canopy/pendant help

[belallanon]

I was planning on hanging a 24" 175W MH 2x55W PC Hamilton hood over my AGA 29g like a pendant. After doing some reading in the forums, it seems that this might spill more light into my living room than I'd like so I'm now considering a canopy. How tall should a canopy for this type of MH/PC setup be? How far should the lights be from the water? I plan on keeping clams, LPS, SPS. If I use a canopy, how can I acclimate my coral/fish from the old tank? Should I still get the Hamilton hood and hang it in the canopy or get a retro kit? I'd like the canopy to be open in the back to accommodate my HOB equipment. Doors in the front would be nice also. Anyone know of some good plans with pictures (I'm not a woodworking expert)? Ahhh, so many questions. Any help appreciated. Thanks much.

Randy

 

[Ralphyhp]

^Bump^

 

[liquid]

Here's a pretty good lighting survey that we put together if you'd like to take a look at it: http://reefs.org/GBSurvey/surveyq.php?survey_id=10

What is your current lighting?

If you'd like to see how I made my hood, head over to http://www.liquidreef.com/ and click on the Equipment link.

Shane

 

[belallanon]

This is a new setup and has no lights yet.

 

[Ralphyhp]

I vote for the cannopy. How long is this tank and how hight. For keeping SPS and clams i like more the 250W HQI's PFO ballast with 250w 10000k DE Ushios bulbs on PFO HQI's miny pendants this pendants fix on cannopys too, this guys really like :idea: . For that reason i ask you the measures of your tank. IMO forgive the 175w they are better for softies and try 250 watters for clams and SPS and absolutly in case of upgrade for a bigger tank :wink: . I have three 250w Ushios on magnetics ballast with VHO actinics supplementation and im upgrading for HQI's 250w DE. Ralphyhp :wink:

 

[Len]

Here's pictures of my 15" tall canopy. It has two front doors and an open back like you are describing. I didn't build it myself as I'm no carpenter, but I designed in this way so that it's easy to service. Hope this helps. Let me know if you have any questions about my canopy.

To acclimate, I'd use shorter photoperiods to begin with. Start with 1 hour of MH light for th first day, 2 hours the next, etc. Corals tend to adjust well if you give them time.

 

[fungia]

my new canopy is 12 inches tall to hold the halides that are about 8 inches from the top of the water. i would get the retrofit to save money and weight. i think people acclimate by slowly increasing the time the halides are on, i also hear people raise their lights if they have pendants.

 

[Anonymous]

My canopy is 18 inches high. I have a PFO HQI pendant inside that the glass is 11 inches off of the water. I have 2 VHO actinics about 3 inches off of the warer as well.


By the way, Nice Tanks Len and Rallyhp.
_________________
hash honey oil

 

[belallanon]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. Ralphyhp, my 29g is 30" x 12" x 18". Any heat problems with 250W? Len, nice canopy. I see you have the MH mounted to the lid and the supplements mounted below. Is this common practice? Do the supplements block some of the MH light? How are your supplements mounted in the canopy? Are they VHOs? From reading in the forums, it seems that many people choose to supplement with VHOs instead of PCs. Is there some reason for this? Where did you get your canopy built? Does anyone know of any good places to get custom built canopies (I'm not a carpenter either). Please forgive me for all the questions. They just came pouring out :mrgreen: . Thanks again for all the help.

Randy