help me upgrade my lights please

[marcrothschild]

I have a 100g 60x20x18 eurobraced tank. I am currently using a 48" aquaspacelight with 2 150w DE MH and 2 24w PC. I have a mixed reef that I want to switch over to all sps. I am thinking of buying the PFO 60" hood w 3 250w SE MH and 2 VHO...its about 1300.00. The hamilton version is 750.00. Is the PFO worth the extra $$ ? The fixture will be visible as my tank does not have a hood, so looks do matter. I have never seen these units in person, but the hamiltons are not much to look at.
I am also wondering about the amount of light (10 W/G)....It seems like a ton of light for an 18" deep 100g tank. Are the 175w any good (7 W/G). Another option would be to get 2 pendants.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks, Marc.

[moonpod]

As a generality, Hammy hoods use budget reflectors. Granted the cost difference between the reflectors used is not that much cash, bhte light produced is much more. Now, given that you've got a canopy ANYWAYS, I'd use pendants of some sort and forget the complete hood deal. You could use 3 ROIIIs and get plenty of light and it'd be considerably less than 1300 (about the same as the750)

[marcrothschild]

Thats a good idea, I actually dont have a hood for my tank, but I have the spacelight suspended over the tank. Can those ROIII pendants be hung on those slick euro cable kits? Eric at FragFarmer suggested 3 of the LAIII mini reflectors, but I dont like the mounting options. My tank is in the living room, so I would like a more finished look to the reflector. I saw those nice brackets you got for your LAIIIs. Could I ask how it cost you to have those fabricated? Those would be sweet :roll:

[OUinLA]

You can hang the ROIII's with the same cable which makes minor adjustments very easy. You could also look at a two fixture pendant.

the ocean light pendants are kind of cool looking as well.

[marcrothschild]

Do you think I could get enough spread from a 48"fixture on a 60" tank? I have heard that the ocean lights are a lower quality than ABs German made spacelights. The aquasunlight is a 48" 2x 250w DE with 2 54W T5s....Its a sweet fixture, but 48" but 600w/gallon sounds like allot of light, and the reflectors are wider than the spacelight.....but what about spread?

[moonpod]

Use pendants. Use the cables to suspend 'em.

You do NOT want to know what my brackets cost. You'd think I was insane. I think I'm insane.

[bogg]

Id like to see a pic of said brackets, pls thks.

[moonpod]

[marcrothschild]

LOL...yeah moon, you do seem like an equipment junkie, but there are worse habbits to be had. I checked marinedepot, and buy the time you add up 3 250W ballasts, the three reflectors, and three bulbs, its like 900.00 The cost is only a couple of bills less than the PFO 60" professional series hood w bulbs, ballasts, and 2 VHO tubes.