help with aquarium lights

[ylaw]

If you don't have a hood and aren't going to build one to house a DIY lighting system then a complete fixture is your best bet. With a 4' tank you will need 2 MH bulbs to cover the tank. I kept corals (low light corals) with a 260w PC fixture, that only gives you 3.4wpg. If you are looking for only low light corals that unit will work. If you want a full blown mixed reef with SPS and some LPS coral along with a clam then you will need MH lighting.

Like I said if you aren't handy and can't build a hood to house your lights then get a complete fixture and as has been stated you do get what you pay for. Lighting and skimmers are 2 things not to skimp on! JMO!

If you are handy and can build a hood let me know and I will show you pics of my design maybe that will give you some ideas or direction.

Thanks Ziggy, can you show me a pic of your design either way. This way I can see if it's too difficult or not.


Appreciate it.

 

[Ziggy953]

This first pic shows my 2 MH bulbs with VHOs on either side. I got the reflector from Hellolights.com. MH=2x175 VHO=2x110 570w total or 7.9wpg

This pic shows lights on.

Here is a pic of the canopy itself. I built this along with the cabinet the tank sits on.

I have to take the hood off this weekend to do a bit of replumbing on my closed loop so I will take some detailed pics of the canopy for you.

 

[ylaw]

Thanks Ziggy....Looks good