another lighting question

I have a home made hood with Ice Cap 660 ballast 3 110w actinic white
bulbs and 1 110w super actinic bulbs over a 75 gal tank. I dont have
a reflector built into the hood. Is that really necessary? Also, I
use the glass canopy the tank came with. Is that a good idea? Does
the glass interfere with the intensity of the bulbs? Corals just dont
seem to grow like I want them to. (soft and hard) no sps
Any thoughts

Adding a reflector will increase the light levels getting into the water.
As it is now, about half your light is being wasted.

Steve
wrote in message
I have a home made hood with Ice Cap 660 ballast 3 110w actinic white
bulbs and 1 110w super actinic bulbs over a 75 gal tank. I dont have
a reflector built into the hood. Is that really necessary? Also, I
use the glass canopy the tank came with. Is that a good idea? Does
the glass interfere with the intensity of the bulbs? Corals just dont
seem to grow like I want them to. (soft and hard) no sps
Any thoughts

If you are using URI bulbs they have a built in reflector...so I wouldn't
expect a huge gain in output if you installed reflectors. If not...you
should consider it.
wrote in message
news
I have a home made hood with Ice Cap 660 ballast 3 110w actinic white
bulbs and 1 110w super actinic bulbs over a 75 gal tank. I dont have
a reflector built into the hood. Is that really necessary? Also, I
use the glass canopy the tank came with. Is that a good idea? Does
the glass interfere with the intensity of the bulbs? Corals just dont
seem to grow like I want them to. (soft and hard) no sps
Any thoughts

Yes, you are cutting your light intensity (PAR) with the glass covers. They
need to be removed.

Marc


wrote:

I have a home made hood with Ice Cap 660 ballast 3 110w actinic white
bulbs and 1 110w super actinic bulbs over a 75 gal tank. I dont have
a reflector built into the hood. Is that really necessary? Also, I
use the glass canopy the tank came with. Is that a good idea? Does
the glass interfere with the intensity of the bulbs? Corals just dont
seem to grow like I want them to. (soft and hard) no sps
Any thoughts

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As for the reflector adding one wont hurt,But if you must have a cover on it
there are several companies that make a low lead glass cover that allows
more natural colors to flow though.Oceanic I believe is one of them and I
know of at least 2 others you might even check with your local glass shop to
see if the can order you some Low Lead Glass and cut you some custom
covers...

wrote in message
news
I have a home made hood with Ice Cap 660 ballast 3 110w actinic white
bulbs and 1 110w super actinic bulbs over a 75 gal tank. I dont have
a reflector built into the hood. Is that really necessary? Also, I
use the glass canopy the tank came with. Is that a good idea? Does
the glass interfere with the intensity of the bulbs? Corals just dont
seem to grow like I want them to. (soft and hard) no sps
Any thoughts