Acrylic tank with Compact Fluorescents?

[Heady]

I would like to build a DIY canopy/hood for my 100 gallon acrylic tank. I will be installing 2 - 2x55W over my tank. I have heard this will make a lot of heat, so I have 3 questions:

1) How high should the lights be above the tank to make sure they don't harm the acrylic?

2) How do you make sure the hood is properly ventilated?

3) I bought my kits from AH Supply and they did not include a ventilation fan. Does it need it? If so, how do I buy and install one?

[karfixer]

That sounds very similar to what I'm doing- except I went with 2X96W. The C.F. don't get that hot, not hot enough to damage your tank. My tank isn't set up yet, but I have had the light/reflector mounted a couple of inches above the top for hours at a time and could still touch the top of the tank without a problem. In a sealed enclosure ventilation for the lights is more important- The D.I.Y. pages they have show several simple mounting ideas. The tank that I'm setting up will have the lights suspended from the celing and the ballasts remote mounted so heating isn't going to be a issue. Those ballasts are very efficient and run very cool compared to conventional magnetic units

[Heady]

So no one else has an acrylic tank with compact fluorescents?

I just want to know how high to make my light enclosure, so I don't cook my tank.

[gcvt]

I have a 96w PC 4" above the water surface of my 55g acrylic planted tank and don't have any heat problems at all. There's also a 2x40NO 'shop light' under there as well. I also had a 4x96w setup about 6" above the water surface on my 100g acrylic - no heat problems there either.

[Heady]

Thanks for the reply!

While I was waiting, I called Casco Group, mfr of Seaclear acrylic aquaria, and they said the lights should be no closer than 4-6 inches from the tank.

I will be installing 2-2x55W lights above my 100, so maybe I'll stick with 5 inches.

[Rare Cichlids]

The whole point of using compact flourescents is because they're energy efficient because they don't waste electricity by creating a lot of heat like other types of bulbs.

[nvision]

i run dual 65w cf over my 50g acrylic and it will warp the top divider panel if i let it rest a inch above it for couple of minutes. you should be safe at 4-5 inches.

[carpguy]

Originally posted by Rare Cichlids
The whole point of using compact flourescents is because they're energy efficient because they don't waste electricity by creating a lot of heat like other types of bulbs.

Compact flourescents get hot, substantially hotter than NO flourescents. Not quite as hot as incandescents. You can touch them for a few seconds without burning yourself but it gets uncomfortable pretty quick. There have been a few reports of glass covers cracking from the heat when CFs were placed on top without a bit of separation.

There compact because they're small, not because they're more energy efficient.