Lighting/Hood recommendation in solarium

[reefkeeper2]

My new tanks measurments will be 84x42x26. It will be free standing in the center of a solarium and visable from all sides. I would like a lighting system that will hang from above that can be raised or lowered as needed. I would also like it to be some kind of combination of halide and florescent. Any recommendations or ideas? I really need something I can raise and lower easily, and has a clean look.

[Julio]

if is in a solarium it will get plenty of natural lighting, so i don't think that you need anything stronger than 175 watt halides.

[reefkeeper2]

That would be true if I lived in Arizona and the sun shined every day. In December it gets pretty gloomy here in Massachussetts. I am not so much concerned with what type of bulb or wattage as I am with the configuration of the setup.

[Richard DeChamplain]

reefkeeper2 I have a custom light rack that raises and lowers by a toggle switch with the bottoms and tops controlled by a limit switch. I'll send a picture. This design was copied and used in a local restuarant. At the restuarant they placed a wooden hood around the rack looks great.

[fred says]

Originally posted by Richard DeChamplain
reefkeeper2 I have a custom light rack that raises and lowers by a toggle switch with the bottoms and tops controlled by a limit switch. I'll send a picture. This design was copied and used in a local restuarant. At the restuarant they placed a wooden hood around the rack looks great.

post a picture please! That sounds really neat.

[discocarp]

Ya, I'd like to see that too. Don't tantalize us then send it via private mail. :P :P :P

[Richard DeChamplain]

No, I wouldn't do that. I just have to take the photos 1st.
I'll try and get them up by this weekend.

[discocarp]

Thanks Richard. It sounds really interesting.

[reefkeeper2]

That will be great. Sounds like just what I'm looking for. By the way Richard, I just got my dialyseas up and running today.

[Richard DeChamplain]

Sorry it took so long but the photos are now in my gallery. I will also try and post them here:

[Richard DeChamplain]

[Richard DeChamplain]

the first photos are at the restaurant the last are at my house.