Lighting Opinion

[pdiehm]

60" tank. I want to make a canopy and have either LED fixture or T5 Fixture mounted inside the canopy, hanging, roughly 4" from the top of it (4-6" over the water surface).

What I've found so far: You can DIY a hanging kit for the Current Orbit Marine, but the largest they have is 48". Hanging 6" over the water surface will not provide enough light to the bottom IMO, or the sides.

So LED fixture may be out.

Moving on to T5. Many people have 48" T5 systems on 60" tanks, and it works quite nice. But virtually no light system in my price range ($350) can be mounted and hung from a canopy. And the ones that can...I can't afford.

Sooo, what I've thought about doing, and figured I'd run it by here first. Make my canopy but only make it 6" instead of 10". Cut a hole in the top of the canopy that is the size of the light, and put the light on top of the canopy. Build rails on each side of the canopy so you can't see the light fixture..but the light would still be open at the top, not enclosed, and just shine down...Same effect that I was planning but a different route.

So, in theory it sounds good...but here's my question. If centered (6" on left and right side) Would say a 48" 4x54 or 6x54 T5HO system have enough spread to cove the tanke sides, from being 4-6" over the water surface?

[Kairus]

You can go with D120s or reefbreeder LEDs. I've mounted them in canopies before. You get stainless steel L brackets and mount the brackets to the fixture using the screws on the sides of the fixture that keep the top on.

[pdiehm]

Originally Posted by Kairus

You can go with D120s or reefbreeder LEDs. I've mounted them in canopies before. You get stainless steel L brackets and mount the brackets to the fixture using the screws on the sides of the fixture that keep the top on.

I'm not familiar with either of them. Also not following the installation you're giving. Can you go into more detail?

In looking at the D120's...with a FOWLR, do I need full spectrum? Aside from that, how many of these would i need? 4?

[mcgyvr]

Its fish only.. you really don't need any light at all. Surely not a multi-bulb HO setup nor fancy LED..
But you do need to be darn sure that you put a splash guard/fans,etc... Being that close to water in a closed canopy will reek havoc on anything metal.

[Kairus]

I would get the full spectrum ones without lenses. You would want the 120 degree - not the 90 degree model. should be under $100 for each unit.

Basically if you look at the light there are yellow-gold screws on the sides, you unscrew them, put the bracket through the screw, screw the screw back in. Then you screw the top of the bracket to the canopy.

Here's a pic:



It worked out really well for me while I ran this tank, now I have a different tank with a hanging kit using the same light - it's a great light! If you're doing just a FOWLR two will be more than adequate.