Retro lighting questions

DwightKeenan · 02-25-2006, 04:09 PM

I am a serious newbie, so please be nice.

I am getting ready to mount my VHO lamps to a board that is being mounted in my canopy. After looking at the parts, I am not 100% sure on how to do everything, so I am going to ask.

Overview: I will have 4-4 foot VHO lamps installed over my 75g tank. I will have 2-actinic whites and 2-actinic blue bulbs. Each pair of bulbs will be wired to their own icecap 660. I have three piece German end caps and acrylic mounts. Now here are my questions.

1. Did I screw up when I ordered actinic white bulbs? Should I have gotten the aquasun 10,000K instead?
2. Do I just push the wire into the end cap to hold it in place?
3. When I mount the end cap to the acrylic mount, which side of the mount should face the end cap? And where should the cutout line up, towards the bulb or away from the bulb?
4. How should I alternate the bulbs? e.g. blue, white, blue, white
5. How far apart should I space each bulb? I have tons of room.
6. I have moonlights also, which I am assuming will go in the center of the four bulbs, right?

I have attached the pictures of my end caps and mounts which I purchased at Marine Depot.

Thanks

David Grigor · 02-25-2006, 07:56 PM

1. There isn't much difference between them. I prefer the Actinic Whites.
2. Yes.
3. I belive they only fit one way and still have the hole line up. Just be sure to mount the bulbs into the endcaps before screwing to the canopy. That will insure the endcaps are not mounted too far apart so to make good contact.
4. Doesn't matter much How you orient them. Some orient with white in teh middle and actinics on the ends others alternate. Really doesn't matter much because it's diffused lighting anyways. May look into adding a 3rd white bulb at some point since your 660 will handle it, if 2 and 2 end up looking too blue/purple for your tastes. For me, I like more white bulbs than actinics. If you do 5 perhaps a 3' bulb in the back as not not light the overflows.
5. About an inch is fine. I prefer not to have bulbs directly over the corner overflows because it's a waste. A couple of inches away from both the front and back.
6. Again, really doesn't matter much. Do it however you want.

three90s&125sump · 02-25-2006, 08:17 PM

If it were me I would get the extra lights now while your still putting it together. Personally, I would run 6 actinics and 2 10k. If they all fit over the 75 that is, I would think they would.

DwightKeenan · 02-25-2006, 08:29 PM

David, thanks for responding, I bought an extra set of mounts and end caps to keep incase of an emergency, so I may just mount it for a third white bulb.

three90s&125sump, thanks for the input too. I just laided about my lighting and can really only have two more bulbs for a total of 6 bulbs. I am going to wait on going anymore than a total of 5 right now. I am mounting everything to a board that will be setting on shelf pegs insdie the canopy so I can always take it out and and extras later.

It won't be long and I will be up and running.

Loverotties · 02-25-2006, 08:30 PM

Make sure there far enough apart to be able to unscrew the end caps!

DwightKeenan · 02-25-2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Loverotties

Make sure there far enough apart to be able to unscrew the end caps!

Good point. I just layed them out and I have about 3/4" between the base of each mount and the next one. This give me the room for the shelf to sit on the shelf peg and unscrew the bulbs.

JS_racer · 02-26-2006, 05:05 AM

i have the 3-2 and like it. I tried the 2-2 and it looked very blue, overflows, powerheads, the tank looked much bluer.

If you get time, could you take a few shots of the lights on the board and the board at the canopy. Thinking of redoing mine, but just cant picture how this goes together.

Thanks for the time

DwightKeenan · 02-26-2006, 07:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JS_racer

i have the 3-2 and like it. I tried the 2-2 and it looked very blue, overflows, powerheads, the tank looked much bluer.

If you get time, could you take a few shots of the lights on the board and the board at the canopy. Thinking of redoing mine, but just cant picture how this goes together.

Thanks for the time

When I get everything mounted, I will post a picture.

JS_racer · 02-26-2006, 08:23 AM

David Grigor · 02-26-2006, 10:07 AM

FYI: In case you didn't know. If you wire it for 4 now and add another one later. To get the wires out just give them a twist as you pull them out to get them to release.

Even butting the endcaps as close together as possible, you should still be able to unscrew them. I have had to do that before on the 72g bow where it was very narrow and had to really stuff 4 bulbs in there.

DwightKeenan · 02-26-2006, 11:32 AM

Thanks David, with the mounts, there is plenty of room for removing the end caps. I really, really liked the idea of a shorte bulb in back where the overflow boxes will be. That makes perfect sense.

I will make that final decision when I get my overflow boxes created.