closed canopy VS. open air canopy

**scubadude** · 11-04-2005, 11:56 AM

I recently put a heater in my 28g hex and put the min. kept @ 79 and its been getting around 88 at the end of lights out and Im starting to see some of the corals affected by it so Instead of a totally enclosed canopy since I have a 150 HQI over it I want to build it more like a suspension of some sort. Im kind of stuck between wether I want to suspend it from the ceiling or make some thin leg supports like some of the newer HQI systems prefabricated. Anyone influence my judgement for me? I gotta build something for it though soon.

**Poseidon** · 11-04-2005, 03:13 PM

I would say suspend it, and maybe make a way to secure it at some height above the tank for cleaning purposes. If you put it on legs then you have to put it somewhere to clean the tank... If it is strung up, you just have to move it out of the way.

Meric · 11-04-2005, 03:57 PM

Why not just add a couple of 3" fans into the hood to cool the system down? Put (1) fan on each side blowing in and leave the back of the hood open. This would be a quick cheap way to solve the heat problem. You can get 3" fans from an old PC for nothing.

***Reefland*** · 11-04-2005, 07:17 PM

Instead of hassling with suspending ours, we went with one sitting on the tank:

Right behind both pendents there is an Icecap fan and you can see the tmp probes hanging near the lights so the fans will increase in speed as it gets warmer. With this setup, I can just about hold my hand on the pendent.

**scubadude** · 11-05-2005, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poseidon

I would say suspend it, and maybe make a way to secure it at some height above the tank for cleaning purposes.

Mike won my vote

Some chain, some s-hooks and some drywall swag hooks and I was in business!

***Reefland*** · 11-05-2005, 11:32 PM

Looks like it'll do it.

Any concern with the chain rusting over time?

**Poseidon** · 11-06-2005, 08:40 AM

Looks good Rocky! If that chain does rust you can always go with that coated cable. I think you can get it as small as 1/8 and that would be PLENTY strong to hold the light.

How bad is the light spill into the room though?

11-04-2005, 11:56 AM	#1
scubadude Moderator Join Date: Nov 2000 Location: Wichita, Kansas Posts: 5,314	closed canopy VS. open air canopy I recently put a heater in my 28g hex and put the min. kept @ 79 and its been getting around 88 at the end of lights out and Im starting to see some of the corals affected by it so Instead of a totally enclosed canopy since I have a 150 HQI over it I want to build it more like a suspension of some sort. Im kind of stuck between wether I want to suspend it from the ceiling or make some thin leg supports like some of the newer HQI systems prefabricated. Anyone influence my judgement for me? I gotta build something for it though soon. __________________ Rocky

11-04-2005, 03:13 PM	#2
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,483	I would say suspend it, and maybe make a way to secure it at some height above the tank for cleaning purposes. If you put it on legs then you have to put it somewhere to clean the tank... If it is strung up, you just have to move it out of the way. __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

11-04-2005, 03:57 PM	#3
Meric Citizen Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Missouri Posts: 208	Why not just add a couple of 3" fans into the hood to cool the system down? Put (1) fan on each side blowing in and leave the back of the hood open. This would be a quick cheap way to solve the heat problem. You can get 3" fans from an old PC for nothing. __________________ When I was in high school, I got in trouble with my girlfriend's Dad. He said, " I want my daughter back by 8:15." I said, "The middle of August? Cool!"

11-04-2005, 07:17 PM	#4
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,135	Instead of hassling with suspending ours, we went with one sitting on the tank: Right behind both pendents there is an Icecap fan and you can see the tmp probes hanging near the lights so the fans will increase in speed as it gets warmer. With this setup, I can just about hold my hand on the pendent. __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-05-2005, 11:32 PM	#6
*Reefland* Owner Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Bardstown, KY Posts: 13,135	Looks like it'll do it. Any concern with the chain rusting over time? __________________ Scott Z. 75 Gallon Reef Log Powered by Reefland's Personal Online Aquarium Log

11-06-2005, 08:40 AM	#7
Poseidon Moderator Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Swartz Creek, MI Posts: 6,483	Looks good Rocky! If that chain does rust you can always go with that coated cable. I think you can get it as small as 1/8 and that would be PLENTY strong to hold the light. How bad is the light spill into the room though? __________________ Need a Photographer? Just say NO to CRABS Mike

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