MH & VHO or PC Lighting ?

[chr11tar22]

:help:
I have a 75gal Reef Tank that I have had for 2yrs. I currently have a PC 4x65w fixture now....I am wanting to improve my lighting because my corals and etc are not propagating or growing.
I would like to add MH w/PC or VHO as a retro to my canopy. However, my canopy sits 5ins above the water. Will the MH be too close to the water and also add too much heat?
I am open to suggestions as to what I can do with my current canopy, I want the most light available too.

 

[iwantacans]

this all depends on what coral you want to keep in the future. if sps go mh if lps softies vho may be the way to go
i assume you have a retro hood now, where the lights are enclosed in a casing. built from a factory

 

[chr11tar22]

if sps go mh if lps softies ....what is sps and lps?? Sorry
Yes, I do have the retro lights....Coralife

 

[iwantacans]

sps= small polyp stonies... aka the "sticks"
lps= large polyp stones, your torches frogspawns, brains, ect ect...

 

[chr11tar22]

Thanks for the clarification...I have both sps and lps.

 

[iwantacans]

wonderful, i personally would look into a dual 250w de mh set up. maybe sell your current set up after you get the new one, that way you still would have lights till the new ones arve.

 

[chr11tar22]

I guess what concerns me is the proximity of the canopy to the top of the tank...5inches!
Will the 250w de mh cause heat problems inside the canopy?

 

[iwantacans]

well youll need to make a new one if that is what your askin, most people keep mh at least 6-8 inches off the top..

 

[acrylic51]

With MH your going to want to definitely go more than 5"... Most manufacturers recommend at least 12" from top of tank, but most of us usually go around 8"-10" from the top.... Even with that amount of height you will still need to vent your canopy.....

 

[reefraff]

Do some research on T5 fluorescents. I keep SPS and a clam under them. The SPS all started small frags except one and they have had good growth. It is important to get the system with individual reflector that wrap around each lamp. Sunlight Supply and Ice Cap are both good brands. They ain't cheap but they are the next best thing to halides without the heat issues.