badbread Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Ok, so I just got a 150W sunpod to go over my BC14. So first I cut a thin piece of Lexan from Home Depot to cover the front part of the tank (minus the back filter area.) This is what I used: Is this stuff going to melt? It's bowing upwards slightly but I'm not sure if thats because of the tight fit or because of the heat? Next I used about 8-10 layers of Aluminum Mosquito screening I picked up from HD. I plan on removing a screen every 3-5 days or so? Basically my question is, is this safe if I go away for 2-3 days?
HecticDialectics Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I personally wouldn't leave it like that. If you still have the old hood, I'd just stick that back on for a few days, then start back over acclimating when you get back.
StevieT Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Doesn't look good to me, if it is bowing it is because of the heat. Lexan shouldn't exacly melt but it will curl up a lot. If it curls upwards closer to the light then you will have problems.
dopamine Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 should be fine....melting point for polycarbonate is 310f. It is just that .093 is thin and polycarbonate is made to be more flexible than acrylic to help impact strength. Acrylic is cheaper and more rigid, a better product for this application but you should be ok with this. p.s. dont buy lexan, GE polymershapes is now owned by Sabic, a Saudi company known to fund terrorists. Buy Makrolon from Sheffield Plastics or Tuffak from Arkema (the mfgs of Plexiglas) if you want polycarbonate.
jhealey Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I can't help with the question ,but i am wondeing how the 20" sunpod looks over the bc14, do you have any pictures? And how is Heat/Evap effected? Thanks!
badbread Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 Couple crappy shots, I'll take better ones. Excuse the wiring mess... I plan on putting a post up in the lighting forum showing what it looks like since I've searched all over and haven't found a pic of a BC14 with 20" 150W Sunpod. So far, the moonlights hang off the edges and not over the water, a minor thing in my book. More to come. Thanks for the replies, I left the Lexan on and the screens and am going to go home tomorrow around noon to check on it. I left the light on this evening for about 3-4 hours and it wasn't as hot as I thought it might be. I'm grabbing one of those infrared heat guns tomorrow to see exactly how hot its getting. Thanks all!!
airangel Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Watching with interest as I'm going to be in a similar boat soon...going from 70w to 150w on a 24gAP...BUT not going away. Curious on what folks use to cover the tank and how long layers are left on.
dopamine Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 i am open top, never used layers to acclimate. just had the light a little higher for a week or 2 and all the corals love it. 175w on a BC14
diggman08 Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 tank looks great.... IMO i would scrap the screen top... its not neccisary... with the selection of coral you have its not going to make too much of a difference anyway... just my O. i had the same light on my BC and never used anything like that and all was well
Knuckles Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 tank looks great.... IMO i would scrap the screen top... its not neccisary... with the selection of coral you have its not going to make too much of a difference anyway... just my O. i had the same light on my BC and never used anything like that and all was well I think that the screen method is effective, and will help greatly with acclimattization especially if you have no way to sais the light higher. I first went the route of not using anything to acclimate my tanks inhabitants to MH and I paid the price. My gsp and half the zoos got bleached... as well as my deep purple coraline. The candy canes and red star polyps were fine, but even the xenia wouldnt open for 2 weeks after the whole ordeal. My girlfriend was caring for the tank while I was gone. I put up screens as soon as I saw the damage and things are back to normal and thriving now.
badbread Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 tank looks great.... IMO i would scrap the screen top... its not neccisary... with the selection of coral you have its not going to make too much of a difference anyway... just my O. i had the same light on my BC and never used anything like that and all was well I thought I read a few times that the fish as well need to be acclimated to the new light. No?
Laura6686 Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Couple crappy shots, I'll take better ones. Excuse the wiring mess... I plan on putting a post up in the lighting forum showing what it looks like since I've searched all over and haven't found a pic of a BC14 with 20" 150W Sunpod. So far, the moonlights hang off the edges and not over the water, a minor thing in my book. More to come. Thanks for the replies, I left the Lexan on and the screens and am going to go home tomorrow around noon to check on it. I left the light on this evening for about 3-4 hours and it wasn't as hot as I thought it might be. I'm grabbing one of those infrared heat guns tomorrow to see exactly how hot its getting. Thanks all!! I love your tank!!!!!!!!!!!!!
badbread Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 I love your tank!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you!! First compliment about my tank!! Anywho, I just went home to check on the tank, all is well, I may have used to much screen as the tank was pretty dim, candy canes were not expanding out, yuma loving the low light. I pulled a layer of screen off and will be back to check it in two days. Water temps were stable at around 78. More to follow, thanks all!
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