then boom! As I said - I would not believe in ONLY using a chiller - some fan's work quite well for safety sake too.
I only have ONE small'ish fan blowing over my sump - and my tank's water temp NEVER rises about 27/28... Never.... Even when the ambient temp was 35C!