Retro fit vs inclosed lighting?

[candian bacon]

Im trying to decide if a inclosed lighting hood would be better for me?

I will post a photo of my 35gal tank cabinet. The tank is placed in a wall. the tank face is seen from the entry. The back side is in a bedroom. I built a cabinet that hides the tank from view in the bedroom.

Currantly i have a DIY NO T-10 florecent light set up. the lights sit over my tank about 4" from the water. no glass cover.

I could do this with the retro fit PC lighting as well. The bigest problem i have with this set up is, some light is wasted.

But the costs of the retro fit made by coralife is almost worth it?

Is it the bulbs or the ballast that produce the most heat? I ask becase the retro ballast are remote from the lights. so they can be placed away from the tank.


Please give me your 2 cents guys...

thanks

[candian bacon]

this is my cabinet with a door over the tank.

[wharyat]

I would say that a retro would be fine, just put it in place of your NO's. My pc ballast doesn't get too hot, bulbs get very hot if they aren't ventilated.

[candian bacon]

That is my next project! installing 2 4" cooling fans into the cabinet.

[wharyat]