Lighting for 46g bowfront.

[salisbury a d]

I have the 46 gallon bowfront aquarium and am having a hard time arranging the lights on top. What i have now works but i want to upgrade to vho from pc.
Some of the pre made hoods will not fit and mh pendants are out of the question.
Does anyone else have the 46?
How are your lights arranged?
And how would you make your own hood?
Or, i think there is one mh and vho hood that will fit. Should i wait and buy that instead?
Currently i have three 55 watt pc bulbs, two white one actinic. I would like to be able to keep more hard corals and an anemone.
Please help. Thanks
Adam

 

[salty jeff]

I'm having the same problem with a 42 hex. You say you want to keep hard coral? That answers your question, you need a MH & some PCs. Look at a MH retrofit setup. They are alot cheaper than a pendant. That is what I decided to go with so I could get some stag. frags.

 

[birdy]

I have one 250watt mh and two 36watt actinic pc's (I want to upgrade to vho eventually), we are in the process of building a canopy for it, we decided against bowing the front of the canopy out because it looked fine without doing it. The biggest problem I had was with using one MH, the center brace caused a shadow in the tank. This was solved by some advice from a member here, I replaced the center brace with an acrylic one, using 2000psi plastic epoxy.

 

[bdhough]

They do make 36 inch vho's. I think they make 24 inch vho's. Look around. Maybe 2 vho's in the back and the new 96 watt 20 inch fixture that coralife makes in the front....

 

[shanev]

They make 24" VHOS they are 75 watts a piece.

 

[salisbury a d]

Thanks.
How did you make your canopy. Did you just build a wooden box?
How high do the lights have to be from the top of the tank and should i still use the glass cover?
Oh also. How close can the lights be spaced together, and how many fans should i use?
Adam

 

[salisbury a d]

Is this a good deal?
I found a 36" mh/vho hood for $440.
It has 1 175w mh and 2 95w vho, fan cooled.
and...
Deluxe Aluminum Metal Halide and Super Actinics Systems have corrosion proof paint on the inside of the aluminum hood, UV stabilized absorbing lens, fan cooled and quick disconnects. Also independent on/off controls for Metal Halide and Fluorescents and remote ventilated, enclosed ballast with 10' lamp cord. 11 1/2" wide and 6 1/4" high. All lamps included. Your choice of fluorescents.
Deluxe Aluminum Fixture; 5500k* includes choice of Fluorescent Bulbs
Upgrade to 250W $30 per bulb.
Well is it a good deal for $440?
Thanks
Adam

 

[jauringer]

I had 2x96 watt pcs on mine and I just upgraded to a Geismann double ended 150 MH . it was the best thing I have ever done for my tank. Why do you say that MH is out of the quiestion?

 

[salisbury a d]

When i said mh was out of the question i was meant the pendants...sorry for the confusion.
My parents wont allow me to hang anything from the ceiling.
Anyway.
Is what i posted above, the mh/vho hood for $440, a good deal?
Should i buy it or is it a waste?
Adam

 

[bdhough]

Thats pretty good. You could keep just about any coral you want. Just make sure the dimensions will fit your tank. You might be able to find that deal a little cheaper if you look around. Never had to buy halides. That sounds like a deal though. I do know a similar setup bought in the store would probably be 600+

 

[lurch694u]

Here is one that might work for ya.
---- Item

 

[salisbury a d]

Thanks. The hood listed above will hang off the front corners where it is curved just a little...but thats fine, cant find anything better.
Thanks for the link Lurch694u ill look into it.
**With a mh hood, how high should it be off the top of the aquarium?
And
Should i not use the glass cover with it?
Adam

 

[birdy]

My MH is about 9" above the water (the canopy is 12" above the tank). And No you do not want a glass cover on your tank with MH, it will trap all that heat in your tank.

 

[salisbury a d]

Thanks.
Im about $50 short.
Ill have to wait a few weeks to order.
My parents have already said yes, but that is becuase they dont know the price yet. That will take a while to get them to calm down also.
Thanks again.
Adam