Lighting for planted tank

[john_yo]

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post unya kuno mo og pics sa inyo planted tank bro.

[Generals]

@generals, so far sa ako wala koy na notice na moisture or rusting but ive had two magnetic "tar" ballasts die on me within the last 3 years. I dont see any rusting on the ballasts, just burn marks.
My lights are mounted about a foot off the water's surface and there are huge vents on the sides. no fans but the area gets some natural air circulation.
T5 ballasts are electronic so if its really moist in there, then thats bad. You might want to disassemble and mount the ballast elsewhere but thats not aesthetically pleasing.

... or slather the fixture in silicone... hehehe

thanks soggy,
but how many fluorescent fixtures do you have in your hood with regard to the 2 tar ballasts that died? is the tar ballasts inside the hood?
the t5 fixture's ballasts are inside the casing so it would not be that easy to dissassemble the ballast and mount it elsewhere.. also the ballast for t5 fixtures is only a small PCB and the wires are soldered to it... so really difficult to relocate....
but do you think moisture can get into the casing? the tube could be moist resistant so the only question is if moisture can get into the ballasts (inside the casing).
im thinking of having 2 AC fans running.

[Soggy2]

thanks soggy,
but how many fluorescent fixtures do you have in your hood with regard to the 2 tar ballasts that died? is the tar ballasts inside the hood?
the t5 fixture's ballasts are inside the casing so it would not be that easy to dissassemble the ballast and mount it elsewhere.. also the ballast for t5 fixtures is only a small PCB and the wires are soldered to it... so really difficult to relocate....
but do you think moisture can get into the casing? the tube could be moist resistant so the only question is if moisture can get into the ballasts (inside the casing).
im thinking of having 2 AC fans running.

4 fixtures. Tar ballasts have a rated life of 10+ years so maybe the china ones arent that good.
The ballasts are inside the casing their own with reflector. I guess only the most diligent of moisture has probably creeped in but i doubt it. The vents on the side are huge and i think its nearly impossible for humidity to build up in the hood.


I guess if you are cautious, you can put one fan on one end and one on the other end. One to draw air into and one to vent the air out.

How far up are you planning to mount the lights from the water's surface?

[markykoi]

@Generals
sa akoa lang nga tank bro, DIY man gud and ako gi butang sa babaw sa hood ang duha ka e-ballast. so wala jud siya moisture, sa akong PL, its about 2-3 inches from water surface. inig top off ra nako ug water (because of evaporation) naay splashes sa reflector or bulb itself pero minimal. btw, you could run the fan parallel to water surface.

@soggy2
nindota sa tank ah, naa namay emerse state..hehehe

[Generals]

@soggy
thanks for the input=)
dako jud d i imo vents so no probs with moist
im planning to place the t5 lights 5" above the water surface and separated by a glass cover (the glass doesnt cover the whole opening of the tank though)

@markykoi
kita ko imo pix open jud kayo... hihihi dili mu init oir moist
t5 however murag dili ma inana kai sulod sa casing ang ballast
btw, unsa pasabot nimo nga paralel ang fan? kana position nga ang hangin dili maka agitate sa water?

@all
guys ask d i ko if petrified wood will affect water chemistry?
im planning to use those for hardscape but hadlok ko basin maka affect water chem.

[markykoi]

@Generals
hehehe sorry, ako pasabot ang air flow sa fan kay parallel sa water surface. ok ra na.

sa imng petrified wood, if mu buwa nig butang ug muriatic, then maka affect na. if dili, then go use it!

[Generals]

@markykoi
hehe k ra.. clarify lang ko ato... hehe
a ok so ill try to put muriatic sa?

btw, im planning to rig up 8x21w t5s.... you think that will be good enough? (its placed 5" above water lvl)

[markykoi]

@markykoi
hehe k ra.. clarify lang ko ato... hehe
a ok so ill try to put muriatic sa?

btw, im planning to rig up 8x21w t5s.... you think that will be good enough? (its placed 5" above water lvl)

yes. you could test it.

50gal to sa? 3.36 watts/gal great...

[Generals]

@markykoi
thanks
ok ra ang petrified wood mark=)