to canopy or not to canopy?

woogy · 01/11/2008, 10:10 PM

I was thinking of getting a canopy for my 29. My house is old and a lot of dust gets on my light fixture and the top of my hob skimmer so I figure some is getting in the tank as well. I already have a glass top over the top but the back is pretty much wide open. Is this bad for gas exchange? Will my lights get too hot for the canopy???

Agu · 01/11/2008, 10:35 PM

I don't like full canopies or sealed tanks, heat becomes an issue. There's also retricted access to the tank to deal with.

orbit · 01/11/2008, 10:40 PM

depending on the kind of light ( MH or T5), a full canopy will create alot of heat, u can install fans to cool it off,

as for a glass cover, i heard it was bad for the tank,i kinda forgot the reason why, maybe some one here knows y

Aquarist007 · 01/11/2008, 10:45 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by orbit
depending on the kind of light ( MH or T5), a full canopy will create alot of heat, u can install fans to cool it off,

as for a glass cover, i heard it was bad for the tank,i kinda forgot the reason why, maybe some one here knows y [/QUOTE

I agree alot of air exchange occurs at the surface of the tank--this area should be kept really turbulent by power heads etc.--I would remove the glass

I have a wooden canopy over my light fixture below--it has been a real limiting factor for lighting due to heat issues. I can only run 150 halides and have had to cut two 4 inch holes in the top and install fans to dissipate the heat.

01/11/2008, 10:10 PM	#1
woogy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Western PA Posts: 986	to canopy or not to canopy? I was thinking of getting a canopy for my 29. My house is old and a lot of dust gets on my light fixture and the top of my hob skimmer so I figure some is getting in the tank as well. I already have a glass top over the top but the back is pretty much wide open. Is this bad for gas exchange? Will my lights get too hot for the canopy???

01/11/2008, 10:35 PM	#2
Agu Registered Member Join Date: Oct 1999 Location: Sarasota, Florida Posts: 30,279	I don't like full canopies or sealed tanks, heat becomes an issue. There's also retricted access to the tank to deal with. __________________ Less technology , more biology . Current Tank Info: 30 gallon half cube and 5.5, both reef tanks

01/11/2008, 10:45 PM	#4
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	[QUOTE]Originally posted by orbit depending on the kind of light ( MH or T5), a full canopy will create alot of heat, u can install fans to cool it off, as for a glass cover, i heard it was bad for the tank,i kinda forgot the reason why, maybe some one here knows y [/QUOTE I agree alot of air exchange occurs at the surface of the tank--this area should be kept really turbulent by power heads etc.--I would remove the glass I have a wooden canopy over my light fixture below--it has been a real limiting factor for lighting due to heat issues. I can only run 150 halides and have had to cut two 4 inch holes in the top and install fans to dissipate the heat. __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

01/11/2008, 10:40 PM	#3
orbit Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 500	depending on the kind of light ( MH or T5), a full canopy will create alot of heat, u can install fans to cool it off, as for a glass cover, i heard it was bad for the tank,i kinda forgot the reason why, maybe some one here knows y