spontaneous combustion

[jasutton]

Worried my fish tank will become a very EXPENSIVE pyrotechnics display...

here is the deal: i have about 300W of t12 VHO lighting in a homemade hood...problem is i didnt put fans in the hood. so i am now afraids the the hood (which is a max of 1" away from the endcaps) will catch flame...

the hood is wood with oil based varnish/stain on the outside for aesthetics...which it accomplished but also increased the potential for flare up.

I was thinking about drilling holes into the top for ventilation...think i need to??

thanks all

jamie

 

[mhurley]

IMO, you should always vent a hood. Otherwise you are just holding the heat in from the lights and warming up the tank. Cut a hole in it and put a 4" muffin fan in there.

 

[prugs]

The first hood is completely open on top.
The second has the top drilled out like swiss cheese.

 

[prugs]

Here is the 2nd hood.

 

[jasutton]

ok. I dont want to get fans as of yet b/c i cant deal with anymore wiring. but holes have been drilled!! and while i must say it isnt the cleanest of jobs...it works since you rarely see the top anyway. I think the holes will to the job. i had the light on after for around 3 hours and didnt feel anything

jamie

 

[jasutton]

by the way prugs, thats a slick looking hood, nice work