Struggling to find a hood/light mounting solution

[HookMeUpII]

I am building out a 55 gallon reef. The tank currently sits as freshwater. I'm trying to work out the logistics of all my components before I disassemble the system and re-start it from scratch as a reef. I'm no stranger to reefs although the hobby has changed so much since I last kept them. First off I should start with my expectations:

- Softies in general
- Some leathers
- Mushrooms
- Zoos

Basically, lower light level corals.

The lights I am looking at are Sunlight Supply T5's and I would even consider a CBB style LED if I could get them to fit in the hood.

Which brings me to my dilemma:

My 55 gallon has it's original wood stand and canopy that really look nice and not only that, match the furniture in the room. I would really hate to have to ditch the canopy and mount the lights to the wall hanging over the tank.

Any ideas for getting something like this:

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/48-sun-blaze-t5-ho-lighting-fixture-sunlight-supply.html

Into a hood? Furthermore, is only 6" elevation off the water enough or am I going to scorch the life out of my corals?

 

[Ocelaris]

If you're looking for low mount, a custom retrofit is probably the best way to go. BRS has a number of options, I would just check the dimensions. 6" is fine for T5 for light, but you may need to clean the bulbs and reflectors. The MIRO reflectors will add a ton of value to your install, so if you can step up for a good reflector design on the T5s, you'll grow anything you want. Heck a 4 bulb T5 48" fixture should be able to grow SPS in the top half of the tank.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquarium-lighting/t5-fluorescent-aquarium-lighting/retrofit.html

 

[Mastiffsrule]

If you're looking for low mount, a custom retrofit is probably the best way to go. BRS has a number of options, I would just check the dimensions. 6" is fine for T5 for light, but you may need to clean the bulbs and reflectors. The MIRO reflectors will add a ton of value to your install, so if you can step up for a good reflector design on the T5s, you'll grow anything you want. Heck a 4 bulb T5 48" fixture should be able to grow SPS in the top half of the tank.

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/aquarium-lighting/t5-fluorescent-aquarium-lighting/retrofit.html

That,

Love the t5 retro fit and fairly inexpensive. Choose as many bulbs as you need. Ocelaris nailed it at 4.
I had 4 in my 55 hood. It was plenty if not too much and gives you a wide range of bulbs

 

[Jon Fishman]

Not seeing the actual top/canopy/etc.... have you considered cutting out the top and leaving the "Trim" and surrounding pieces, and then hanging the lights over-head?

 

[Larry L]

I recommend taking a look at the TruLumen PRO LED strips from Current USA. I had a 50 breeder with a similar low-profile canopy, and 4 of the PRO strips over it was plenty of light for SPS, so likely more than enough for softies/LPS in a 55 which is a bit deeper. You don't have the dial-in-the-spectrum convenience of some of the higher-end LED lights. but you can at least mix and match the spectrum on a strip-by-strip basis.

 

[HookMeUpII]

Just popping back in guys. I am going to take some pictures of the canopy. I've thought about cutting the top and leaving it open to hang lights above. That would be a last resort but it COULD work.

Larry, I actually looked at them. They could work really well for what I'm looking to do actually. I could probably even get away with 3 strips. Just trying to figure out what the best color configuration would be.