New setup... Suggestions needed.

[Renegade]

Hello all.

I'm almost finished building a stand and canopy for an AGA 90 Gal. After the finish is applied, I'll be ready to install the lights. I'm attaching a picture (near completion) to show the height of the canopy, as I would like to install MH lighting, preferably HQI. The reason for HQI is less heat, and higher light output for wattage, at least as far as I've read in here.

The questions I have are,

1. What wattage should I go with when ordering the fixtures.
2. What color temperature/brand of bulbs for them.
3. What are your opinions on E-ballasts or standard ballasts for the HQI, focusing on heat and reliability.

I've been thinking about the PFO brand horizontal pendants, driven by either IceCap MH, or the BlueLine E-Ballasts from Champion. This could be supplemented by a couple of VHO actinics, driven by an IceCap 430, depending on the color temp of the MH bulbs. From what I've read, the 13k or 14k bulbs may not need it. I do however like a "bluer" look in the tank.

While looking for information on 90 Gal tanks, I've read till my eyes crossed, and have seen all kinds of suggestons concerning wattage and placement (distance) from the water surface. My plans are to keep some corals, and a clam or two, with a few fish for some movement. The inside top of the hood is approximately 16" from the tank frame, and the actual water line will be a bit below that (whatever the overflow system demands). The pendants will most likely be suspended from small chains, to allow for fine tuning the fixture height.

Ventilation for the canopy will be a full-length opening, approximately 5" tall, near the bottom of the canopy (at the rear..) then three or four fans at the top-rear, blowing out. This should create an effect of drawing cool air into the canopy, across the water surface, then upward, past the fixtures and out, through the fans. This should be effective in cooling the water surface, while ridding the canopy of excess heat and moisture.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Harry.

[chet-tonja]

I've been running Hamilton 14k bulbs for about a month now and I am very happy with the color and the improvements in my corals. I still supplement actinic, but you really don't need to...I will be changing out one of my actinics for a 50/50. I'm running Icecap ballasts by the way also. I'll see if I can dig up a decent pic to show the tank color....