Does PC lighting need to be cooled?

[MikeP471612]

I'm setting up a 55 watt 10000K lamp on my 30g tank. I will be fitting it in the current (plastic) fixture on my canopy. The lamp does get quite hot but I'm not sure if it will get hot enough to melt any plastic. Is it common for people to set up a small fan to cool these lamps?

Thanks

[TG420]

Short and easy.

Nope.

-TG

[MikeP471612]

Thanks

[BurntOutReefer]

Nope...BUT....if its a completely closed canopy, you will get a temp raise which might translate into a water temp raise....
IMO...I would spend an extra $10.00 and get a coolling fan aswell....just my 2 cents

[Paul B]

I did put a fan in mine only because the last one I built warped after a few years. There is an aluminum reflector in this one and the small fan removes the air between the reflector and the vinyl canopyThe white thing in the front houses the PC lights, it is a 4" vinyl fence post from Home Depot sliced in half. You can see the small black fan in the center. Of course the MH lights above it also add to the heat load.
Paul

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/data/500/13094DSC01396.JPG

[Pete Harcoff]

For a single 55 watt bulb, not really. I have a 55 watt PC bulb, plus two 30 watt regular fluorescents under the hood of my f/w tank and I haven't had heating problems. It does get a bit warm under there, but if you have a gap at the back for the heat to escape, you should be fine.

[BurntOutReefer]

IMO...Tank size is 30G.....it will start getting toasty down there....
I'd (and have) spend the $10.00 for a small fan......

[David Grigor]

Always best to have some sort of air movement.

[iamquockie]

yea--i put 2x55w pc to light up my sump doubling as a frag tank and the water heated up 3-4 degrees. it is mounted about a foot and a half above the sump, cabinet that the sump is in has an open back and it still raised temp that much. added a $5 fan and it cured it.

[Lake75]

I had 2x55W PC on my previous 30G tank. No, you don't necessarily need the cooling since the heat isn't so intensive. But as others have said, it's better to have one if you can, just to lower the water temp.