Newbie Question-Light Choice

[kill4u]

I am planning to set up a 180g AGA reef tank in a couple of months.

I am confused with what size light fixture should be used for a 72" tank.... Not many light fixtures come in 72" lengths....

Do most people use 3 24" fixtures or 2 36" fixtures?? If so.... How do you mount them if hanging is not an option....

Using standoff legs to mount the light seems like it would make doing any work in the tank a nightmare unless they were hinged......

I currently have a 48" PFO fixture with 2-250w MH and 2 96W CFs.... One option would be to dismantle this unit and make a 72" unit out of it since I need new bulbs anyway....

If I mounted the reflectors directly to the wood for a new canopy.... Will I have a heat transfer problem??? I assume the reflectors will stop most of the heat transfer to the wood behind them......

I have done some research and can not find a supplier for 72" reflectors..... So this might not be an option..... I guess I couple use several smaller units and overlap them..... Any ideas????


Lost as usual....
Brian

 

[amore169]

I don't really know what u mean with a 72'' reflector but I think if u r trying to find a Light there's lot of 72 inch light fixtures, or u can go with reflector but u would have to use 3 of them to cover ur tank.

 

[sedor]

+1
I would just use 3 pendants mounted in your canopy. What your going to want to do is make sure there is a space between the top of the pendant and your wood some people use an eye bolt and just a couple links of chain to hand the pendants about an inch or even a little less off the wood.