Making a hood question.

Hi. I,m just starting out again after a 20 year break from saltwater.
I want to make a lighting fixture with flouresents and metal halide, I have two metal halide bulbs and ballast, but having a small tank is one enough? and can I put them close to the flouresent bulbs?
Also about how high should they be from the water surface?
Plus while i,m typing What the best coral for begginers.

 

Well let's stick with the lighting questions since this is the lighting board.

I've had good luck with the halide being 8-10 inches off the water surface.

You might forgo the fluorescents and go with PC and VHO to better offset the halides. What size halides are we talking about here. Oh and what size tank?

 

55 gal. tank 175 watt halides

 

I'd do VHO or T5. I've come to really dislike PC's over the years.

General rule of thumb for MH's is 1 per 2' of tank. A 55g usually is best done with 2x 150w or 2x 175. If it were me, I'd go 2x 175 and 2x 4' VHO.

 

I know the metal halide bulbs get very hot. Whats a safe distance for the flouresent bulbs from the halides ?

 

Mine are within 2 inches of the halides and I have no problems with them.

Jim

 

Thanks

From your replys I get a pretty good idea of what this thing should be, Thanks again