| General Reef Discussion In this forum we discuss issues related to keeping marine and reef aquariums in a friendly flame-free environment. |
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
07-06-2006, 01:15 AM
|
#1
|
|
.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 60
|
custom canopy cooling ideas
I am having a custom canopy made for my 75 gallon reef tank build and am wondering what ideas are floating around for cooling the lighting. I am planning on 2 x 250 watt MH plus VHO actinics if the 12 or 14 K I decide on don't make the corals look like I want. The canopy will have an open back, but will be very close to the wall. I am willing to have some vent holes drilled in the top if needed.
Thanks
Scott
|
|
|
|
Registered Members don't see these ads. Register now it's free!
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 01:24 AM
|
#2
|
|
Cabana Boy
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Miami, Fl
Posts: 2,070
|
I think most people usually drill holes on the sides of the canopy and install computer fans. Im wondering though, does light come through the holes?
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 01:52 AM
|
#3
|
|
.
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Northern California
Posts: 60
|
Sorry- I should re-state my question,
In addition to holes drilled in both ends and having them blow inward, (I was thinking 4 inch fans) is there anything else that is recommended?
Thanks
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 07:08 AM
|
#4
|
|
I've got the REEF rash!
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 25,586
|
One side inwards and on side blow outwards.fans on your sump,then chiller time.
__________________
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 09:39 AM
|
#5
|
|
It can be rebuilt.
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Pittsboro, NC
Posts: 19,158
|
i prefer to have all of my fans blowing out.
G~
__________________
Think Tanker
Friends Don't Let Friends Use Refugiums!
Reef Knowledge Impaired
"J" crowd member.
My Build Thread
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 11:31 AM
|
#6
|
|
Professor Chaos
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Arkham Asylum
Posts: 9,749
|
I agree with Geoff (again). having the fans blow out will create the same amount of air movement in the canopy but it will also remove more heat.
__________________
I mix twinkies and ding dongs all the time, in Europe they call it a Dinky -- Homer Simpson
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 11:37 AM
|
#7
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toledo OH
Posts: 4,889
|
I have open back on my canopy as well. I have 2-250w MH & 2 110w VHO's All I have is two four inch fans in the light fixture blowing air across and out the side of the canopy. I have a hole in the side of the canopy and works great.
Also the fans are the Ice cap variable speed ones!
__________________
Nano reef in the works
TIM MADE ME DO IT, Yet Robert made him do it, yet Casey made him do it!
Yet the voices in all their heads made them do it (skeety)
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 11:41 AM
|
#8
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,414
|
I have found that in addition to the fans moving air through the hood, one or more fan blowing directly (straight down) on the water (very close to the water) inside the hood makes a huge difference in water temp.
HTH,
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 11:49 AM
|
#9
|
|
Cabana Boy
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Miami, Fl
Posts: 2,070
|
do you guys have light coming through the fan holes?
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 11:53 AM
|
#10
|
|
Cabana Boy
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Miami, Fl
Posts: 2,070
|
double post ...... sorry
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 12:03 PM
|
#11
|
|
Shark
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Toledo OH
Posts: 4,889
|
Mine is not a dirrect light beams, but the wall has a blue hue outline. But I cut the hole in the side that is a few inches from the wall so it isn't obvious.
Also the wall behind the tank is light up as well since the back of the canopy is open. But again my tank is between a corner of two walls and a desk. So you really can't see bihind it anyway as well!
__________________
Nano reef in the works
TIM MADE ME DO IT, Yet Robert made him do it, yet Casey made him do it!
Yet the voices in all their heads made them do it (skeety)
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 12:19 PM
|
#12
|
|
Just some guy, you know?
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West of Dimples
Posts: 18,414
|
Ya I do get some light out of my fan holes, but I never worried about it much.
Whiskey
__________________
Mr. Jive/Dr. Heckyll
Life is never more fun, then when your the Underdog
Competing against the Giants.
|
|
|
|
|
07-06-2006, 01:15 PM
|
#13
|
|
Little Fishy
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Kansas City-ish
Posts: 299
|
you can create light baffles around the fans if you don't want the extra light coming out. somewhere here I have a crude drawing that I did that will explain what I'm talking about. If you're blowing air out of the stand, it shouldn't cause any less air flow. If you're blowing in, you may want to put the fan on the other end of the baffle.
The yellow ovals are the lights, the blue boxes are the fans, the arrows show the air flow. you would have to build full boxes around the fans though. you want them to draw air from one end of the box, and blow it out the other. But the light will be in the other end of the box from the vent holes on the canopy. |
|
|
|
|
