Using a Canopy - Yes or No?

[FlipFlops24/7]

Well I posted this in the lighting forum, but should have asked the club first.

Right now Limpit is building me a custom oak stand for the 40 gallon breeder, and he can build me a matching canopy if I would like.

My question is whether or not I should go for a canopy and build my lights inside of it, or if I should buy a light fixture like this which allows the water's surface more access to fresh air

Just looking for suggestions since I have never used a canopy design before. What are the positives and negatives of using a canopy vs pos & neg of using lights like the picture above.

Thanks in advance.

 

[nellie54914]

When we had the T5s we didn't have a canopy, and had a few inches between the tank and the light. Worked out well for us for the most part, except we did have a couple jumpers that bit the dust. Then again our canopy has an open strip a few inches wide only on the back side of the tank, and also had a couple jump through that small opening too. :O So I guess 1 advantage of a canopy (as long as it's all enclosed) is keeping the fish in the tank. You can also mount moonlights in the canopy if you want them.

 

[FEEDERFISH]

I have open tops, only lost one fish. It makes working in the tank very easy, but depends what you like, I dont have my tanks as show pieces in my house, they are burried in a basement room

 

[Aquabucket]

One of the most important aspects of reefkeeping is oxygen exchange. Another is cutting down on daily temp swings. I would skip the canopy as they are designed more for halide systems. A canopy also limits access to your tank as mentioned by FEEDERFISH.

 

[FlipFlops24/7]

thanks Spike, I was hoping you would chime in. I probably wont ever have halides since I do not plan on keeping SPS.

I'm also thinking of getting these since they have better reflectors. I definitely have to save up for these puppies unless I can find some used.

http://www.marinedepot.com/md_viewItem.asp?idproduct=SL2113

 

[yaitisme]

If you are interested in using PCs with very efficient reflectors, check out this DIY supply site. I was going to DIY one using one of these kits, but got a great deal on my Current USA Orbit 20".

http://www.ahsupply.com/96watt.htm

Here are some of their hoods. I personally like hoods and with openings in the top (for light heat dissipation) and a open back (not used on these hoods), don't think oxygen exchange should be an issue.

http://www.ahsupply.com/finished_enclosures.htm

Bottom line is it's your setup do what fits your vision and your budget.

 

[RCS]

I don't see any reason why you couldn't use a canopy on the tank. They're far from airtight and should allow plenty of circulation. I wouldn't use a glass top over the tank if it can be avoided though. I'm planning on using a matching open-top canopy to the stand I've got. With the halide pendants, it will have to be open.

 

[BryanJ]

I have a canopy on mine but I have a wood frame with eggcrate for a back wall. Just something to consider. Another thing to keep in mind is 300 watts of halides or 300w of T5 all cost the same at public service.

for access purposes I say no canopy. If the tank is in the living room I would have to say get a canopy built.

 

[nellie54914]

As far as access goes not havinig a canopy doesn't necessarily mean easier access. With our T5's we had them only 3-4" above the tank, otherwise the light was shining everywhere in the room and was very annoying. That made it very difficult to get in there. Sure it was easy to feed the fish, but whenever we had to do anything that required me to really get my arm in there (like picking off stupid hair algea when we had that problem, or mouting frags, etc) we had to take the light down. Now with the halides even though there's a canopy it's much easier to get into the tank, just open up the canopy door and leave it propped up. So if you got the T5's that you'd hang, you could have them higher off the water and easier access with a canopy versus having the light that sits on the tank.