Lighting advice on my 190 Please!

rkelman · 05/24/2009, 07:32 AM

Ok my tank is 60x24x30. I have a Giesemann fixture that has 2 x 250w mh running 14k Phoenix DE bulbs. In the center is 2 x 36?w Pc Actinics. My problem is I feel this isn't enough light over the tank as well the MH come on at 11 and are off at 9pm. I would like to be able to have some lights on at say 8:00 then step down in the evening before shutting off to simulate daytime.

Here's a couple options I've been thinking of.

I think I could botch together another 250w halide in the center where the pc's are now. I would need uv shielded glass for that section.

I could build a hood and retro 4 48" T5's into it with the current fixture. Or gut the fixture and buy a couple Luminarc reflectors for the hood. (use my existing ballasts)

I could buy a 8 bulb T5 fixture and sell my current one. Is 8 bulbs enough over my tank?

I could build a hood and retro 8 bulbs in.

Buy 400w ballasts / bulbs and run them in my current fixture. I'm not sure it can handle the extra power...

What do you guys think?

05/24/2009, 07:32 AM	#1
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	Lighting advice on my 190 Please! Ok my tank is 60x24x30. I have a Giesemann fixture that has 2 x 250w mh running 14k Phoenix DE bulbs. In the center is 2 x 36?w Pc Actinics. My problem is I feel this isn't enough light over the tank as well the MH come on at 11 and are off at 9pm. I would like to be able to have some lights on at say 8:00 then step down in the evening before shutting off to simulate daytime. Here's a couple options I've been thinking of. I think I could botch together another 250w halide in the center where the pc's are now. I would need uv shielded glass for that section. I could build a hood and retro 4 48" T5's into it with the current fixture. Or gut the fixture and buy a couple Luminarc reflectors for the hood. (use my existing ballasts) I could buy a 8 bulb T5 fixture and sell my current one. Is 8 bulbs enough over my tank? I could build a hood and retro 8 bulbs in. Buy 400w ballasts / bulbs and run them in my current fixture. I'm not sure it can handle the extra power... What do you guys think?