For those with Halides

[hesstondc]

What directions are your bulbs facing?

I am hoping that I can just use halides with no suplements, I have a pair of 14K bulbs so they will not be a factor.

If I face them towards the back of the tank with the mount directly infront of the doors that open in the front of the canopy then the computer fans will blow the air off the entire length of the bulb.......I don't have a reflector yet, just painted the inside of the canopy white....I will get some spiders eventually though....

Thanks for the help....

[hesstondc]

The holes in the back are for the fans....

[wildemon]

Well you do not say what style of bulb you have, double-ended can work either front-back or cross-wise. Mogul bulbs usually have the bases near the two sides. I would think locating as you describe at the front to be very easy to touch during maintenance or feeding... and that will be painful. I would want them over the area where you plan to build your rock placements. Typically they provide a 2' circle of light 2' below the bulb.

You use fans to blow out and not on the bulbs. In fact MH enjoy the heat to stay lit.

[hesstondc]

I see what you are saying....

I made a simple L bracket with some leftover wood and painted it white. I attached a juction box to the end and painted it all white. I mounted the socket to the juction box cover and I will tieup with wires in side the box and seal off with silicon. It was a cool idea but I hope it dosn't catch fire...I tested it for about an hour and the ceramic base never warmed up so it should be fine....

By the way its a mogul

I thought if I turned it to were the bulb points at the fan then the air would blow over the bulb, and the light would be partially blocked and not leak as much around my cabinet doors. I have put foam seal around the edges but I haven't tested to see how well it works. The bulb should be about 3.5" from the top of the cabinet...Think that will cause burn marks? Or will the fans blow the heat off.

the bulb would be at least 6"from the center of the door so I could reach around it pretty easily I think...I guess if I screw it up I can always patch the screw holes with putty and place them somewere else.....

Thanks for the help.

[RobinsonFam1]

you should not get burn marks with the fans on. 6" should be ok. i have them centered in a 13" deep canopy and have no problems.

[hesstondc]

Thanks Robinson Fam....

Heat is really the only thing I am afraid of here...Oh and my wiring....LOL!

Not hard actually....

[wildemon]

I would also consider the reflectors essential to getting your light down in the tank where you want it.

[LT1ownzyou]

Mine are mounted toward the ends of the hood facing inward. There is no shield above them however my canopy is painted with reflective paint all inside it. Seems to do just fine.

[hesstondc]

Can't find a good deal on Spider reflectors....This is only a temp setup...I am always changing something...

I would buy the spider reflector and socket for $30 each but our new addition (Lenard the dog) is taking up alot of fish money right now.

[supernova]

Probably not any help but I have a spider refletor and socket thats brand new if you would like to buy. However its only one not two.

[chicagoman_35]

FWIW

I run 2 axial fans on my canopy to cool it down from my halides... I have noticed I get cooler temps (2-3 deg) having one fan push in and the other blow out.