I need some help with power compact lighting please

kyarnkid

kyarnkid

Member
I have a 55 tank. Well, I am confused on to what type of PC lighting I need. What type should I have, and by that I mean what kind of fixture do I need?
Should I have the kind that fits to your canopy or one that sits on top of your glass hoods?
I have a canopy but the lid in the canopy I beleive is to small for the fixture to fit. It is an All Glass(Brand Name "All Glass") wooden Canopy that goes with my All Glass(Brand Name "All Glass") 55 gallon. The canopy lid is half as big as the whole canopy top. So it is only half the size of the canopy top. I hope that makes sense?
So should I get one that sits on top of my glass hood under the canopy.I know that I have to get a pair of 2 48 inch hoods. However, I have two-side flip up glass hoods and hang on the back filters, so won't the fixtures get in the way?
PLease help
 
hondo

hondo

Member
sounds like the canopy you do have is a flat glass or plastic cover which sits on your tank leaving less than 1" of space between the water and the glass. This usually has a flip up style lid which is 4" to 6" wide running the length of the tank. If this is what you have then you are better off going with a new wood canopy 6" or taller and sitting on the top edge of your aquarium. Then you can mount the retrofit light kit on the underside and still have 4" or so of space between the lights and the water. Lights get hot and you do need some space between the light and the water surface. How much space depends on what type of light.
 
kyarnkid

kyarnkid

Member
I have a canopy, look what I typed when I started the post. I also have 24 inch dual top glass hoods that sit about 4 inches below the canopy.
Will the light fixture that just sits on the hoods be in the way of my hang on the back filters?
 
kyarnkid

kyarnkid

Member
Baron,
Shouldn't I have two hoods with lights, I mean two strips of lights?
4 lights alltogether is what I was told
 
cyn

cyn

Member
JBJ lighting makes a pc strip that will fit your tank and not get in the way of your filters. I have one on my 55 and no problems. Total light is 220w half acintic and half 10000k daylight.
HTH
cyn
 
cyn

cyn

Member
The rule of thumb is around 5 watts per gallon to keep most corals. With that said, I know several people with these lights, and I have never heard anyone complain. My corals include: 1 red open brain, 1 candy coral, 1 frogspawn, 1 large mat of star polyps, 1 button polyp rock, several shrooms and my newest is a leather. The coraline algie is growing everywhere now too. Everything is thriving. The frogspawn is currently dividing, and I noticed a single polyp of something I need to id last night. I know that this is not enough light for anemonies, but this board has steered me away from them for now. Just remember to keep you water quality high and very stable!
HTH,
cyn
 
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