Anyone know where I can upgrade my current hood or purchase...

[SMI]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could help...

I am new to the hobby and currently have just LR. I Initially will raise fish and possibly some mushrooms. I would like to eventually raise both hard & soft coral, so I guess I will need a versatile lighting ensemble that I can grow with. Possibly T5's or a MH with NO / VHO and some LED's.

Here is some of the info...

-35g Tropiquarium 88 tank (European).

-(2) 24" Fluorescent lamps.

-Tank: 85cm (W) x 37cm (D) x 48.5cm (H) or

33.46" (W) x 14.57" (D) x 19.09" (H)

-Hood: 85cm (W) x 37cm (D) x 6.35cm (H) or

33.46" (W) x 14.57" (D) x 2.50" (H)

The hood / canopy has the following: Automatic light timer, automatic feeder (powered by 2 AA batts) and power base (power-head, heater and hood wires feed to a PC-like board and (1) 120v 2-prong plug exits for less wire mess. I would like to keep the hood and canopy but and or upgrade the existing lighting hardware. Any suggestions for a setup? Can I fire the new lights on the existing timer? Perhaps leaving the hood exactly the way it is but add additional lighting with a separate on/off switch? I will pay for the service required as well as the hardware.

I may simply buy a new hood if it makes more sense both economically and performance.

Thanks!! Steve.

Here are some pics (please ignore the watermark...I forgot to shut it off). Thanks-again! Steve.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/st/steveniacono/Aquahood.jpg
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/st/steveniacono/tank.jpg
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/st/steveniacono/AquaLRdark.jpg
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/st/steveniacono/AquaLRdark3.jpg
http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/st/steveniacono/Aqualit.jpg

 

[Mr. Slippery]

Is that made of acrylic? If so, with that little clearance, you might be asking for trouble if you go MH. They will definately melt that if they are too close. How much clearance is there between the hood and the surface of the water? On that size tank, you could probably keep most corals under T5's. I personally have no experience with T5's so I don't know how much heat they give off. Maybe someone with more experience in this type of setup can help further.

 

[Moe_K]

Moved out to Reef Talk.
The "Equipment" forum is actually for people selling equipment.
Don't take this as a rebuke, I know you're new, and the forums have confused people before.

 

[SMI]

It is glass, the edges have been sanded smooth to give the appearance of Acrylic. Pretty please with it, got it a couple of weeks ago via Ebay. Thanks, sorry for the mis-post. Steve.

 

[dz6t]

I think the hood is designed for freshwater or fish-only saltwater setups. It will be very difficult to refit the hood. Why don't you just ditch the hood and put PC or MH light on top without hood.

 

[SMI]

Was a nice clean setup, however gonna have to ditch it, oh well. Will look for a MH/T5 or MH/VHO hood.

 

[dz6t]

Why don't you just use it as a freshwater setup and buy a saltwater set up?

 

[SMI]

no room..