Newbie lighting question

[cme030603]

Hey guys a newbie DIY/ MH question. I was thinking of doing my own MH setup with all the retrofit kits out there figure be cheaper.First off will be getting a 55g tank the typical measurments 48x13x20, so with that measurement do i want a 48" light or no? Second with the diy kit should i just use a triple tube flurescent housing for the kit?Or would anyone else have a recomendation to use for the housing of the retrofit kit that would be cheap?Also If say unless someone has different recomendation.Say i used the 48" setup use 2 MH like say 2 175w or one 400w?

 

[thegrog]

the 48" fixtures are perfect.
Go with the two bulbs instead of one powerful one. That way, the light is more distributed. Two 175's will work great.
Not sure what you are asking about the tripple tube thing.
HOpe this helps.

 

[michaeltx]

a MH light will cover a 2 foot by 2 foot area of the tank so you will need 2 to cover the tank good. They get HOT so you some distance between the tank and the lights with fans blowing in and out for a good ventalation or youll have a heat issue. Nest thing you dont want anything plastic to house these it wont last but a few minutes before it starts to melt away. The best thing to do in a retrofit case is to a canopy or build a canopy to go over the tank. it will give you the height that you need plus give a nice finished look to the outside of the tank.
i will post a pic of some lights I had on my 100 gallon that is 5 feet long
HTH
Mike

 

[michaeltx]

here ya go

 

[acrylic51]

Yep (2) 175W MH's would give you good coverage, shouldn't be a major heat issue as long as you keep them up a bit off the tank....still recommend cooling fans.....

 

[sylvius]

So I am also a lighting noob and am thinking of getting a 48" fixture for my 55g. Can you leave the glass covers on the tank with a 175w x2 MH fixture about 8-12" above the tank? If not, do you end up just having to use a lot more make up water from the evaporation and how do you keep the potential jumpers in (gobies, etc)?

 

[mandarin w]

It is alway best to keep the glass covers off the tank, This allows for good evaporation, Your tank need to evaporate. It helps with cooling and gas exchange. As far and fish jumping out of the tank, you can pick up some eggcrate (it is a floresent light covering) at any hardware store, Home Depot, Lowels, Ace. Just keep a jug of RO/DI on hand for toping off the tank everyday. It would probley only be a gallon or two. But it is best. You should also keep a fan blowing across the top of the tank while the lights are on. But if you thing about it, it will make sense. When ever light shine thru glass it intensifies the heat.This is a picture of the fan I use to blow across one of my tanks. The white stuff on top of the tank is eggcrate.

 

[acrylic51]

Why are alot of people so concerned with "jumpers" do alot of people go without canopies?

 

[michaeltx]

Can you leave the glass covers on the tank with a 175w x2 MH fixture about 8-12" above the tank
you really dont need them and will restrict the oxygen exchange of the tank. if your worried about jumpers then use whats called egg crate over the tank. the glass can get hot and shatter if something is splashed on them to.
I have only had a couple of jumpers in all the years of keeping fish including a morray eel and a firefish so it is possible but doesnt happen all the time unless there is something in the tank chaseing them.
IMO
Mike