48" VHO bulbs

[DwightKeenan]

I am setting up a canopy with 4 VHO bulbws. My tanks is a perfecto 75 gallong tank. What do the internal dimesnions of my canopy have to be to be able to fit a 48" bulb with endcap?

Is a 48" bulb really 48"?

Thanks

Sorry if this is a dumb question.

[Sizzlersonthebrain]

yes you can use 46 inch vhos instead and they will fit in your canopy i think.

[Alero]

I am using 46.5" VHO bulbs over my 90gal. 48x18

[JS_racer]

49.5" i heard for the 48" bulbs installed. might be less, been reading bulb is 47" + .5" each endcap, that would be 48" total.

I'm in the same boat. need to figure out if i am going to mount them to the door that opens, or below it closer to the water. If i do it on the door, i have a brace to deal with but the lights can be out of the way. If i do it below, i will have the bulbs in the way doing spot feedings and maintenance. On the door would have to be 46.5" in the canopy i could do the 48"

Not sure if you gave the mounting location any thought yet, just tossing it out there. Curious what others think here. Never done a retro before.

[DwightKeenan]

Originally Posted by JS_racer

Not sure if you gave the mounting location any thought yet, just tossing it out there. Curious what others think here. Never done a retro before.

My plan is to build a board that runs across teh entire canopy and sits on shelf pegs. Then I can raise and lower the lighting as needed. (David Grigor gave me this advice.)

So far there is mixed feedback. Some are using 46.5 and it seems that a 48" bulb with end cap is truly 48".

Another dumb question (remember this is my first reef tank):

How do you get the bulb in and out of the end caps. I know a normal flouresecnt light(at work, etc) has a groove that it slides into to keep the length down.

My canopy inside dimensions are: 15.5"(H) X 19"(D) X 48 3/4"(L)

[JS_racer]

Originally Posted by DwightKeenan

My plan is to build a board that runs across teh entire canopy and sits on shelf pegs. Then I can raise and lower the lighting as needed. (David Grigor gave me this advice.)

like rails going front to back ?? or a big solid board from a 4x8' sheet.

is there some link or something with a step by step on how to do any of this ??

[DwightKeenan]

I am going to run a board that pretty much covers the inside of the canopy, front to back. Depending on how I space my VHO's, I may make it a little shorter front to back so I can have room to feed, etc..

I would love a plan to as I am in the process of ordering my ballasts, tubes,e tc.. and can't say I know 100% what I will be doing until all of it is sitting in front of me.

The back of my canopy is wide open, so I am not worried about heat at this time.

[David Grigor]

I just measured:

Using 3 part German Endcaps 48" URI Brand Bulbs measure from end to end with end-caps is 48 3/8" long.

Most canopies that are designed to over-hang the tank molding should fit.

[markk96]

When I had my 75 gallon I built my canopy and used 48 Inch VHO. I did not have any issues with them being a tight fit.

[RobinsonFam1]

i built my canopy to hold 48" bulbs. 46.5 wont work for me. i now have 3 extra actinics that i cant use.
check out Garf.org
there are several plans that he has for moveable light racks, both sliding and raising

[DwightKeenan]

Originally Posted by David Grigor

I just measured:

Using 3 part German Endcaps 48" URI Brand Bulbs measure from end to end with end-caps is 48 3/8" long.

Most canopies that are designed to over-hang the tank molding should fit.

That was the exact answer I was looking for.

Thanks

[JS_racer]

Originally Posted by RobinsonFam1

i built my canopy to hold 48" bulbs. 46.5 wont work for me. i now have 3 extra actinics that i cant use.
check out Garf.org
there are several plans that he has for moveable light racks, both sliding and raising

what length ?? 46.5"

Looked all over garf, must be blind. I cant find it anywhere.