AH Supply Hood / lighting

"Mandy" wrote in message
oups.com...
I've been on on the phone with Innovative Lights.
http://innovativelights.com/

Princeton is the sales guy there and he's been really helpful. He
figured out that I can fit a 18" 96W Aqualight PC Retrofit Kit in my
Eclipse - the fixture is the same width I have now, but shorter. It
would give me about 2.6 watts per gallon.

I'm concerned about the heat of system in the plastic casing. Anyone
have thoughts on that?

1) Where does the new ballast mount? Inside our outside the case. If inside,
it might cause heat problems. If outside, it could be a shock/fire hazzard.
Has he sold this to anyone else still living? How'd they make out?

2) Does it come with a more efficient reflector than the Eclipse or is the
Eclipses's reflector sufficient. A poor reflector might lead to more heat
and be a waste of your extra watts. If you read the A.H. blurb, they big on
the reflector.

3) How does the cost of this kit compare to the cost of the A.H. Supply kit?
I gather you're favouring convenience over price?

AH Supply told me that don't have anything for me.

Princeton told me it might get too hot, he wasn't aware of anyone
putting it in an Eclipse hood. It fits inside. I think it comes with
a reflector - if a reflector is what i think it is. If you go to the
link www.innovativelights.com, click on new products, it's the third
item down on the left side. There's a picture. I think that white
piece the lights are in is the reflector?

18" 96W Aqualight PC Retrofit Kit
96 watt 50/50=99 4-Tube (quad) Compact Fluorescent Lamp Included
External compact fluorescent electronic ballast
On/Off switch with 6-foot power cord and 12-foot lamp cord
Highly-Polished Reflector
Moisture-resistant endcap
Installation hardware for your custom applications

"Mandy" wrote in message
oups.com...
AH Supply told me that don't have anything for me.

Princeton told me it might get too hot, he wasn't aware of anyone
putting it in an Eclipse hood. It fits inside. I think it comes with
a reflector - if a reflector is what i think it is. If you go to the
link www.innovativelights.com, click on new products, it's the third
item down on the left side. There's a picture. I think that white
piece the lights are in is the reflector?

18" 96W Aqualight PC Retrofit Kit
96 watt 50/50 4-Tube (quad) Compact Fluorescent Lamp Included
External compact fluorescent electronic ballast
On/Off switch with 6-foot power cord and 12-foot lamp cord
Highly-Polished Reflector
Moisture-resistant endcap
Installation hardware for your custom applications

It looks pretty good, ballast is external too. So that should cut down on
the heat. I found the installation instructions he
http://www.esuweb.com/productinstruc...6316532014.pdf . The
instructions also warn about the heat.

Perhaps you can contact the manufacturer at the address above and ask about
your model of canopy.

Thanks! I'll check that out.

Mandy wrote:
AH Supply told me that don't have anything for me.

Princeton told me it might get too hot, he wasn't aware of anyone
putting it in an Eclipse hood. It fits inside. I think it comes
with
a reflector - if a reflector is what i think it is. If you go to the
link www.innovativelights.com, click on new products, it's the third
item down on the left side. There's a picture. I think that white
piece the lights are in is the reflector?

I'd be concerned about the heat and take measures to mitigate the
negative effects, i.e. melting the hood, cooking the fish, etc. I just
put together a 65w fixture and it really emits heat. I built the hood
out of some plastic rain gutter and it fits perfectly where the lid on
the front half of the tank top was. I left the ends open and the heat
escapes easilly. With your Eclipse hood, isn't it enclosed? What
kinda vents does it have? I suggest either drilling some heat vent
holes in the top or if you have to, a cheap computer fan can do the
trick.

At least I suggest putting it together and turning it on, then setting
it on top of your other tank full of water. See how much heat it gives
off and monitor the plastic over the first 30 minutes or so.

steve