Retro Fit Lighting Confusion

[divemasterjim]

Hello my friends I need to get a new lighting system to accommodate what will soon be a reef aquarium but I am confused as what to buy. I cant do Metal Halide which was my first choice as i would have to get a new hood or go no hood, so that is out. My confusion stems from all the different lighing available such as:
Very High Output Fluorescent bulbs (VHO)
Power compact Fluorescent lighting (PC)
T5 Fluorescent lighting (T5)
T8 Fluorescent lighting (T8)
T12 Fluorescent lighting (T12)
High Output Fluorescent lighting (HO)
URI Fluorescent Bulbs (URI)

Maybe some of these are one and the same I dont know
Would some one who knows about light just tell me what to get , this will be a DIY retro so keep that in mind, I need to know what wattage, what brand, what style, etc.....
I have a 60 gallon acrylic tank and hood and need 36 " lamps I think
Thank you for your input

 

[Anemoneman]

Why can't you do MH in the hood you have?

 

[divemasterjim]

well i was told you need about 12 inches between your tank and lights and i only have about 4 1/2
and the tank and hood are acrylic so im afriad with everything that close it might melt the acrylic
look at picture of tank

 

[brndfrb]

you could always build a new hood for it or do a hanging pendant.

 

[divemasterjim]

Na wouldnt look as nice
i like the hood now
my next aquarium will have metal halide

 

[brndfrb]

I would get in contact with Darin from captivereefs.com. He sells all sorts of retro kits. That would be your best bet. He is one of our sponsors.