46.5 or 48 inch

[scott270]

ok as you all know I have been trying to find out all i can about lighting before i upgrade, i do not have a canopy and was looking for something that would fit on my glass top, now i think i may get a conopy for my 75 gallon but should i get a 48 inch or 56.5 inch retro kit, i just dont know if the 48 will fit in the canopy
thanks for all your help

 

[h2o]

are you asking if you should get 48" length of 56"length retro kit? to fit your future canopy? what is your overall length of your 75g tank?

 

[scott270]

im sorry that should of said 46.5 inch and my tank is 48 inch. so if i get a 48 inch retro would it fit or should i get the 46.5 and would the 46.5 provide enough light,this is what i am looking at<a href="http://hellolights.com/4654lamvhore.html" target="_blank">web page</a><a href="http://hellolights.com/48reflectors.html" target="_blank">and this one</a>
would the vho be enough
and would the other one be too much

 

[scott270]

2 links
web page
and this one check them both out and tell me what ya think

 

[david s]

Either one would fit a 75 the reason the vho is shorter is it goes in the canopy and the mh setup goes ontop of canopy. Be aware that the mh setup would probubly need a bulb upgrade 5500 is not that great i run 10k some run 12k and some 6500 Imo 10k with atinic is a good choice <img src="graemlins//urrr.gif" border="0" alt="[urrr]" />

 

[scott270]

yes i would do the upgrade so the mh,vho mounts under the top of the canopy and the other where does it go
so would this one not fit<a href="http://hellolights.com/48retrokits1.html" target="_blank">web page</a>

 

[david s]

no the vho would mont under the wood canopy on hood part or to the sides depending on mounting the mh setup u could take the top part of canopy off and it would sit on rest of canopy 48 is the same lenth as a wood canopy hood 48in outside 46.5 inside

 

[scott270]

so would the 46.5 retro kit be enough light to keep most corals

 

[david s]

what i did with my mh setup i removed the top part of canopy then got a 1by1 piece of wood and screwed it to inside top of canopy then just set it ontop

 

[david s]

If you can afford it i would go metal halied because later u may want some high light stuff like clams i am fairly new to and not to that point yet but for me i know i can get them when i am ready and not have to upgrade again. But u will get alot of oppinons on this subject

 

[krusk]

I like to stick with standard number
24", 36" , 48" etc.
I have no idea why they have 46.5"

 

[scott270]

if i get the vho kit could i later add a mh and if so how

 

[david s]

you probubly could. the vho will do alot of what you want i would start looking at tank pics there are alot of setups out there and the variations are endless