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MandarinFish

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What are the tricks to keeping a canopy cool?

I am having a custom one built, and I want to enclose it to retain as much light as possible. I'd rather not let light out of the back if I can help it, as that is on a window that overlooks the street and makes me look like (even more of) a weirdo to the neighbors, plus lets go of a lot of expensive, hard-earned lumens.

I also want to vent the hood so it's not a hot box any more than necessary.

I'm getting 2 175watt halides to run 10k Ushios and a pair of 60" VHO actinics, as well as a small red light for night viewing.

What are the tricks to keeping a canopy cool?
 

King Jason

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Just beware that the fan sucking air from the inside of the canopy and blowing it outside the canopy will rust quickly and need to be replaced faster then the fan blowing air from outside the canopy into the canopy.
 

wickerj

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I run a 400 watt MH on my 58 gal tank and I'm able to maintain a steady 79* with a pair of 4" fans both blowing in. I hear what you're saying about keeping in the light, you can use spider reflectors to direct the light down. I think you'll need some kind of vent holes for the hot air to escape, maybe you could cut some slots in the top of the canopy or cut some holes in the back.
You can blow in all the air you want but it's got to have somewhere to vent.

Jeff
 

Marcosreef

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Two 4" fans blowing in, and two 4" exhaust holes to vent out. One fan blowing in, and 1 fan blowing out is not necessary, IMO.

Marco
 

texasreefer

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I use a couple of fans blowing in and have a vent mounted in the top of the canopy above the reflectors to allow heat to escape. I also have the back open to allow heat to escape the back. If your's is by a window you can buy a/c vent covers from HD and they will allow the heat out and block a lot of the light from escaping.
 

MandarinFish

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If your's is by a window you can buy a/c vent covers from HD and they will allow the heat out and block a lot of the light from escaping.

Anyone got the link?

Hey texasreefer - Yao Ming is the future of the NBA. He went off for like 27 points and 18 boards against my beloved Spurs, with Kevin Willis (multiple-NBA champion), David Robinson (1 of 50 greatest of all time), and MVP Tim Duncan. All of them are 7 footers. All of them are strong, fast, and highly skilled.

That convinced me. Now if the Rockets could only ditch Francis and Mobley for some serious ballers, they'll be champs again.
 

texasreefer

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To find the A/C vents they normally stock them near the plumbing aisle. They usually have air conditioning vents in various sizes to choose from. You should be able to find them at any good hardware store locally.
 

Garry thomas

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Manderinfish i have nearly 1700 watts under my sealed 11ft hd, i keep the tank cool with a host of 6 inch fans, which pressurise the base(sump) and hood which is then vented through 5x 4 inch holes at the very back of the tank! my fans are controlled by an octopuss controller! The only downside is the humming of the fans. :roll:
 
A

Anonymous

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Keep the top of the canopy as open as possible. All mine are basically slats, just enough to hold the lights and add some structural support.
 

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