I am building a new hood with updated lighting for my 120 gal mixed reef tank. Mostly SPS with clams with a few LPS. Tank is 48" x 24" x24"
I am currently using a hood originally made to fit a 90 (18" wide) gal tank made for VHO and later converted to (2) 400 W MH with spider reflectors and Lumatek electronic ballasts. I am currently using 14K mogul end bulbs. The original hood doesn't fit the tank and I am going to make a new enclosure for the lighting.
On my new system I am planning on using 2 Hamilton Cayman Sun - 400 Watt HQI Reflectors and either (1) or (2) Hamilton Aruba Sun T5 Retrofit fixtures. The Hamilton T5 fixtures each hold (2) bulbs.
I will probably stick with 14K bulbs for the MH and add actinic or blue-plus bulbs with the T5
The MH reflectors are 12" wide and the T5 fixtures are 5" (total of 10"
The total width of all fixtures is 22" on a 24" wide tank.
I have plenty of light with the (2) 400W MH and it will probably increase with the improved reflectors but want to add the actinic with the T5 and I'm not sure if (2) T5 bulbs would be enough.
Am I leaving enough room between fixtures or should I use only one T5 fixture?
I know the hood will be full and need to address the heating issues. My current set up has heat issues, and the new enclosure will have an open top.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.
I am currently using a hood originally made to fit a 90 (18" wide) gal tank made for VHO and later converted to (2) 400 W MH with spider reflectors and Lumatek electronic ballasts. I am currently using 14K mogul end bulbs. The original hood doesn't fit the tank and I am going to make a new enclosure for the lighting.
On my new system I am planning on using 2 Hamilton Cayman Sun - 400 Watt HQI Reflectors and either (1) or (2) Hamilton Aruba Sun T5 Retrofit fixtures. The Hamilton T5 fixtures each hold (2) bulbs.
I will probably stick with 14K bulbs for the MH and add actinic or blue-plus bulbs with the T5
The MH reflectors are 12" wide and the T5 fixtures are 5" (total of 10"
The total width of all fixtures is 22" on a 24" wide tank.
I have plenty of light with the (2) 400W MH and it will probably increase with the improved reflectors but want to add the actinic with the T5 and I'm not sure if (2) T5 bulbs would be enough.
Am I leaving enough room between fixtures or should I use only one T5 fixture?
I know the hood will be full and need to address the heating issues. My current set up has heat issues, and the new enclosure will have an open top.
Any suggestions or recommendations would be appreciated.