building canopy!

TRe

TRe

Elite Fish
#1
Feb 20, 2005
3,645
1
0
ft. lauderdale
#1
well seeing as how my first of 3- 250w mh's is on the way i guess now its time to look into building the canopy.... im totally unsure on the dimensions but from what i remeber hearing the light should be about 8" from the top of the water... my tank dimesions are 72" x 18" but how tall should it be??? also if anyone has any tips or links they could hook me up with that would be cool
i only have one on the way so far but ill be ordering another one soon and finally a third in the near future aswell

btw this is the one i got for only $100 with a 20k buld
 

Last edited:
1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#2
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
42
San Ramon, CA
#2
Height is kind of up to you, but you will definitely want to make it tall enough that your bulb is a good 6-8" above the water. You might want to head out to the LFS and check out their canopies; you should be able to get a feel for how tall you want it.
 

TRe

TRe

Elite Fish
#4
Feb 20, 2005
3,645
1
0
ft. lauderdale
#4
im guna be goin to pick up the wood and get started in the next few days.. i guess my question is should i leave the back of the canopy open so it doesnt heat up? or seal it off so no light escapes?? also on the height would 12-13" be ok?? if anyone has any pics of canopies they built them selves that would be great too
 

zoalover34

zoalover34

Superstar Fish
#5
Jun 5, 2006
1,269
2
0
43
Kent, OH
#5
i would leave a few spots open for you return lines and cords from the Powerheads to come out so they arn't being pinched under the canopy.. that seems a little high IMO i would say like 8-10" would be enough
 

TRe

TRe

Elite Fish
#6
Feb 20, 2005
3,645
1
0
ft. lauderdale
#6
the reason i say 12-13-" high is cause i want the bulb about 8" off the water... i hate the way a really tall canopy looks but i also dont wanna come home to a burnd down house*crazysmil
 

azfishgal

azfishgal

Large Fish
#7
Dec 3, 2006
141
0
0
Arizona USA
#7
Well, you've seen my diary so no need to post pics again, but I did want you to know my bulbs are 13" from the water. Some may say that's to high, but that's why I went with 250W instead of 150W. Plus, there is plenty of room for the fans to blow air around to keep things cool, and I still have plenty of room to work and dont' run the risk of splashing my bulbs. Oh, I also live in AZ, over 100 outside and I do NOT have a chiller. *thumbsups
 

1979camaro

1979camaro

Ultimate Fish
#8
Oct 22, 2002
5,862
2
0
42
San Ramon, CA
#8
I am actually toying with the idea of building a topless canopy. My tank will be tall enough that anyone under 6' 6" will have no way to see in from above and I think it will really help with cooling. I am not sure how that would go and it would, theoretically, allow light out...but no more than running my tank with no canopy...

Might be worth thinking about...though I have never seen it done so I am going to guinea pig it
 

azfishgal

azfishgal

Large Fish
#9
Dec 3, 2006
141
0
0
Arizona USA
#9
1979camaro said:
I am actually toying with the idea of building a topless canopy. My tank will be tall enough that anyone under 6' 6" will have no way to see in from above and I think it will really help with cooling. I am not sure how that would go and it would, theoretically, allow light out...but no more than running my tank with no canopy...

Might be worth thinking about...though I have never seen it done so I am going to guinea pig it
Click to expand...

Tall canopies are usually topless, as mine is. I do not have an open back but because the top is open it does help keep things cool and the fans can blow the heat up and out. I do not lose much light at all because I have the Mini-Luminarc reflectors. *thumbsups (My entire set up is 6.5' tall.)

 

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