Lighting issue on a 72" 150 gallon aquarium.

abezr · 01/23/2011, 10:36 PM

Hey guys, I just purchased a new aquarium, 72"x29"x18" and it comes with a luxurious stand and canopy(I was told by many to ditch the canopy but it was custom made and it is made to hide itself in my kitchen cabinetry-will not part with it). So my main issue is not the type of lighting to get, I decided on metal halide lighting. My issue is that I have a canopy and I have a feeling that a 72" long metal halide lighting fixture will not fit correctly in the canopy, plus there are fans on the lighting fixture which are pointless because the canopy will restrict air flow.

My main question is, would it be better to purchase a 60" metal halide over the 72? would it be enough lighting? because the extra 12 inches of room in the canopy would allow for lot more room for the air to circulate and not heat up.

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/23/2011, 10:38 PM

Why dont you just get retrofits since you have a canopy?

abezr · 01/23/2011, 10:47 PM

oh right forgot to mention that, because although they do the job, im not a fan of it because I rather have 1 programable fixture than a mess of wires etc...

Felixc395 · 01/23/2011, 10:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abezr

oh right forgot to mention that, because although they do the job, im not a fan of it because I rather have 1 programable fixture than a mess of wires etc...

I see where you're coming from here, but first of all...

WELCOME TO REEFCENTRAL!!!!!

Sorry I don't have the big flashy welcome, I did my best!

But anyways back to your question. I think that a 72" fixture would fit inside. Just make sure you know the dimensions inside and the length of the fixture, then go from there. But I hope you know you'll need a chiller and it might be expensive to get one big enough for 150 gallons. I'd suggest T5's and you could avoid the heat, but that's not my choice.

abezr · 01/23/2011, 11:07 PM

hmm well the fixture has t5's aswell as halides and led's, they are all set on timers so would over heating still happen if the halides were programmed for less time and t5's or led's kick in?

abezr · 01/23/2011, 11:09 PM

OH and thanks so much for your awesome welcome!!

Felixc395 · 01/23/2011, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abezr

hmm well the fixture has t5's aswell as halides and led's, they are all set on timers so would over heating still happen if the halides were programmed for less time and t5's or led's kick in?

What fixture is it that you're looking at exactly? I don't know of any that actually have power LED's, just moonlights. The only one that sounds remotely similar is an Icecap fixture of some sort.

And either way your tank will get hot with a canopy. It may very well get hot without a canopy too. Fans aren't enough and you almost have to get a chiller. This is why I think an all T5 fixture would be perfect for you and you would not regret it. Can I ask why you chose the metal halide route by the way?

And you are more than welcome with the welcome, haha. It was my pleasure!!!

abezr · 01/24/2011, 12:18 AM

So i did my research a little, and i think the 60" metal halide is the best option because it has 2 150 w mh bulbs instead of 3 on the 72, my canopy is open back oh and i live in canada lol so its always cold as hell... i guess if things get hot in the summer, i can switch the temp and turn on the mh bulbs at night when its cooler and simply have a different time zone for the fishies. i have nothing against t5's, i think mh bulbs will reach further down and simulate the heat of the sun sooo i hope it will work out but thanks so much for your help!

tkeracer619 · 01/24/2011, 12:29 AM

Go with 3 bulbs on a 72" tank.

Get a controller so in case it does get to hot it can shut off the lighting to avoid over temp conditions.

For your tank retrofit is the best option. You won't have a mess of wires. That is what zip ties and wire routing are for.

Fixtures are not designed to go inside canopies for two main reasons. the ballasts will not have proper cooling and will see too much humidity.

I would go with 3x luminmax 2 reflectors. They are small, have glass shields, and run SE bulbs so you have more choice as to what bulbs you can run.

Last point. If you use a fixture inside a canopy. You will have to remove the canopy to service the fixture.

What do you plan on keeping? 150w are pretty weak for your size tank.

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/24/2011, 12:38 AM

on a tank thats 72 inches, you will need atleast 3 halide.

abezr · 01/24/2011, 09:07 PM

hey guys, thanks so much for your help once again!
So i decided to get a t5 system, the seller i purchased it from is giving me 3 canopy cooling fans with it, it also has an lcd screen to program it anyway i like for 499!!! 72 inches so i think i will get that instead, less heat and it has almost the same amount of wattage

Felixc395 · 01/24/2011, 10:49 PM

What fixture did you purchase exactly? And watts don't really matter. Good choice with T5 though.

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/25/2011, 12:45 AM

depending what brand of T5's he got, he might have trouble hittin the bottom of his sand bed with good par at 29 inches

abezr · 01/25/2011, 12:46 AM

To be exact it was this ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_1426wt_1139 )

It seems like a good deal so i took it... it wont get nearly as hot as the halides so i guess its the smartest choice

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/25/2011, 12:47 AM

Power compacts?

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/25/2011, 12:47 AM

Power compacts will not be good.

Saltwatercoral2 · 01/25/2011, 12:55 AM

im hoping you meant that you ordered this one

http://www.marineandreef.com/Aquatic...p/ral01038.htm

notclear · 01/25/2011, 06:17 AM

I think people are avoiding to buy power compacts any more! They are not as efficient as T5 and you will need to replace the bulbs more often than T5.

Felixc395 · 01/25/2011, 08:40 AM

Uh oh, was that the fixture you really got? You might be able to get some softies up high, but other than that you might be in trouble. I hope that fixture is T5. But if it is, that still is hardly a good brand. Could you clear this up?

abezr · 01/25/2011, 11:32 AM

trying to... i thought it was an aquatic life t5 fixture... looks exactly the same grrr trying to solve this...

abezr · 01/25/2011, 11:33 AM

if i cant solve this, is it really that bad for my setup?

abezr · 01/25/2011, 02:19 PM

ok solved, the guy was incredibly helpful, i told him ive got almost 3 feet deep and power compacts will not do it and the guy was like ofcourse! so he refunded me everything (really nice guy) and so my question is should i do an aquatic life t5 72 fixture or retrofit 3 400 w metal halide with a 72" 4x36" t5 bulbs.

zooty · 01/25/2011, 02:54 PM

If you are determined to keep the canopy, I would go with a T5 retrofit to alleviate the heat issue. I prefer halides myself and three 150 watt should be good with supplemental T5s or just use three 250 watt halides and no T5s. 400 watt is huge overkill IMO

Felixc395 · 01/25/2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abezr

ok solved, the guy was incredibly helpful, i told him ive got almost 3 feet deep and power compacts will not do it and the guy was like ofcourse! so he refunded me everything (really nice guy) and so my question is should i do an aquatic life t5 72 fixture or retrofit 3 400 w metal halide with a 72" 4x36" t5 bulbs.

Most definitely go with T5's in a canopy. But the light fixture IME and IMO is terrible. I had a 4 bulb fixture. The output was bad and the ballast died within 6 months. If I were you, stay away!

abezr · 01/25/2011, 05:40 PM

aruba sun retrofit fixture 36"x2? or 4?

01/23/2011, 10:36 PM	#1
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	Lighting issue on a 72" 150 gallon aquarium. Hey guys, I just purchased a new aquarium, 72"x29"x18" and it comes with a luxurious stand and canopy(I was told by many to ditch the canopy but it was custom made and it is made to hide itself in my kitchen cabinetry-will not part with it). So my main issue is not the type of lighting to get, I decided on metal halide lighting. My issue is that I have a canopy and I have a feeling that a 72" long metal halide lighting fixture will not fit correctly in the canopy, plus there are fans on the lighting fixture which are pointless because the canopy will restrict air flow. My main question is, would it be better to purchase a 60" metal halide over the 72? would it be enough lighting? because the extra 12 inches of room in the canopy would allow for lot more room for the air to circulate and not heat up.

01/24/2011, 12:29 AM	#9
tkeracer619 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Westminster, CO Posts: 17,289	Go with 3 bulbs on a 72" tank. Get a controller so in case it does get to hot it can shut off the lighting to avoid over temp conditions. For your tank retrofit is the best option. You won't have a mess of wires. That is what zip ties and wire routing are for. Fixtures are not designed to go inside canopies for two main reasons. the ballasts will not have proper cooling and will see too much humidity. I would go with 3x luminmax 2 reflectors. They are small, have glass shields, and run SE bulbs so you have more choice as to what bulbs you can run. Last point. If you use a fixture inside a canopy. You will have to remove the canopy to service the fixture. What do you plan on keeping? 150w are pretty weak for your size tank. __________________ Hobby Experience: 9200ish gallons, 26 skimmers, and a handful of Kent Scrapers. Current Tank: Vortech Powered 600G SPS Tank w/ 100gal frag tank & 100g Sump. RK2-RK10 Skimmer. ReefAngel. Radium 20k.

01/25/2011, 06:17 AM	#18
notclear Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 519	I think people are avoiding to buy power compacts any more! They are not as efficient as T5 and you will need to replace the bulbs more often than T5. __________________ Red Sea Reefer XL525

01/25/2011, 02:54 PM	#23
zooty Fish Warden Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 694	If you are determined to keep the canopy, I would go with a T5 retrofit to alleviate the heat issue. I prefer halides myself and three 150 watt should be good with supplemental T5s or just use three 250 watt halides and no T5s. 400 watt is huge overkill IMO __________________ A clean skimmer is a happy skimmer Current Tank Info: 180g RR, 3 AI Royal Blue LEDs, Oct. Skim, mixed reef

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01/23/2011, 10:38 PM	#2
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	Why dont you just get retrofits since you have a canopy?

01/23/2011, 10:47 PM	#3
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	oh right forgot to mention that, because although they do the job, im not a fan of it because I rather have 1 programable fixture than a mess of wires etc...

01/23/2011, 11:07 PM	#5
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	hmm well the fixture has t5's aswell as halides and led's, they are all set on timers so would over heating still happen if the halides were programmed for less time and t5's or led's kick in?

01/23/2011, 11:09 PM	#6
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	OH and thanks so much for your awesome welcome!!

01/24/2011, 12:18 AM	#8
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	So i did my research a little, and i think the 60" metal halide is the best option because it has 2 150 w mh bulbs instead of 3 on the 72, my canopy is open back oh and i live in canada lol so its always cold as hell... i guess if things get hot in the summer, i can switch the temp and turn on the mh bulbs at night when its cooler and simply have a different time zone for the fishies. i have nothing against t5's, i think mh bulbs will reach further down and simulate the heat of the sun sooo i hope it will work out but thanks so much for your help!

01/24/2011, 12:38 AM	#10
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	on a tank thats 72 inches, you will need atleast 3 halide.

01/24/2011, 09:07 PM	#11
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	hey guys, thanks so much for your help once again! So i decided to get a t5 system, the seller i purchased it from is giving me 3 canopy cooling fans with it, it also has an lcd screen to program it anyway i like for 499!!! 72 inches so i think i will get that instead, less heat and it has almost the same amount of wattage

01/24/2011, 10:49 PM	#12
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	What fixture did you purchase exactly? And watts don't really matter. Good choice with T5 though.

01/25/2011, 12:45 AM	#13
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	depending what brand of T5's he got, he might have trouble hittin the bottom of his sand bed with good par at 29 inches

01/25/2011, 12:46 AM	#14
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	To be exact it was this ( http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...ht_1426wt_1139 ) It seems like a good deal so i took it... it wont get nearly as hot as the halides so i guess its the smartest choice

01/25/2011, 12:47 AM	#15
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	Power compacts?

01/25/2011, 12:55 AM	#17
Saltwatercoral2 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 1,617	im hoping you meant that you ordered this one http://www.marineandreef.com/Aquatic...p/ral01038.htm

01/25/2011, 08:40 AM	#19
Felixc395 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 1,612	Uh oh, was that the fixture you really got? You might be able to get some softies up high, but other than that you might be in trouble. I hope that fixture is T5. But if it is, that still is hardly a good brand. Could you clear this up?

01/25/2011, 11:32 AM	#20
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	trying to... i thought it was an aquatic life t5 fixture... looks exactly the same grrr trying to solve this...

01/25/2011, 11:33 AM	#21
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	if i cant solve this, is it really that bad for my setup?

01/25/2011, 02:19 PM	#22
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	ok solved, the guy was incredibly helpful, i told him ive got almost 3 feet deep and power compacts will not do it and the guy was like ofcourse! so he refunded me everything (really nice guy) and so my question is should i do an aquatic life t5 72 fixture or retrofit 3 400 w metal halide with a 72" 4x36" t5 bulbs.

01/25/2011, 05:40 PM	#25
abezr Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: montreal qc Posts: 137	aruba sun retrofit fixture 36"x2? or 4?