canopy suggestions

[jodeman]

I'm planning to build a canopy for my 59g tank (36"x18"x21"tall). I'm going to attach a 250w MH, and a 96w PC to the underside of the lid. I plan to keep using the glass lid (so water won't splash up onto the lights). QUESTION: How tall should I make the canopy (how much room between the glass lid and the MH bulb)??

 

[jjboods]

I'd remove the glass...with MH's, the glass will REALLY cause the tank to retain heat. And the glass blocks some light. I'd go 12" at least.

 

[jacksonpt]

I've got a custom canopy over my 44g tank. I used 1x12 pine for the sides of my canopy. I'm at work so I can't measure exactly... these numbers are just approximations from memory. All told my 250w MH is about 8 above the water surface. I also kept the glass cover on my tank (for different reasons) - the MH is about 6" above that. I use two 6.5" 110v cooling fans. I run my MH for about 4 hours a day and see at most a 3degree raise in temp.
I can measure when I get home if you want exact numbers.
This is an old pic... but you get the idea...

 

[reefsoe]

IF you are building your canopy try this.... I would not leave the glass cover on the tank.
When you build add 4 small block of wood in each corner of the inside frame. Get an inexpensive peice of acrylic from Home Depot and get it cut to the inside dimensions of your canopy. use the 4 corner peices of wood to act as a ledge to hold your acrylic sheet, which will prevent splash up. I would also keep the halide between 12 - 18 inches off the water surface, i know it looses a little intensity but you wont suffer huge temp changes either

 

[richard rendos]

I have all my lights in my 120 about 8 inches from the surface of the water. No problems...very little splash up on the bulbs. I clean them with a wet towel about once a month (while they are off) to remove any salt build up (very minimal). As far as heat, I would definitely take the glass tops off, and add a fan or two to the canopy to help regulate temperature.

 

[slick]

I have 2 MH's on my tank and they are 8 inches off the surface of the water. No problems so far.

 

[reefsoe]

OK ignore my statement go with the pro's
IF thats the case im deffinetly gunna lower my bulbs and get more light into the tank.
So you guys think 2 250w halides should be good 6-8 inches off the water. I can add up to four fans into the canopy fairly quickly