lighting examples for mh

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ashearier

Aquarium Advice Apprentice
Joined
May 7, 2003
Messages
48
Location
Wisconsin
Can someone point me in the right direction for getting a good mh lighting setup going. I just don't know what I want to do. I would like to get 2 175or250 watt mh with some vho or pc. What I don't know is if I should go retrofit and build a canopy or not. I would like to get some of your ideas and go from there. Thanks
 
well it usually comes down to a question of budget. If you have the cash it's certainly much easier to buy a canopy/hood that fits your tank and holds the amount of light you're looking for. But, if your like most of us, it can save a fair amount of cash to build you're own. LIkely, what came with your 55 won't hold MH and VHO/PC in a retro so you'll likely have to build a DIY hood. They're not real difficult and saves you a fair amount of cash. Check out our DIY Section for a number of threads with examples and information that will probably answer a lot of your questions.
 
How about one of these;

1) 47" long, 11 1/2" wide, 4" tall. Metal Halide/PC combo 2-150 watt HQI 10,000k or 20,000k german madeUSHIO bulbsUV shield with remote ballast. 2-65 watt power compact actinic bulbs 2-36 watt power compact 10,000k bulbs 2-four inch fans. seperate power cords and switches for the power compact and HQI 2 very bright metal halide bulbs. Feet can be added to this hood to elevate the lights 6 inches off the tank.

2)48" long, 11 1/2" wide, 4 1/2" tall. Metal Halide/VHO combo 2 - 150 watt Double Ended Metal halide bulbs and 2 - 110 VHO bulbs. There is an ice cool 4 inch fan included in the unit to keep the unit extra cool. Feet can be added to this hood to elevate the lights 6 inches off the tank.

This is for a 90 gallon to contain some medium to low light corals. No clams or SPS.

I am not very handy and would like to stay away from building a canopy for a retro if at all possible. Can I get some votes on these two.

Also, what is the difference between the double ended and screw MH bulbs?
 
I purchased a Cool Touch system on ebay and have been very happy with it. They have every combination you can think of and they are pretty reasonable. I got 2 175m/h with 2 110watt vho. It comes with the vho bulbs. We are about to order a hood that has (3) 400watt m/h and (4) 110watt vho bulbs. I would definately reccomend them.

Squishy
 
I would like to know if either of the above mentioned setups would be enough for me. Is 150watt bulbs too low end?
 
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