Lighting Question Please Help

[anthdigi24]

I used to have 6 T5 bulbs attached under the hood of my tank. This is a setup i purchased from somone. Recently the power adaptors started going bad so i purchased the Coralife Lunar Aqualight HO T5 Fixture 36". I was delivered yesterday and i set it up last night. Here are my questions.
1. How many fans should be in this unit? It has spots for fans on top but only one of them actually has a fan in it.
2. My hood wont fit on top because of the height of the fixture. Can i use the fixture without the "supports" and sit the light directly on the glass?
3. Do they make smaller "supports" that i could use to get the fixture off the glass but still allow the hood to fit one?
4. Is it safe to use the hood with a fixture like this?
5. I prefer to use the hood, if i shouldn't use this fixture with the hood, what type of lighting do you recommend?

Any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[drillsar]

for one you should not be using glass tops. You can use either Light ceiling diffuser (Eggcrate) or a screen mesh. The light I wouldn't put directly on tank as heat maybe a problem. What size tank? You should look into buildmyled.com awesome light and don't have to worry replacing bulbs again plus save electricity and you can hang them in your hood.

 

[anthdigi24]

I believe it is a 65 Gallon. 36W/18D/24H. The instructions for the light says that it should be over a glass top but you are saying not to follow those instructions right? You also think I should remove my canopy because of the potential of heat?

 

[Ou8me2]

Glass tops can affect your lighting if they get really dirty or lots of salt creep. I would consider a mesh screen kit. also does the light not have anything protecting it from water splashing up on the bulbs? You can always add fans to the canopy if you think heat is an issue.

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/diy-aquarium-screen-top-kits-1-8-netting.html

http://www.bulkreefsupply.com/sumps-tanks-refugiums/diy-screen-tops.html