Ideas wanted for new canopy set-up

[elfloyd]

I need to reconfigure a canopy originally set up for metal halides. I was thinking of an eight bulb T5 arrangement. This is for a 90g tank (48x18x25) that I want ready for most anything.

Help with these questions would be most appreciated:<ul>
<li>Should I use a retro fit solution?

• </li>
  <li>http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1369">http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1369</a></li>
  </ul> [/LIST]<ul>
  <li>Should I use multiple complete hood systems.[LIST]</li>
  <li>[IMG]http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1321">http://www.hellolights.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1321</a></li>
  </ul> [/LIST]<ul>
  <li>Should I go with one unit.[LIST]</li>
  <li>[IMG]http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Wave-48-T5-High-Output-Fixture-4ft-8-x-54w-lamps_W0QQitemZ120153855758QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHydroponics_Seed_Starting">http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Wave-48-T5-High-Output-Fixture-4ft-8-x-54w-lamps_W0QQitemZ120153855758QQcmdZViewItemQQptZHydroponics_Seed_Starting</a></li>
  </ul> [/LIST](I don't want to break the bank!)
  
  I would also like led moon lights.
  
  What is working well for you?
  
  Thoughts & comments appreciated.

 

[reefknight]

Your lighting scheme really depends on what you are attempting to keep. I have a 90gal w/ canopy in operation currently. My canopy currently contains a IceCap retro 4 x 54W T-5 kit and two Luman Max 3 250w halides w/ 20k lamps. My canopy is tightly packed and it is very difficult to get into the tank without completely removing the canopy, which is a pain. My inhabitants are a serious mix of SPS and LPS corals.

If you are going to mount your lighting in a canopy I would go with all T-5's. It will be more than enough for most of your corals and it will assist on temperature issues. I run a 1/4hp chiller on my system and even on a couple of cold winter days it would come on. If I had mine to do over I would probably go with all T-5's. My personal favorites are the KZ lamps.

I have seen the New Wave fixtures and they are a decent fixture, but they really shouldn't be used in a canopy. They do not have a shield and would be prone to rust IMO.

 

[elfloyd]

Bill, Good information... Thanks!

Yep... it's all T-5's I had in mind. I'll check out the KZ lamps.

Larry