How tall should a canopy be

[zack schwartz]

I have a 65 that is 48 by 13. I am setting up a reef and plan on keeping either VHO or MH. I saw two canopys one being like 3" tall and the other like 6" tall. The price difference was like $60. Does it matter how tall a canopy is for that lighhting.

 

[david s]

depends on if u go mh u need them like 18inches off watter vho lights want to be closer decide what kind of lights u are going to run then make a conopy decicion

 

[david s]

if u want to be able to keep alot of clams and high light stuff go mh so u dont upgrade again later

 

[zack schwartz]

What are price differences is mh alot more $ orjust a little? <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[david s]

for a 48inch long tank u would need 2 mh lights because u want 1 bulb every 2 feet and a kit would be like 200 bucs problem is another 200 for bulbs there is a dyi for 200 bucs total usein Iwasaki bulbs but were your tank is only 13 inch deep u may not need mh i would try postin a question first in reef section on your tank bein 13 inch deep pc lights may do it for u not sure tho ) <img src="graemlins//confused.gif" border="0" alt="[confused]" />

 

[q]

IMO I don't think either will work for MH. If you factor in the height of the mogul socket you would be at a max of 4 inches off the water with the 6 inch hood. My canopy is 12 inches high and the MH bulbs are somewhere around 8 inches off the water.
For that kind of money I think you could go to a cabnit maker and have it custom done. My canopy only cost like 120 but I live in a small town.
Price for a MH set up (roughly)
135 PFO dual ballast
120 for 2 MH bulbs
100 Spyder light refectors

 

[zack schwartz]

My tank is 18" deep. I am making a canopy that will be 12" tall. Do you guys know any cheap light stores online beasides hellolights.com?

 

[maury]

Best prices I found so far are at Marine Depot. Just ordered a 3 bulb (Iwaskai 6500K) Metal halide setup last night with one single 250W PFO ballast, and one dual 250W PFO ballast. They were the cheapest I could find all at one spot. Also got the three spider reflectors as well.

 

[david s]

<a href="http://www.lighthouseaquarium.com/catalog3453.html" target="_blank">http://www.lighthouseaquarium.com/catalog3453.html</a> i found this spot resonable

 

[deucey]

Hey your making the right decision man go with the MH you won't be sorry!! Twelve inches is a great hight for a MH canopy.....that sounds great sounds like you are on the right track!

 

[jakob4001]

try <a href="http://www.championlighting.com" target="_blank">www.championlighting.com</a> or <a href="http://www.***************.com" target="_blank">www.***************.com</a>

 

[maury]

I checked all of those. If you want to save on the shipping costs (and it's around 70 pounds of stuff for my setup) go with one place for your equipment. Marine depot had teh lowest prices in this case.