Mounting VHOs in hood

[Abissus]

I am wondering how low should I mount VHO's. I have a 12" high hood so I think mounting at the top would be way too high.

Also how important are reflector with URI VHO?

Thanks.

 

[mattseattle]

do you have halides with the VHO's or are just VHO's? During the Anthony Calfo speech last year he said VHO's should be mounted about 4" off the surface of the water. I have mine about 6" or so now. I used to have them at the top of my canopy. They worked. I also have halides though and use VHO's to supplement my halides.

As far as reflectors my bulbs have them built in so reflectors are not that important.

 

[Abissus]

No MH, but I did think about it hence the 12" hood

Yes, the VHO's I have also have internal reflector (URI brand).

Hrm, 4"-6". I need to figure out a way to mount them that low and still be able to access the tank.

 

[mattseattle]

i recall him saying for them to very truely effective they need to be that high. maybe i had a memory lapse so maybe someone else can chime in on this.

how many tubes do you have? yeah it'd be tough to do it that low if you have more than 2 or 3 tubes.

 

[Scooterman]

My hood is 10" but over hangs lowering it to about 8 1/2" off the water. I had three 60" VHO's, now I've added MH since, it all is very colse to the water. I do have a sheet of reflective material attached to the hood first & I use the URI VHO's.

 

[Abissus]

I am thinking about using 3-4. maybe i can hang them on a frame from the top of the hood, and make some way to make it stay up when I need it to.

will try to think of something

 

[Llarian]

6" off the water to be effective at what? I would think for actinic supplement that's not necessary, but if they're primary lighting, it is.

I suppose the original question posed was for them being the main light, but since several scenarios have been brought up where they're supplementing MH, I figured I'd ask. =)

-Dylan

 

[Scooterman]

Yea, original intentions were for main lighting.

 

[Abissus]

Any one know of a good place here in Seattle to get anodized polished aluminum sheet for a DIY reflector? Or some other sort of reflector materials?

Thanks.