Should I tear apart my hood or buy new?

[jeasley]

I have a 72" custom sealife hood with 3 x 175 SE MH and 2 96W PC.

I have setup a 84" 210 gallon tank with a 12" canopy and therefore this hood no longer works for me. Now I can either:

A. Buy all new lights like a double-ended pendant system

OR

B. Buy some reflectors put them in the canopy and tear apart the current hood and go with that. What do people think about these two options?

[Phoneguy982]

All you need to do is upgrade your ballasts and change out your bulbs....All SE reflectors are mogul sockets and can be used for 250's 175's or 400's. 3 250's or even 3 400's should be fine and save you plenty of money.

[jeasley]

I also have a canopy for the new tank so I would like to use it.

But if I change out the bulbs and ballasts, it is not that much more to just go DE 250 either, right? Might save 250-300 but I could easily sell the old hood for that much. Now if I just get reflectors and buy new bulbs(175's) that is way cheaper.

[Phoneguy982]

True....Do you have a canopy?

[Phoneguy982]

LOL...sorry...I didn't refresh. I would do reflectors personally. I think DE's in a canopy may not be recommended but someone else may have mre experience with them.

[jeasley]

Yeah I forgot to post that originally I have a 12" canopy.

[jeasley]

ttt