Canopy Height?

FranktheTankTx · 12/19/2008, 10:42 PM

What's a standard canopy height to allow for MH lighting? I'm considering having one custom built.

boxfishpooalot · 12/20/2008, 07:08 AM

If you dont want to start a fire, and wake up running around in your pj's spitting on the fire that the halides started, go open top.

However, most of them are vented with jet engine

crvz · 12/20/2008, 07:16 AM

There's no standard, and if it's custom it's tailored to your needs. My canopy for T5 bulbs is 14" high, but I could easily stick a MH setup in there if I wanted.

FranktheTankTx · 12/20/2008, 07:40 AM

Thanks guys - I guess I was asking as to how tall would you recommend for running MH. Furthermore, it appears reflectors such as the LumenMax Elites are roughly 5.5" tall - and I assume I would want to run them about 7 or 8" off the water - I'm looking at building something about 13 or 14" tall.

I currently am going open top - but just thinking about a canopy for the New Year. I might could run a couple T5's for actinic supplementation.

Phyxius · 12/20/2008, 07:56 AM

I have built all of the canopies for my fish tanks from my 29g, 65g 90g gallon all the way to my now 210g. There is no standard height that they have to be made to. I usually made them about 14 to 15" high. Some of the newest reflectors work best with a min bulb to water clearance so you may want to look into that also. I wanted the LB ones in my new 210 but only had 14" from bulb to water so used the Lumenarcs instead ( glad I did

) so its something to look into also.
I also run VHO bulbs for the actinic supplementation for the blue pop. Tried the T5s once but they just didn't have the same nice look so I switched back at next bulb replacement time

Its pretty much up to you how high you want it. Just make sure to leave it open in the back some for ventilation and add the option for some fans on the ends or top possibly as MHs will add some heat in there.

Here is the one I did for the 210g. Its for a 6' tank but will give you an idea......

The blue tape shows where the VHO bulbs go one in front and one in back. You can also see open back for air cooling

Here is a pic that shows the bulbs in place as well as the fans in the ends to aid in cooling

12/19/2008, 10:42 PM	#1
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Canopy Height? What's a standard canopy height to allow for MH lighting? I'm considering having one custom built. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

12/20/2008, 07:08 AM	#2
boxfishpooalot Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: canada, Grande Praire, Ab Posts: 5,824	If you dont want to start a fire, and wake up running around in your pj's spitting on the fire that the halides started, go open top. However, most of them are vented with jet engine __________________ Its a good idea to have a refrence sample for alk test kits. 1.1350 grams of baking soda in 1gallon of distilled water=10dkh. Check your alkalinity test kit! Algae is Mother Natures phosphate remover Current Tank Info: 220 galon mixed reef.

12/20/2008, 07:16 AM	#3
crvz Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: houstonia Posts: 7,989	There's no standard, and if it's custom it's tailored to your needs. My canopy for T5 bulbs is 14" high, but I could easily stick a MH setup in there if I wanted. __________________ -Chris- You don't win friends with salad. "Look! They're trying to learn for free!" ... "Use your phony guns as clubs!" Current Tank Info: rectangluar? wet?

12/20/2008, 07:40 AM	#4
FranktheTankTx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 2,306	Thanks guys - I guess I was asking as to how tall would you recommend for running MH. Furthermore, it appears reflectors such as the LumenMax Elites are roughly 5.5" tall - and I assume I would want to run them about 7 or 8" off the water - I'm looking at building something about 13 or 14" tall. I currently am going open top - but just thinking about a canopy for the New Year. I might could run a couple T5's for actinic supplementation. __________________ Frank the Tank "What, I thought we were in the trust tree... in the nest? Are we not?" Current Tank Info: Custom Rimless 60g (30.5"x24.5"x18.5")

12/20/2008, 07:56 AM	#5
Phyxius Moving About Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: RTP NC Posts: 2,405	I have built all of the canopies for my fish tanks from my 29g, 65g 90g gallon all the way to my now 210g. There is no standard height that they have to be made to. I usually made them about 14 to 15" high. Some of the newest reflectors work best with a min bulb to water clearance so you may want to look into that also. I wanted the LB ones in my new 210 but only had 14" from bulb to water so used the Lumenarcs instead ( glad I did ) so its something to look into also. I also run VHO bulbs for the actinic supplementation for the blue pop. Tried the T5s once but they just didn't have the same nice look so I switched back at next bulb replacement time Its pretty much up to you how high you want it. Just make sure to leave it open in the back some for ventilation and add the option for some fans on the ends or top possibly as MHs will add some heat in there. Here is the one I did for the 210g. Its for a 6' tank but will give you an idea...... The blue tape shows where the VHO bulbs go one in front and one in back. You can also see open back for air cooling Here is a pic that shows the bulbs in place as well as the fans in the ends to aid in cooling __________________ -Mike I never drink water because of the disgusting things that fish do in it. W. C. Fields Current Tank Info: JUST SOLD AND TOOK DOWN ALL 11/10---210g AGA, 80g sump, Tunze Streams. Tunze ATO,RK Elite Controller, RKII,Dart, GEO Calcium& Nielsen Kalk Reactors,GEO media reactor, Kaleini Rock, 3-250 watt 14k EVC , VHO..... 34g Solana and 60g cube