Lighting help..

Hey guys, just joined the site! I have a question, hope someone can help me. i have a 46 gallon bow and i'm looking to get as much light as I can. My problem is that the canopy is causing some issues for me. I need something no more than 36" long and 9" wide. I'm not sure what kind of light will fit without getting too hot. I dont want to be limited on what I can have in the tank. Can I put a MH? or a 4 bulb T5? any particular brand or model I should go with? ny help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

Have you thought about a hanging pendant? That would be easier to do IMO, result in less heat and you would have more choices. I would try to put a 250w MH setup in the canopy if you're going that way. You can drill holes in it and add a fan to help with ventilation. That's actually pretty easy to do. If not, look for a 36" T5 fixture, ATI and Tek make good fixtures IMO.

 

if i were you, go to hellolights.com they have Retrofit kits for a good price, you can buy some metal halides, T5HO's,PC's what ever you want, and you can fit alot of them in a canopy.

 

Look at this; Aquarium Specialty the price may seem steep but the math works out to about $50 a year. LEDs last anywhere from 5-10 years. A four bulb fixture with each bulb at around $20 will cost you $80 a year for T5s or more. You never have to change LED. Just an option.