Question about ahsupply.com light kits.

[asincero]

I ordered a 2x36watt Bright Kit from ahsupply.com. I got the kit with the 17.5" long reflector instead of the 34.5" long reflector. Since my tank is a some what "nonstandard" corner tank, I'll have to make the light enclosure myself. I'll probably make it out of red oak, and stain it to match the oak trim of my tank and stand.

I want to get started on the enclosure now while they get my order together and ship it. My question is should I make the enclosure's height 3" or 4"? A 3" enclosure would look better, IMHO. The height of the reflector, according to the specs at ahsupply.com, is 2". So I suppose either a 3" or 4" enclosure would accommodate the reflector. But I noticed that all of the finished enclosures that they sell are larger than 3" in height. I'm guessing there must be a reason for this. 3" might be enough room for the reflector, but what about the other stuff that might need to be installed inside the enclosure?

Sorry if this is a dumb question. I suppose I could wait until the thing arrives before I get started on the enclosure; that way I can be sure that what I build would be right the size. I'm getting a little impatient though .

 

[carpguy]

There isn't anything else that's going to get in the way.

I have the 2x36 with the long reflector. My canopy is 4" but slips down over the trim. The top of the canopy is half inch plywood, then the 2" reflector (actually two inches). You could do 3" if you're not using any overhang.

These guys get quite a bit hotter than Normal Fluorescent. I'd try to leave some space between the bottom of the reflector and the glass for air circulation, maybe a half inch.

 

[asincero]

There isn't anything else that's going to get in the way.

I have the 2x36 with the long reflector. My canopy is 4" but slips down over the trim. The top of the canopy is half inch plywood, then the 2" reflector (actually two inches). You could do 3" if you're not using any overhang.

These guys get quite a bit hotter than Normal Fluorescent. I'd try to leave some space between the bottom of the reflector and the glass for air circulation, maybe a half inch.

I think the kit is supposed to come with pop-in vent covers. I'm thinking I can cut some holes in the top of the enclosure, and cover the holes with the vent covers. Perhaps that will provide adequate ventilation?

This one other person who did a DIY enclosure went ahead and installed a fan inside his enclosure. That's certainly a sure way to beat the heat too.

 

[somuchtolearn]

should be good with the oak, maybe add a fan for heat removal. also a light cover (acrylic with some UV protection additive, 1/4").

a lower profile enclosure would be better looking. if anything the end caps would add more length. the added height maybe because they wanted a more distributed light into the aquarium when the enclosure sits directly on top of the aquarium. add a light cover to protect the light (electrical and corrosion) or maybe you already have a glass top for the aquarium but I feel better to have a cover on the light.

somewhere you did say it's a corner tank? light enclosure total length would not exceed tank dimension and also placed where you wanted it so light is evenly distributed. I am no expert but just some things that came to my head.

 

[asincero]

should be good with the oak, maybe add a fan for heat removal. also a light cover (acrylic with some UV protection additive, 1/4").

a lower profile enclosure would be better looking. if anything the end caps would add more length. the added height maybe because they wanted a more distributed light into the aquarium when the enclosure sits directly on top of the aquarium. add a light cover to protect the light (electrical and corrosion) or maybe you already have a glass top for the aquarium but I feel better to have a cover on the light.

somewhere you did say it's a corner tank? light enclosure total length would not exceed tank dimension and also placed where you wanted it so light is evenly distributed. I am no expert but just some things that came to my head.

The length of the enclosure will be about 23", so I'm fairly confident the light kit will fit inside of since it's 17.5". I'm hoping I won't need to install a fan, though, as that complicates things a little bit. Hopefully, some vents on the top would be all I need.

 

[carpguy]

The kit comes with a bunch of doodads including at least one pop-in vent cover (IIRC). This is a smallish circular plastic thing, maybe an inch and a halfish. Its meant, I think, to plug into the side of the enclosure to act as a louver (like the vents on the side of an attic). Its a nice detail, but its not much of an opening.

I'm not really sure what you want your canopy to look like. When I built my enclosure I used 3 separate panels for the top. One panel was fixed in the back, a second fixed in the middle from which I hung the fixture, and a third hinged at the front for access to the tank. Canopy covers entire top. I left a half inch gap between each panel for ventilation. Even if you do a simple box hood, you could leave a little space between the top and the sides.

If you have trouble keeping tank temps down in the summer you might think about the fan. I'd put the louver cap in one end and a little computer fan in the other. They're small, quiet and not expensive. You'd also need a little transformer: the computer fans aren't expecting full wall strength electricity.