[Tazman]

Greetings:

[Posted this in DIY, but hoping the lighting section will prove to be more productive!]

I would greatly appreciate any DIY plans for making a hood or canopy that will accomadate both the MH and VHO efficiently as possible.

Just ordered a MH PFO retro fit from Premium Aquatics. Initially, I will only have 2 Metal Halides centered over my tank.

However, over the next few weeks I want to add either 2 or 4 VHO actinics to supplement. Ideally, I want these on each side of the MH lighting.

Scenario: my tank [60"long x 26" tall x 18"deep] is built into a wall, therefore I have approximately 15 1/2" depth of space to place lighting over. In addition, I'm not overly concerned with aethetics, but I do have limited space in my "fish room" because the fish room is under stairs and I have to work with angles above my tank. I may need to be able to raise and lower this unit for tank maintenance.

Everyone has been advising me to place the MH lighting higher in the canopy than the VHO's. If someone has plans on how to do this please point me in the right direction.

A million thanks.

[naser]

im going thru the same exact thing. but im getting my canopy made. im mounting my 2 5 foot long vho's on blocks so they are lower. im hoping my 2 400watt mh's will be enough to cover the 6 foot span of my new tank. i might use my 2 55watt pc's as daylight bulbs? since i allready own them.

[Tazman]

Thanks for the repsonse.

Well, it looks like I'm going to be building my own. I spoke with Jeremy at Premium Aquatics and learned that they have a reflector that accomodates 2 MH and VHO's with the VHO's being positioned down 6 inches from the MH.

Problem is the reflector is only 36" long and my tank is 60" long. I could buy 1 36" and 1 24".

Hamilton makes a reflecor called the, "Electro-White" which accomodates 2 MH in the center (cut-outs provided) and 2 VHO's along the side (w/cut-outs) for $30-$40. It's just the metal, but all one needs to do is frame the wood on the outside and you're done.

Anyway, I think I can use some wood that I already have (cedar and poplar) and purchase a piece of aluminum for the top and fashion my own.

I'm going to work on it this weekend. If I come up with anything grand, I'll pass it on with a pic or two.

Thanks again.