I am building a canopy for my 26g reef tank. The lighting that will go in the canopy will be 4 x 24w T5HO lamps plus one lunar led. The tank is 21" deep. How tall should the canopy be or how far off of the water should the lamps be? I do have two fans that I will use to cool while the T5's are on, and the back will be open. Thank you in advance for your help!
How tall should my canopy be?
- Thread starter jrob11111
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I like a tall canopy so I'd go at least 12". That would give you plenty of room for adjusting the height of your lights and mounting your fan although you may not even need it with 4xT5's. I put an 18" tall canopy on mine with 2x250 MH and really like the extra room it gives me.
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It really comes down to what you want. Of course, you wouldn't want your lights to be two inches off the water, but you wouldn't want them two feet off, either. I prefer the looks of smaller canopies, however, they are very limiting to tank access. I have a 20L with two 70w metal halides about five inches off the water. I think it looks great, but I have to take the entire hood off just to feed.
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i would do atleast 15" high. open back for cooling
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If you decide later to use a some type of light fixture, make sure you consider its size and how the canopy will be supported. Some light fixtures have legs/supports that rest on the tank rims (usually the side rims) that support the canopy. I would also give it enough height and ventilation ("holes") to dissapate heat. After upgrading my lighting system, I can no longer use my canopy.
