mounting PFO HQI mini pendant

[rocknut]

Hello everyone,
Right in the middle of setting up my new 90 gallon RR tank, and have a question about mounting two PFO HQI mini pendants. I have been reading all over trying to figure out if they should be mounted perpendicular to the front of the tank, or parallel? It seems that most pictures that I see have them sitting perpendicular, but just want to be sure before I actually mount them on. Also, the canopy that I am having made is 18 inches tall (they said it had to be that tall to fit the access doors that I wanted.) I am having my doubts about having the pendants that far above the water. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance for the advice!
Rocky

 

[capnskunk]

First off mount your pendants perpendicular to the length of your tank. The light spreads out the side of the bulbs, not the ends.

As for your canopy just hang the pendants from some chain or hooks if you want your lights closer to the water. You wont have to worry about water splashing as much since you have a glass cover. I have a similar setup and run my mini pendants right on top of the water. Its actually good to have your canopy a decent height. That way when you get new bulbs you can just raise your pendants up instead of cutting back on your photoperiod. The new bulbs can burn your corals if your not careful.

 

[rocknut]

Thanks for the advice, that makes sense! I do have one more question: how about mounting VHO actinics with the pendants? I have always used mogul single ended bulbs running parallel to the tank and run the VHOs on either side. If I run the pendant perpendicular, it only leaves about 3 inches on either side. Is that where I would put the VHOs? Just haven't seen a pendant setup with the actinics before, so I'm just guessing. Thanks again! Rocky

 

[capnskunk]

Thats where it gets tricky. You can mount them under the pendants if there is room. Or you could mount them on either side. You dont have to mount them directly to your canopy. A lot of people mount the end caps on a board and either lay it on top of the tank or you could make extensions from your canopy and hang them from it. What are the dimensions of your tank? If nothing else you might be able to mount one on each side of your pendants at an angle. Have you thought about T-5's?

Hope Im being clear here and not confusing you.

Capn

 

[rocknut]

No that makes sense. It is a 90 gallon tank, so the dimensions are 48 in by 18 inches. I've already ordered the VHO bulbs and Icecap ballast. Originally I was just going to use a standard mogul socket MH setup with the VHOs sharing the same reflector as the halides. But, after looking around, buying a new reflector has turned into an entirely new lighting setup...I guess they could go above the pendants, which would shade them somewhat, but not completely.

 

[Len]

I mount my VHOs under my reflectors, almost adjacent to the front and back of the canopy. My actinics are URI super-actinics with built-in reflectors, and so I angle them inwards. There should be plenty of room to fit the VHOs under the reflector/pendant and not have it block out too much, if any of the MH light.

 

[rocknut]

Thats true, the bulbs I have are also the URI, so really could mount them lower in the canopy almost beside the reflector. Thanks for all the great advice, these pendant are totally new to me! Rocky

 

[Len]

You did good with those pendants They tested well in www.advancedaquarist.com . DE is the way to go in most circumstances.