Florida reefers with MH

[DukeDog]

I'm being told no way to have MH with out a chiller. What are you takes on this? I am setting up a 125 that I was going to put 2 250 6500k iwaskis with IC ballasts and 2 6 ft vhos for actinic . The canopy is supposed to be 12" high and open in the back. If I ever get it. I was going with 2 4" fans . The LFS are telling me go with vho. Thats what I have now on my 55. By the way we keep the house about 78.
Thaks for the help
Jeff

[playnhooky]

Hey Dukedog,

I live in st pete and ive got a 75g and ive got two 175w 10.000k metal halide bulbs with two NO 4 foot blue atinics over it,I keep the bulbs themselfs about 11" above the water in a open hood.I keep my ac at 77 and my tank is about 77 in the morning and about 81 at night(thats when my lights are on)Ive got a fan blowing across my sump and a fan on the lights.Everything does just fine with the temp swing.The metal halide was the best thing i got for my tank,I say go for it!!

[Grunt]

Im in Tampa....No need for a chiller...Becuase my house is chiller...Hahah...temps not to bad. But im running PC's not MH..So Im not to sure. You could always run a fan on the MH so it wouldn't be too hot.
-Grunt

[bcobra]

Im also in Tampa have a 120 with two 250 65k and four 55w
PC's. The hood is 11" high bulbs are about 6 1/2" above the
water,two 4" fans and a open back. The house is kept at around 73 degrees tank runs 77 to 78 at night and
79 to 80 with lights on. 40gal breeder with a single 250 65k
two 95w VHO's same hood height and bulb distance and fans.
Also a fan mounted on the sump temp runs about 78 at night
and 79 to 80 during the day. No chiller.

Robin :cool:

[Drouse]

I live in the Fort Lauderdale area. My central a/c keep the house around 74 degrees. With the pumps, 2 96 watt pc actincs the base temp is 79.2 degrees. When the 3 250 MH come on with 2 4 inch fans the temperature drops to 78.7. Keep your house reasonabliy cool and run the fans.

[Aquaman]

I live in Orlando, and my 125 reef has 3 175watt MH and 3 5' VHO's. My canopy has 2 6" fans one blowing in the other blowing out and a 10" fan under the tank above the sump. Even with all those fans my tank heats up! I do have a 1/4hp chiller sitting under my house :D (I live in a manufactured home) and keep the tank temp 80 to 82 degrees.

[DukeDog]

Thanks guys for the input:) Well it sounds that if you use 2 fans and keep your house around 74 degrees it could work. I need to make my mind up!
Jeff