Will my lights melt the plastic reinforcement bands?

[prime311]

I've got 2 36" Coralife 2x96(Acitinic and 10k) lights sitting on top of my 6" wide tank. Each fixture is sitting with 1 side on the edge and the other just over 1 of the plastic bands that reinforce the tank. So each fixture is over a different band. Here's a pic of my tank as so you see what I mean. You can see the 2 reinforcement bands that have some test tubes and a hydrometer sitting on.

Question is, will these lights melt the plastic reinforcement band?

 

[natclanwy]

I would say no I have MH over my tank and it doesn't bother the supports on my tank and I have never heard of anyone having any issues with this.

 

[reefforbrains]

Sorry to be difficult but YES. they can and WILL melt through the supports if they are close enough to the light bulbs.

 

[prime311]

Well that sucks. How exactly are you supposed to get lights for a 72" wide tank then?

 

[slpcamaro]

Originally Posted by prime311
http:///forum/post/2585819
Well that sucks. How exactly are you supposed to get lights for a 72" wide tank then?
you do what I just did last night build a canopy. let me know if you want instruction probably better ways to do it but I threw it together in a few hours with some friends it worked perfectly and will give your tank a nice look when you done. Cost me about 130 with tax and I got a little more then I needed just incase we messed up which we didn't so now I have extra wood laying around.

 

[prime311]

I actually have a canopy, but I don't like using it and mounting the lights inside it would:
A) Block the fans on top of the lighting
B) Make the light switches difficult to access
C) Require a redesign of the edges that sit on top of the sides of the tank to accomodate 72+" of lighting
I guess what I don't get is that Coralife makes a 4x96 72" light with the exact same design as my 2 36" that is supposed to sit on top of the tank(no mounting legs) and why would they design a 700$ fixture that doesnt even work as sold?