Lighting Question

gscottnelson · 09/13/2010, 07:23 PM

I am getting new 125 gallon - 72x18 AGA tank - with a canopy.

I want to go with T5-HO lighting - but want them under the canopy...what is the best way to do this? The canopy opens from the top.

Ideas? Thanks!!!

stevek480 · 09/13/2010, 08:43 PM

I have the same tank. I went with a 6 bulb 60" T5 retro kit from reefgeek. I have the canopy where you just take the top board off to get to the tank, so I just installed 2 cross boards inside the canopy to attach the reflectors to. The only downside is if I want to stick my hand in the middle of the tank, I have to move the whole canopy out of the way.

gscottnelson · 09/13/2010, 08:56 PM

Thanks Stevek480 - What do u mean by crossboards?

stevek480 · 09/13/2010, 09:04 PM

This picture I happen to have might help. It's a view of the top of the canopy. The canopy originally only came with the 2 inner 2" boards across the middle, so I installed the 2 outer boards(up and down in the picture) to mount the T5 endcaps.

gscottnelson · 09/14/2010, 06:57 AM

Great - Thanks for the pic. I can see that these are T5 VHO lamps - what about heat dispersion? It also looks like your canopy doesn't go the full 72". How do u handle that?

How come you did not go with regular T5-HO, not enough light?

stevek480 · 09/14/2010, 09:27 AM

The canopy goes the full 72", probably just the angle of the picture make it look otherwise. Those are just the standard T5-HO 80 watt bulbs. I have a fan blowing across one side where the endcaps are which helps with heat. In summer I see a swing of about 2-3 degrees during the day but that doesn't bother anything.

gscottnelson · 09/14/2010, 08:47 PM

Thanx Steve. In the picture. Is that a picture of the top of the inside of the canopy? How often do you need to change the bulbs?

stevek480 · 09/15/2010, 08:12 PM

Yeah that is the top of the inside of the canopy. The canopy is sitting on it's front side in the picture. I haven't had to change the bulbs yet, I've heard to change around 12 months or so.

09/13/2010, 07:23 PM	#1
gscottnelson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco, Texas Posts: 82	Lighting Question I am getting new 125 gallon - 72x18 AGA tank - with a canopy. I want to go with T5-HO lighting - but want them under the canopy...what is the best way to do this? The canopy opens from the top. Ideas? Thanks!!!

09/13/2010, 08:43 PM	#2
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	I have the same tank. I went with a 6 bulb 60" T5 retro kit from reefgeek. I have the canopy where you just take the top board off to get to the tank, so I just installed 2 cross boards inside the canopy to attach the reflectors to. The only downside is if I want to stick my hand in the middle of the tank, I have to move the whole canopy out of the way. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

09/13/2010, 09:04 PM	#4
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	This picture I happen to have might help. It's a view of the top of the canopy. The canopy originally only came with the 2 inner 2" boards across the middle, so I installed the 2 outer boards(up and down in the picture) to mount the T5 endcaps. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

09/14/2010, 09:27 AM	#6
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	The canopy goes the full 72", probably just the angle of the picture make it look otherwise. Those are just the standard T5-HO 80 watt bulbs. I have a fan blowing across one side where the endcaps are which helps with heat. In summer I see a swing of about 2-3 degrees during the day but that doesn't bother anything. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

09/15/2010, 08:12 PM	#8
stevek480 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Flemington, NJ Posts: 605	Yeah that is the top of the inside of the canopy. The canopy is sitting on it's front side in the picture. I haven't had to change the bulbs yet, I've heard to change around 12 months or so. __________________ 125g Mixed Reef w/ 40g Sump. 2x Reef Breeders Photon 32. MSX200 skimmer.

09/13/2010, 08:56 PM	#3
gscottnelson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco, Texas Posts: 82	Thanks Stevek480 - What do u mean by crossboards?

09/14/2010, 06:57 AM	#5
gscottnelson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco, Texas Posts: 82	Great - Thanks for the pic. I can see that these are T5 VHO lamps - what about heat dispersion? It also looks like your canopy doesn't go the full 72". How do u handle that? How come you did not go with regular T5-HO, not enough light?

09/14/2010, 08:47 PM	#7
gscottnelson Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Frisco, Texas Posts: 82	Thanx Steve. In the picture. Is that a picture of the top of the inside of the canopy? How often do you need to change the bulbs?

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