I've been using the 100 dollar ebay one for a year now, and my friend a bit longer than that. they work awesome! best investment I've made in this hobby.
if you want to get all fancy, you can use that marine paint they sell for boats, and whatnot. having had one canopy painted white, and one with regular stain, I can tell you the difference in light quality is non existant. Just make sure you have some good reflectors.
I have a cleaner, a cbs, and 2 peppermints, they all get along fine. BUT I hate the cbs because he kills all my new fish that are smaller than him, if I could catch him, I'd give him away in a minute.