using a pendent in a hood

[reef_addict]

Hi all,

I was just wondering if anyone has ever taken a pendent MH apart and retro'ed it into a hood? I have a 37" x 18" x 13" tank that I want to use my 175 MH and 2x96 pc. But I cant get a configuration that will allow the Mh to cover the whole top of the tank without the pc's getting in the way. I was going to remove the "guts" from the pendent and put them into a custom hood w/the 2x96 and some fans.

I was going to run the Mh part of the day and then the PCs the rest. But, with a tank that shallow could I just get away with the Mh? I haven't set into stone just what I'm going to keep but, I'm leaning toward a mixed tank with just a couple of fish.


Any suggestions? -Brian

 

[r00onmac]

im no lighting master but ive heard MH should work on anything up to 20" deep so it seems you are within limits...

 

[skipm]

Just a couple of things to consider. Is the reflector designed to go in the direction you want to put it? Reflectors are made to mount only one way, either with the bulb going parallel to the front or perpendicular. Thew other thing is wouldn't it be easier to get another reflector and socket instead of taking you pendant apart? You could probably sell the pendant and buy the right reflector and socket without having make a bunch of modifications.
You could also just run MH by using a different color temp bulb, higher k rated bulbs are bluer than lower temp bulbs. Some people use 12, 14, or 20k bulbs without actinics because of $$ or space issues. I also wanted to point out that MHs are the only lights that are sufficient by themselves for lighting deep tanks, that said they are obviously capable of lighting a shallow tank by themselves. HTH, Skip

 

[reef_addict]

I have a 14k(175w) bulb in it now. I just didn't want to run too little light on the tank. But, if I can just use the pendent w/o the PC lights that would be fine.


-Brian