Jumpers and a Closed Canopy

[bigdee65]

I currently have a closed canopy on my 135g mixed reef and would like to add some "jumpers" to my tank like Fairy wrasses and a firefish. My only concern is that I have a VHO retro setup in my canopy that is about 5" off the top of the water. I am running 5 72" bulbs and I am worried that if a fish jumps he could break the lamps.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Could a 3-4" fish break the lamps if they hit them? The bulbs are URI if that makes a differnece

Thanks!

 

[spoon25]

if the bulbs get hot enough and water splashes them yes they will break, as far as fish bouncing off them, you shouldnt worry about that just worry whether or not the bulbs get hot enough to maybe scold the fish or whatever when it jumps, also worry about electrical wires what if the fish jump on them and get them wet and they send a current back through the water or even electricute it on the spot....

 

[bigdee65]

thanks for the input spoon. The bulbs are VHO and don't get very hot (I can touch them without any discomfort). As for the wires there are none inside the canopy, they are all on the top and poke through right before entering the end caps. The bulbs get very little if none water spray on them so I don't have much to worry about there.

I have an old bulb outside in the garage, I am going to "test" how much it takes to break it. Hopefully it will be a lot more than I think

 

[spoon25]

try tapping the sink with them, it should shatter fairly easy.....the bulbs are tough i wouldnt even try and break it...if you do test the strenght you should post pics of a DIY bulbs strenght test, then try it when there hot

 

[allykahn]

If your canopy is open in the back, I would suggest using some type of gutter guard to block the openings. I have lost a flame angel and a clown from jumping. I also have vho lights that are close to the tank.

 

[bigdee65]

The canopy has a 4" tall slot cut out in the back that is the length of the canopy but I rigged up a screen for it so nothing is getting through but air

If I try the bulb test I will be sure to post pics in the DIY section :thumbsup:

 

[bigdee65]

Bump, any other input?

 

[Redfish]

I have an enclosed canopy on my 225. The back three openings are covered with egg crate. The canopy is 20" tall and the three VHOs and three MH pendants are mounted on a bar that hangs down so that the vhos and pendants faces are about 4" off the water.

I have two lineatus wrasses, two rhomboid wrasses, three rosy fin wrasses, two flame wrasses, a lubbocks wrasse, a mystery wrasse, a solerensis wrasse and two pink streak wrasses. I have never lost a fish and they have never broken a bulb. They do occasionally jump and bounce off the light bar and lights. I have never had an injury.

The overflow boxes on the other hand are sometimes a problem. I originally covered the top with eggcrate but had a wrasse get trapped on top. Now I have a screen on the overflow pipe and just have to rescue fish from the box occasionally.