Looking to supplement current CF with MH

[RHINO13]

Hello everyone, I was wondering if there is a way to add MH lighting to supplement my current CF light. I have a 46 gal bowfront.The lighting right now is an Odyssea CF 36" it has 2-96w lamps and three LED's(moonlite) It came with those legs that can be flipped up. I want to be able to have some hard corals or maybe an annome [f i want in the future. My tank is empty right now.

Thanks,
RHINO

[charlie]

You might be better just buying or DIY a new reflector or pendant. I had a 54 gallon bowfront that I lit with a PFO single halide pendant with cf actinics. I don't know what your budget is, so that is about all I can tell ya now.
Do you have any pics of your tank??

[RHINO13]

No charlie sorry no pictures yet. But will try my best to describe. The tank is 36"long x 21" high and ranges 12.5" -16.5" deep(because the bow) The light I bought is 36" x 7.5" and I have to run a HOT skimmer(tank cant be drilled) that makes me put the light right up against the down stem for the skimmer in order to open the glass lid. I guess im wondering if its posible to make use of this CF I already have but include one or two MH lamps with out building a top for my tank. If this isnt posible,would it be ok to use this light to start my tank and upgrade to MH's when I get more money,and can you recomend what would be the best all around lighting for a reef tank for when I do so.

Thanks alot!

[charlie]

I think you would be ok using that fixture for a while. What you have will support a whole bunch of lower lite stuff like mushrooms and such. I wouldn't be getting any anenomes just yet tho. You say you still have a glass top on the tank, why?

Your best bet for halides would be 250w IMO. You could probably get away with one in a pendant as I stated before.
Check out this page, while you are waiting to upgrade, there is enuf reading and research there for both of us.
Hope this helps!!!
List of all my articles

[RHINO13]

Thanks charlie, I have the glass on there because im a newbie and dont know any better?Does it matter? And if I got a pendant, how would I continue to use the CF. It seems like the pendant would be lighting the CF and not my tank.

[charlie]

You want the top off to promote better air exchange in your tank. Your evaporation rate might go up a bit also, but that is no big deal.
You would replace your existing lite with the pendant.

[RHINO13]

You want the top off to promote better air exchange in your tank

Oh OK thanks,I was just going to use the light with out the legs and put right on top of the glass.Now that I wont have the glass there sould I use the legs or does it matter?The light does have like a thin piece of plastic that slides in and out that protects the lamps or bulbs.Also what about jumping fish, I read people talking about some kind of egg crate material or something (im imagining the stuff eggs come in but that can't be right).Can you maybe clue me in about what to use for jumping fish with the glass top off.

You would replace your existing lite with the pendant.

Thanks,so MH's is all I would need, I wouldnt need any other type of CF or anything? Or does the pendant have both MH and CF in it?
I am an electrician so I have no problem wireing ballasts or anything electrical pretty much.

Thanks again,
RHINO

[charlie]

The PFO pendant I have has 2 actinic cf bulbs in it.
The egg cratee material they are talking about is what they use to cover florescent lites in stores. I got a whole bunch at the home depot near me. What type of fish do you have?
The plastic material that your fixture has works just fine for bulb protection, with the top off tho, you will need to wipe it down once a week or so to get the salt spray off of it. Vinegar works well for that.
Here is a link to some pendants by PFO:
PFO Lighting HQI Mini Metal Halide Pendant - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

You could also DIY a reflector for your tank also, probably cheaper, but just as effective. HTH

[RHINO13]

The egg cratee material they are talking about is what they use to cover florescent lites in stores.

I see alot of different florescent lights with alot of different covers being an electrician. Are you talking about the plastic lens that covers the lamps on a fixture that is in most T Bar cielings? Im sorry im lost here,is it like a made of plastic or metal( like the wire cage material you will sometimes see on certain florescents?)

What type of fish do you have?

No fish as of yet. I am about to add water and sand on Wed. I am just trying to do some research for the future

The plastic material that your fixture has works just fine for bulb protection, with the top off tho, you will need to wipe it down once a week or so to get the salt spray off of it.

Is it ok to use without the legs then? Or better with them on(I don't like the way they look, but will use if its better)

Here is a link to some pendants by PFO:
PFO Lighting HQI Mini Metal Halide Pendant - Marine Depot - Marine and Reef Aquarium Super Store

Thanks,very helpful. Does or should my pendant be the width of my tank(36")?

You could also DIY a reflector for your tank

What do you mean DIY a reflector?

Thank again Charlie,
RHINO

[charlie]

I attached a pic of the egg crate!!

I would use the legs, but that may be just me. I really think it would be the safe thing to do if they fit on the tank. I haven't heard any horror stories about those fixtures with the legs falling in!!!

The pendant doesn't have to be the width of the tank, a metal halide will cover a 2'x2' area in your tank, it will leave some spots for lower lite corals in your future.

By DIY, I mean they make a whole bunch of reflectors that don't come with lites and all. Do a little bit of searching around on here and you'll see what I mean!! Good luck!!!

[RHINO13]

Thanks alot Charlie,im sure ill have another question soon

[charlie]

You are welcome, we'll be around