Confused about lights with canopies

[artemis]

I'm toying with the idea of setting up a 75 gallon (or larger) low-light/no CO2 tank in my basement family room. Because I'm irrationally paranoid about leaks, I'd prefer to use an acrylic tank. I'd like the tank to look like a nice piece of furniture, which makes me think a canopy would be nice. I'm very much NOT a do-it-yourselfer, though, so I can't see myself installing any retrofit kits (plus, I'd like lights that stay put when the canopy top is lifted, so I'd have the lights shining down into the water rather than into my eyes when I'm doing tank chores). Do preassembled light units such as the Coralife Aqualight generally fit into canopies? If not, would using a 36" long light unit be a feasible alternative, or would this leave the sides of the tank too dim?

(I suppose one option might be to have a tank made that's a bit longer than usual - say 52" - to guarantee adequate clearance in the canopy for a preassembled 48" light unit. But that would obviously mean I'd never be able to use the tank on any ready-made aquarium stand, and the custom-made stand and canopy would be a bit too large to fit a standard 48" long tank.)

[gmh]

A canopy for a 75 gallon should have several inches of clearence above the glass top. Most fixtures including Coralife would easily fit inside those. No need to get a 36 inch light. A canopy would fit over a 48 inch light strip. They are designed with that in mind.

[Riiz]

If you do put a pre-built fixture into a canopy, go with T5, they usually run pretty cool, which is a plus, since canopies trap the heat.

[excuzzzeme]

I added a light to the underside of my canopy and put it in backwards so the on/off button was facing me. In my case I did this so that my wife would be able to see how to turn it off if I am not around until I can get a timer for it. When the hood is open (or closed) the sides of the lamp box shield the light and makes it shine straight down. It is either a Perfecto or All-glas strip light.

[artemis]

A canopy for a 75 gallon should have several inches of clearence above the glass top. Most fixtures including Coralife would easily fit inside those.

Thanks! I am more concerned about lateral clearance, though. I'm sure I can get a canopy high enough to allow for reasonable air circulation above and below the fixture. I'm not as sure a standard canopy will accommodate the length of the fixtures (which are generally around 48 1/2"). I can't imagine the tank's external dimensions would be more than an inch or so greater than its internal dimensions, and the canopy would be flush with the external sides of the tank, so it might be a tight squeeze. I guess I'll need to talk the issue over with the company building the tank and stand (assuming I decide to go ahead with the idea).

[artemis]

If you do put a pre-built fixture into a canopy, go with T5, they usually run pretty cool...

That's a good idea. I'd probably also have a fan or two installed as well, just to make sure the air circulation inside the canopy is good.

[artemis]

I added a light to the underside of my canopy and put it in backwards so the on/off button was facing me.

Now that's a nice idea! Much easier to switch the lights off that way - no fumbling around blind reaching for a switch you can't see.

[Star_Rider]

it's going to depend on the light fixture.. I have a satelite that will barely fit in a prebuilt hood. I wound up taking the guts out of the fixture and mounting that to the top of the hood moved fans etc and mounted them on the ends of my hood so i had an inlet and out let.

on my 110 the orbit 48" fixture fits fine in the hood(prebuilt)
I may do the same tho as I can add more lights by retro fitting the fixture.

[artemis]

Thanks, Star_rider. Looks like I may just have to see what works if/when I get the canopy. A retrofit may end up being the best way to go, even though I was hoping to avoid one.