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  #1  
Old 03/10/2006, 06:31 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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Ouch my eyes

i got my 65x 4 PC lights in 2 actnic and two daylights....I have them on the legs that hold them up from the tank and frankly these lights hurt my eyes...i go into my room and i get a headache...i was thinking that it may be because with them lifted a lot of the light spills into the room not directly into the tank...so can i rest the unit on the top of the tank like i had my old stock lights??? It doesnt have a splash guard but would this help??? Or is too much actnic in teh tank..maybe swith to some 50/50's on the actnics????
  #2  
Old 03/10/2006, 06:40 PM
sinkingbeach sinkingbeach is offline
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Dude, the first time I stepped into my friends place with dual 250w halides I too was blinded now that I have them myself I wish I went with the 400s. Your eyes will get use to it, trust me
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  #3  
Old 03/10/2006, 06:57 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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thats good...can i still put them dirctly on top of the tank???
  #4  
Old 03/10/2006, 07:23 PM
sinkingbeach sinkingbeach is offline
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I personally would be seriously concerned with splashing which could create a bulb to shatter... Now I'm also drinking heavily in preparation of purchasing Buffett tickets in the A.M. so take my advice with a grain of salt and possibly a lime
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Parrotheads are not the silly ones. That dishonor belongs to those of you who stay beached on this shore without any imagination or desire for fun.
  #5  
Old 03/10/2006, 07:59 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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any other opinions please???dont some peopel not use these stands on the lights?
  #6  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:02 PM
sealife sealife is offline
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i would say no they will get to hot on top of your tank
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  #7  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:08 PM
BadOleRoss BadOleRoss is offline
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I would see if there is some way to add a shield to the front of the light fixture. Re-direct the light that is shooting off into the roomback into the tank.
  #8  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:37 PM
just_in_time just_in_time is offline
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Buy a all glass hood and put the lights directly on the hood. That will prevent the splash from hitting the lights. I have an all glass canopy over my tank that fits a twin tube PC that I have.
  #9  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:49 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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what about the two actnics and two daylights....should I change to two daylights and two 50/50/'s...opinions anyone?
  #10  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:55 PM
staninct staninct is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by sinkingbeach
I personally would be seriously concerned with splashing which could create a bulb to shatter... Now I'm also drinking heavily in preparation of purchasing Buffett tickets in the A.M. so take my advice with a grain of salt and possibly a lime
Sounds like somebody else is going to see him at mohegan sun in June?!
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  #11  
Old 03/10/2006, 08:58 PM
ACBlinky ACBlinky is offline
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I'd leave the ratio of actinics to daylights the way it is. If you have a daylight bulb closest to the front of the tank, try swapping it with an actinic so it's easier on your eyes when you look at the tank.
I agree if you plan to remove the docking mounts ('legs') you should put a glass top beneath the lights. SW + unprotected bulbs = accident waiting to happen.
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  #12  
Old 03/10/2006, 09:51 PM
Sk8r Sk8r is offline
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Try bending a bit of thin formica sheeting, width about the height above the water that your light is---how's that for grammar---ie, if your light bottom is 6 inches above the water, a 6 inch band of formica bent and fastened to your supports (which I take are under, not over, the light) will shield your eyes and not overheat your tank. Our tank hood is pretty well the same design. You can use any material that won't pollute your tank if there's condensation and drip. It doesn't have to go all the way around, just in front.
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  #13  
Old 03/10/2006, 09:55 PM
sinkingbeach sinkingbeach is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by staninct
Sounds like somebody else is going to see him at mohegan sun in June?!
Will be at Mohegan Sun(comped, it's good to have phriends) and Camden
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Parrotheads are not the silly ones. That dishonor belongs to those of you who stay beached on this shore without any imagination or desire for fun.
  #14  
Old 03/10/2006, 10:37 PM
whalloper whalloper is offline
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I agree with just_in_time... get a versa top (glass top) and place directly on the top of your tank. The 4x65 PC's usually have fans - you should be fine with the heat - just monitor the temp for a week to be sure. Plus more light is getting to your tank and not your eyes!!
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  #15  
Old 03/10/2006, 11:07 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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one more thing do some legs for the lights not fit....the lights are 48 inches long and i have a 55 gallon but the legs when on come out about an inch too far on each side....is there universal legs i can buy?
  #16  
Old 03/10/2006, 11:45 PM
ahill3780 ahill3780 is offline
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most light legs I've seen are screwed to a little metal brace that slides into the light fixture on the sides. You should be able to loosen those screws a little and slide the legs inward until they fit your tank.

I wouldn't recomment having the lights right on top of the water because it would make regular tasks a pain (water changes, feeding, new stock additions, testing, etc) for when you have to get into the tank.

Best thing to do is to find some way of covering the front of the light so that it blocks it off. Usually this is done with a hood, but if you're creative enough you can find the means to cope using something around the house.

Good Luck!
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  #17  
Old 03/10/2006, 11:50 PM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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thank all of you for your posts...off to post my next noob question
  #18  
Old 03/11/2006, 12:03 AM
bjonesjr1 bjonesjr1 is offline
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I have a CustomSeaLife Fixture that is fan cooled and I took the legs off the ends of the light and went and bought some plexi glass and custom made some lids that fit around filtration and have knobs on both ends to open up to feed... when cleaning I just lift light off and take plexi lids off and go about with my cleaning.... keeps the salt in the tank, controls splashing from dog trying to lick fish and keeps fish in the tank I think I did a good job with what I made with a jig saw a few screws and some plexi glass....

bjonesjr1
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  #19  
Old 03/11/2006, 12:08 AM
RobbyG RobbyG is offline
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Dude your eyes are getting use to them because the Rods and Cones in your Retinas are burning out.

Quote:
Originally posted by sinkingbeach
Dude, the first time I stepped into my friends place with dual 250w halides I too was blinded now that I have them myself I wish I went with the 400s. Your eyes will get use to it, trust me
  #20  
Old 03/11/2006, 12:16 AM
davidhughes85 davidhughes85 is offline
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well then what do u do if your rods and cones burn out....so are you saying good lights=blindness
  #21  
Old 03/11/2006, 12:25 AM
boodwah boodwah is offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by sinkingbeach
(comped, it's good to have phriends) and Camden
Sounds like we have Phishead Phriends in our midst.

Wilson!!!!
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  #22  
Old 03/11/2006, 12:43 AM
RobbyG RobbyG is offline
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Good light is OK, it's when it gets to bright you damage your eyes.
The only way to tell if it's too much is to do a PAR or LUX meter reading in your room then checking what the Maximum recommended levels are with an optomitrist.

In my opinion if you get headaches it's way to bright, also if you have friends over and they say the light is killing them but you yourself feel fine, maybe it's time to get your night vision checked.

Quote:
Originally posted by davidhughes85
well then what do u do if your rods and cones burn out....so are you saying good lights=blindness
 


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