Lighting a 6' Tank w/ 2 MH's?

[Aquariust]

Looking for opinions on my lighting system. I have a 125 AGA, which has the two center braces. I cut them out and replaced them with same lenght and width of 1/2" acrylic, attached w/ nylon screws holding it together. Hence, no shadow effect.

Here's my canopy design:



The original set up was designed to accomodate 3 250W MH's in spiderlights, 3 24" VHO or PC atinics in the front, and 1 60" VHO atinic in the back. I was even considering using HQI MH's.

My hood's doors are a bit warped, so I may have to trim/redo them. So, if I'm going to change the design, now's the time, before the paint is applied.

My new plan, tell me if it will work?

Redo the hood to have only 2, 3' doors, instead of 3, 2' doors. Then, have 2 400W MH's (HQI or regular?) in spiderlights over the acrylic braces, and then 2 36" VHO atinics in the front and 1-2 60" VHO atinics in the rear. My main concern would be light distrbution. I don't want the middle not as bright. The corners I could deal w/ not much light. I'm also VERY concerned that the MH will melt the acrylic. I'd estimate the bulb would be 8-10" over the acrylic. Do they make heat safe acrylic?

Here's the low down of the 2 systems (assuming I wasn't using HQI):

3 250W MH's from www.aquaticlight.com $225
3 Spider Reflectors $150
3 10000K 250W MH Bulbs $300
3 24" VHO atinics $60
1 60" VHO atinic $30
Icecap 660 $185

Price: $950 w/o minor bs stuff, and perhaps reflectors for the vho's

Total WPG: 8.92

OR:

2 400W MH from aquatic light $200
2 Spider Light Reflectors $100
2 10000K 400W MH bulbs $220
Icecap 660 $185
2 36" VHO atinics $40
1 60" VHO atinic $30

Price: $775 w/o minor stuff, and perhaps reflectors for vho's. Also, this way costs less to operate. There's only 2 bulbs to replace instead of 3 every year. I also save money buying VHO bulbs in the long run. I will also have the option of putting on a second 60" VHO in the back if I choose. I also get more WPG this way.

Total WPG: 9.04

Still with me? So what do you think? My only concern is the acrylic melting. Give me some ideas.

Thanks All!

[wuelfman]

well here is a pic from my new tank im setting up
this is just two 400 watt 6500k bulbs
the tank is 72 long 30 wide 24 high
i also will be putting in three 6 feet vho uri bulbs next week
i dont really have any dim spot at all
my mh lights are about 10 inch from the water and around 8 to the acrylic edges of the opening
the are warmer then the rest of the top but not even close to being hot to the touch
its more like a hamburger sitting to long under the heat lamp


hope this helps
p.s. look around for someone taking down there tanks get the lights that way
i paid 225 for pfo ballest reflectors and bulbs all two months old

[scubadude]

I think 2 bulbs will be fine for your tank....especially if you make 2 piles of rock one on each side....irregardless I still think you would be fine with what you have...as far as the acrylic goes that is definately a concern, are you talking about the center brace? I have heard of ppl cutting this out and reinstalling a glass brace, Im not sure that this could be an option for you though. You have an awesome setup goin on for SPS but IMO i would be more worried about heat....just my .02

[Strangelove]

Wuelfman,

I have essentially the same lights to intall on my 220. 2 x 400w 6.5k MH and 2 72" VHO's. What kind of temperatures are you getting?

[Aquariust]

Thanks for the help guys!

So I should not put them directly over the braces? Offset them to the sides or center?

I know 9WPG is alot. I'm not even planning on keeping SPS, maybe a few select pieces, but at this present time I'm not doing a SPS dominated tank. Just variety of soft and hard corals, and a Yellow Sebae Anemone. Is this too much light???


yes I cut the braces off an AGA glass tank. There was a thread on reeftalk awhile back about a DIY center brace modification, but the link doesn't work any more. I emailed Randy from AGA and he told me that it looked like it would work fine.

One last ?, would it look stupid w/ a 250 in the center and 2 175's on the sides?

[wuelfman]

temperatures as far as what? water?
if water temp its not making a diff as of yet my canopy is 15 inch tall and i have a big clip on fan from wallmart