Best deal on a 72" T5 or MH
- Thread starter Yinzer
- Start date
vr697getta
New member
not sure if its an option but you could always hang the canopy. i hung mine lights are about 10 inches from the water 250 mh. i could pm you some pics for ideas if you want.
cloakerpoked
New member
Yeah, you're definitely stuck with that canopy going with t-5 lighting. I went with a suspended canopy look, rather than going for an on-tank option, and I feel it looked pretty good. You could also have a look at TJ's tank sometime, as his inspired mine, and probably executed it better...although his wasn't a canopy, just pendents.
I will say that Metal Halide is probably cheaper equipment-wise to set up...but will run a lot hotter and would, as noted, require you to sacrifice the canopy. On a related note, with t-12 lighting, I'm uncertain how much help that tin foil is giving you. The bulbs in VHO's have internal reflectors that send most of it downwards to begin with.
I will say that Metal Halide is probably cheaper equipment-wise to set up...but will run a lot hotter and would, as noted, require you to sacrifice the canopy. On a related note, with t-12 lighting, I'm uncertain how much help that tin foil is giving you. The bulbs in VHO's have internal reflectors that send most of it downwards to begin with.
The tin foil was there when I bought it. So if i take off the canopy what are my options?
I am actually looking for pics of what will work. I look online and in magazines but they do not make sense to mr since I have never seen another tank like mine. As far as t5 and MH, I don't know the difference of what they look like or how they will be used with my tank setup.
All I know is that my current situation sucks and after losing another ballast, I would rather upgrade the whole thing than keep replacing parts to my subpar lighting.
I am actually looking for pics of what will work. I look online and in magazines but they do not make sense to mr since I have never seen another tank like mine. As far as t5 and MH, I don't know the difference of what they look like or how they will be used with my tank setup.
All I know is that my current situation sucks and after losing another ballast, I would rather upgrade the whole thing than keep replacing parts to my subpar lighting.
I guess the main question is what do you want to keep? I (now that i added cooling) am getting great PAR on my t5 setup and the growth on everything is great. The main reason i stayed away from halide was heat and i only had 8" to deal with.
At 30" base its pushing a lot so far to the bottom.
here is what it looks like
In this room removing the canopy is not an option. Since this is furniture.
here is a really old shot of the full setup
At 30" base its pushing a lot so far to the bottom.
here is what it looks like
In this room removing the canopy is not an option. Since this is furniture.
here is a really old shot of the full setup
The endcaps are mounted on a base that screws right up into the canopy. Its 4 small screws on each side.
As i mentioned I have 2 36" kits in my hood. That give me 8 bulbs (4 per side) with icecap overdrive.
with a 30" tank im getting an average par of 70 on the bottom with that setup. I am about to add another 2 4 bulb setups. Granted a lot depends on the bulbs, but I have switched out to use all UV bulbs.
Still you have not mentioned what you plan to keep? or did i miss it
As i mentioned I have 2 36" kits in my hood. That give me 8 bulbs (4 per side) with icecap overdrive.
with a 30" tank im getting an average par of 70 on the bottom with that setup. I am about to add another 2 4 bulb setups. Granted a lot depends on the bulbs, but I have switched out to use all UV bulbs.
Still you have not mentioned what you plan to keep? or did i miss it
Mark 75g
New member
I have 3 250 watt mh and 4 39 watt t 5 in a fixture for the same reason -Canopy- and the mh are only about 5 0r so inches from the water on my 175gallon. My tank stays around 75 to 78 degrees without a chiller. Tank is in the basement and the house is usually kept around 73 degrees in the summer.
Well, I'm still in Florida and stopped at a random lfs down here and happened to ask if he has a 2x96 pc ballast and he had one there! Finally. So the light upgrade is goin back to the back burner until I completely upgrade to a new tank out of this scratchy, acryllic POS.
Now I am in search of a 72x24x24 glass tank that will fit my current setup...
Now I am in search of a 72x24x24 glass tank that will fit my current setup...
cloakerpoked
New member
Levichar's friend is selling a tank of that size. Was in great condition when I was up there.
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