Retrofit Lighting

[Rlon35]

Does retrofit lighting usually mount to the sides of the canopy or to the top (underneath of course)? Can anyone recommend a good retrofit system that is simple to install and has a lot of wattage? I have a sedona canopy, meaning that the top of the canopy has two areas that come out/collapse (i.e. nothing could be mounted to the top).

I have a 55 gallon tank, and I want at least 3 watts per gallon and some blue moonlight if possible.

 

[wendywc]

It's usually to the top from what I've seen. So am I understading this right that your canopy has two lids essentially? Can you mount lighting to thse lids alternately?

Maybe mounting two short light kits (one under each lid) would work. I would think you can just get a small or low profile (but still high output) light kit box and secure it to the underneath of each lid. Such as getting the two 20" light sets here. http/www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod...mp;pcatid=13637

They each have two 40W compact flourescent bulbs. So by having two sets, you would have 4X40 = 160W total.



Or alternately, you could just get one long 48" set and figure out what hardware or brackets would be needed to mount it to the sides. But be sure to double check or get the outer dimensions of the light set to ensure it's small enough to fit inside your canopy.

 

[Rlon35]

I don't think that particular lighting system will work with a canopy, or so I was told by them on the website for it. Here is what my canopy looks like. zoom in on it and you'll see my problem.


http/us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/y..._2009_167149069

 

[wendywc]

Forgot to mention, I've seen people cut holes on the side of their canopies for the fan flow.