Metal Halides in AGA canopy

Does anybody have metal halides installed in an All-Glass wood canopy? I currently have 4 vho bulbs installed in my AGA canopy over my 90 gallon and am considering upgrading to MH, but I would like to keep my existing canopy.


Sean

 

Sean,
I have to tell you that my halides put out a tremendous amount of heat. It's bright, 10k Ushio's. They make the water look really nice I have to run a large fan in the summer which causes about a gallon and a half of evaporation per day. And I only run them about 6 hours a day. If I had it to do over again, I would probably look into the new T-5 flourescent fixtures.
But, that is probably best discussed in another thread
If you can fit them in the canopy And have plenty of air gaps for heat removal. Along with adding a fan or two. It ought to work just fine. I keep my ballast's in another enclosure so that leaves only the lights in the canopy. Have you purchased the lights yet?
Jim

 

Jim,
No I haven't purchased anything yet. I'm just thinking at this point. I'm very happy with my VHO lights, but I would like the ability to get some SPS, LPS and other light sensitive critters. I don't know if I can bare having nothing but soft corals in my reef. I also love the shimmer effect MH gives the tank, but that alone isn't enough to make me get MH.

Sean

 

You know those guys and gals at garf.org grow the heck out of sps corals with vho's...
Some people have lots of luck without metal halides. Look around and I'll look too and give a couple of links if I can find them.
Jim

 

Yeah, your right Jim. I've seen plenty of sites that have awesome tanks with VHO lighting alone. But as you probably already know its easy to get caught up in the "I need Metal Halide" crowd.

Sean

 

;D ;D ;D
Indeed I do.
690 watts of electric power consumed every hour my 90 gallon tank lights are all on...

Jim

 

Skennelly you already have the Icecap 660 you could do the switch to T-5HO fairly easily. All you would have to get is the bulbs, endcaps, and reflectors. Overdriven T-5HO are seriousily bright and you could keep what ever you want with you changing your canopy.