MH for 46G bowfront??

[reefmoron]

I'm new to this hobby and just got a 46G bowfront tank. i was thinking of using 2x175 MH under the canopy?? Is that sufficient light to keep some softies?? Also i've heard that these light under the hood generate a lot of heat~ will it melt my hang on protein skimmer( Aqua C remora) as the skimmer will only be 4-5 inches from the lights?? any suggestions ~ thanks
abe

[Ltspd]

Yes, that is plenty of light for the tank, you should be able to keep anything you want within reason.

Yes, they will generate a lot of heat. You can add some fans to the hood and drill multiple vent holes in the top and back to allow the heat to escape naturally plus the help of fans. As far as the skimmer, its possible but here again with good circulation the problem may not arise.

[reefmoron]

thanks a lot Ltspd

[goes4ever]

I currently have a 46g bowfront and I have one 175w 10k ushio bulb along with 2 32w atinic PC bulbs and my tank is full of mainly softies but I also have about 7 stonies, one acropora and 6 different montiporas, everything is growing wonderfully. I know because I have to keep fragging everything!
My lighting is in a CSL prism pendant that hangs about 8" from the water surface. My only complaint is that I get a shadow from the center brace. Other than that my tank looks super!

[reefmoron]

goes4ever
What kinda canopy do u have over ur tank?? as the MH is a pendant are the atinics covering half of the other side of the tank?? i was thinking of making a hood instead of going for a pendant and installing 2x4' fans on the sides for cooling. I think 2x175 will be an overkill ~ so i might just settle for 1x250W( which can be used later on when i upgrade to a larger tank.
thanks for your help.
abe

[goes4ever]

Abe,
I am not using a canopy over my tank, I am using a CSL prism pendant, that hangs about 8" over my water. Inside the pendant is one 175w 10k Ushio MH and 2~32w atinic PC bulbs which are around 20" long, since they are 8"above the tank, the light spreads nicely The halide bulb is in the center of the pendant, and the atinics are on each side of it