canopy design. ok?

[Cheech]

What do you guys think of this? The tank is 36w x 24d x 24h.

I tried to make the canopy as thin as possible, so more air can get through and not overheat the tank. The wood will be birch, stained and laquered. The interior of the canopy will be laminated in a formica, (same thing you see on some kitchen countertops).

i'll be using 2x 250 watt MH for this canopy, and a moonlight.

thoughts?

[Grins]

I think you're going to have a lot of light leaking out the canopy.

[duke33]

I'd be afraid of it falling in.

[Sploke]

Looks good...with MH light, you'll need a lot of space for air flow to keep them cool. Yes you'll have some light spilling out, but maybe not too much...hard to tell until you actually do it. The legs look decent too. the only thing i'm not sure about is the little thin black rectangle on the front left top corner of the tank with the diagonal line going back...what is that supposed to be?

[archer772]

I would make the canopy so it fits the entire top of the tank, put 1 fan on each end and leave the top open except for 4 narrow strips going across for the reflectors to attach too then put something like a 8 inch strip of roof flashing from end to end to limit the amount of light escaping from the top. That should keep most of the light in the tank and allow the tank to stay cool, I just did my canopy this way and now my heater has to run even when the lights are on to keep my temps up to 80 degrees

[Grins]

the only thing i'm not sure about is the little thin black rectangle on the front left top corner of the tank with the diagonal line going back...what is that supposed to be?


I think that is the inside bottom and back of the tank.

[Sploke]

Oh good call :D

[Squawkbert]

3' wide tank - I'm not sure you'll get good coverage w/ a single 250W MH - 2x125W may be a better way to go.

[Grins]

They said they'd be using 2 MHs

[PEMfish]

Also need supplemental antics.

[Grins]

Not neccessarily, especially if they go with 14000k or 20000K bulbs.

[Cheech]

Thank you very much for all the advice.

here's an updated drawing...

I added a front panel with a piano hinge so it helps keep the light in the tank.

Rather than having a full top, I made strips instead for heat to escape,

I increased the depth of the canopy to fit completely over the tank.

and Sploke, those angleed pieces are brackets which will be placed in back of the tank, to make sure the sides stay straight.


how does it look?



The extra depth will also allow me to add some VHOs should I decide to do so in the future. . .

[Grins]

How far do you plan on having the bulbs from the surface of the water?

[Sploke]

Yes cheech you must supplement this with antics, and possibly even shenanigans. preferably posting video of said antics :D

kidding...i know PEM meant actinics.




Looks good :)

[archer772]

That is looking better Cheech and you shouldnt have problems with heat or much light escaping

[Cheech]

:D

The way it's setup now, the bulbs will be 6" from the water...

[Reefscape]

I agree...that looks loads better mate...far more practical...

Dont see any need for actinics if you go for 14k bulbs, so, no need to worry about having the room to add them in the hood...

[Cheech]

That is looking better Cheech and you shouldnt have problems with heat or much light escaping


thank you Archer...

i was thinking of possible adding some black *foam (not sure the term for it, but that stuff that covers speakers) on the open holes on the top. So it'll block the light, still let the heat out, and it'd be easy to clean .

[Reefscape]

:D

The way it's setup now, the bulbs will be 6" from the water...

Something to concider....When you add new bulbs, its always good to start them off higher than normal running height so that the tank gets acclimatized to the new bulbs...maybe something to think about dude...

[archer772]

thank you Archer...

i was thinking of possible adding some black *foam (not sure the term for it, but that stuff that covers speakers) on the open holes on the top. So it'll block the light, still let the heat out, and it'd be easy to clean .

Yes that will work and I really think if you could move the fans to the ends and have 1 blowing in and 1 blowing out it would kepp things even cooler but thats JMO

[Grins]

:D

The way it's setup now, the bulbs will be 6" from the water...

I'd want to make it so you could move them a bit higher if you need to. 6" doesn't leave you much room for safety from splashing and such.

[Cheech]

hmmm. . . . ok . . . I'll bring it up to 8" and add spacers should I want to lower it.


Thanks again .

[Squawkbert]

They said they'd be using 2 MHs

Oops - I missed that.

I guess the key to light leakage will be having good reflectors (parabolic).

Be sure to post pics when finished!