Building Canopy

[netafish]

With Christmas around the corner I've figured I want to give myself a new canopy cause the one that came with the tank looks horrible and the wiring is scary. Anyhow, I want to transplant the lighting I currently have in the new canopy. The new canopy will have 2 175watt MH's and 2 4 foot actinics. the MH's give off nearly enough heat to warm my house in the winter so how do I keep my canopy fire safe? also where should I hinge the opening for optimum usability? and also fans, which fans would be the best. Advice would be great, so would pictures

Cheers

[Pirate]

First I would suggest good quality reflectors, they should be mounted with approx 1/2 space between them and the top of the hood. That allows air to flow and decreases the heat buildup at the top. And for access, I just put a new hood on my tank about 2 months ago, I went from a hanging setup to the hood. I have two doors in the front, and my one complaint is limited access. It's just not as easy as it used to be. I have 4in pfo fans, blowing out. Check out my hood if you like, in the archives, posted by Junkzoo, pirates 125 I think.

[netafish]

sounds good but what do you use for spacers?

[Pirate]

just about anything will do, a few washers, oversized nuts, pieces of conduit, just anything to give you that space for flow.

[Geoff]

here are some pics of my canopy. it is a 6' canopy but it is still applicable to a 4' tank. i like the way it hinges. gives a lot of room for mucking around.

i just use fans i get from old computers for my canopy.

G~