Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Ok how hot will crack a normal glass aquarium lid?

I just got my firs compact flourescent light setup, and like people said they do get hot. I'm not too worried about the tank since I run outside air in to it, but this light does get hot. With the light on the floor it is up to 95. It is vented at the top, and at the bottom but I think I am eiher going to hang it, or buy feet to put on it. Don't want to crack my glass or melt my imitators. I will say it puts off a ton of light, you can almost not even look at it. 2x13watt, I will take some pics this weekend and explain how I built the hood, but it was all very easy.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Ok update...

It got up to 100 on the floor, so I know that is too hot, so I raised it up 3/4 of an inch and it is down to 87. Thats a bit better. I'll have to make some legs or buy some to light it up.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I keep mine about 2" off the top and have little problem. I just built a little box out of 1/4" plywood. The fixtures have a place intended for a screw, so I just screwed the fixture into the plywood. If the ends of the plywood box are left unenclosed, you have little problem with heat buildup.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

If I lift it up a bit it will not be bad, but they do get a bit hot, but WOW the amount of light...
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

You should see the 96 watt unit, like looking at the sun !

There you go, beating me to the punch. You're in trouble now.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Yeah . . . it's incredible how much light they put out. My wife told me that my 3 x 40 watt setup was like looking at the sun. I think you'll like the results you get with your plants. It's time to buy some brom's!
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Funny you say that Homer, I just added 3 broms to my imitator tank. They love the one, but have not left it to see the others. I will take some pictures this weekend. I still need to raise the hood, and get something to hold the wires back. I am a little concerned with how hot the ballasts get on the wood. I might just have to add a fan, but I am trying to avoid it. Hard to explain how it is vented but there is about a 1/4-1/2 inch down the top on both side so there is a good place for heat to rise out.

As for bulbs I went with 2x13watt 6400k bulbs from AHSUPPLY. They were great.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I bought the 2 x 13 watt kit from AHS, but I had already bought 5 13 watt bulbs that were 5000K on clearance at Wal-Mart. Believe it or not, I paid $1 a piece for them. I'm a little worried about whether 2 will put out enough light to give my broms good color in my 15 gal. tall. I guess we'll find out.
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Homer W. Faucett III, esq.
Purveyor of Trivialities and Fine Nonsense

Can somebody tell me what type of bulbs they use? Or do they manufacture their own?

M.N

YES AHSUPPLY, check em out. I will be honest there kits can not be beat. I did not use them for this project since I ended up with some free parts, but I can say they put off a ton of light. I will try to take a picture to show an example.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

I'll have to look for them for my next tank. Ive also heard of good things from hellolights.com (price wise). Anyone ever use them? The lights are mainly intended for reef aquariums though,

M.N

hellolights.com has someok prices also, but I think as you go to the larger lights AHSUPPLY is cheaper. For the smaller ones they are about the same.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,
I have the same setup on my 20vert for my imitators.I built a box for them out of 1x6 pine and stained it.I had to put legs on it during the summer to keep the heat down in the tank but no problem at other times.No cracked glass either.Your plants will like the lights alot.
Mark W.

I'm hoping thats the case. It is a ton of light, i'm going to go to lowes at lunch to get a few last parts and maybe some legs. I raised it just 3/4 of an inch and the heat went down to just a little above what my other light was 87. So thats not too bad.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators

Kyle,
When I first set mine up with the lights I checked the top of the vert tank,from the inside, and got an 86 degree reading.The lower I set the probe for the digital thermometer in the tank the lower the reading.When the probe was near the bottom ,with shade from the plants,it was in the low 70's.Mine seem to stay in the upper reaches of the tank and haven't suffered any effects yet.It is their choice and so far they have done very good.Though, if I could keep them cooler during the summer they may lay more but they need rest sometime.Good luck with the lights,if you are like me you will be getting some for your other frog vivs too
Mark

Funny you say that... I'm not sure I will change any others, but I want to build a 10gal sqare tank ,and may use them for that. Now if the orchid I added to my Axureus tank does not grow well i'll have to add some there also.

I can say that after adding the broms and my light my male imitator has not shut up. He was calling all night last night.
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Kyle
www.kylesphotos.com
Dart Links - still a work in progress
1.2.0 D. leucomelas
1.1.0 D. azureus
1.0.1 D. imitators