VHO question installing in my new canopy help please

[scorcho]

I have a new canopy 72"x30"x12" I am installing 3 icecap retro MH and two 6' VHO The MH will be attatched to the hood but I wanted the VHO to be a little lower. Anyone have any ideas and pictures of ways to mount the endcaps? Thanks in advance.

[Butters]

send PilotNY a pm hes doing the same thing. adding 3 mh and 4 vho to a custom hood. looks great so far.

[texasreefer]

I did the same thing on the last canopy I built. To get the VHO's lower just build a little bracket out of some scrap plywood or acrylic. I made the brackets in sort of a Z shape that way you can lower them as close to the water as you want.

[scorcho]

Thanks do you have any pics I could look at?

[texasreefer]

I don't have any right now, but I should be getting some this week.

[sls]

how close to the water is too close though? i have vho that i will be putting on my 75 the canopy i bought from petsmart for 15$ only leaves like a 4" gap so the lights will be pretty much an " from the water line. my main concern is ifv this will get hot enough to melt the plastic support on the tank. i guess i could lenghthen the sides of the canopy a few inches but im just not sure i need too.

[texasreefer]

The VHO's are not as critical the only problem mounting them too close to the water is the salt creep you get on them.

[willra]

I'm thinking of buying a 4x95 watt URI VHO retrofit. I plan on a totally enclosed canopy, definately with some vents. Do I need fans? (I do not plan on mh's). The canopy is for a 65 gal (36x18x24). I want to make the VHO's preety close to the waterline, (plainning on about 4''). I'm just not sure how much heat URI VHOs make, and I generally want the canopy pretty small. Thanks. -Will

[adam_not4u]

I saw one guy just mount to the sides of the canopy right under the MH a little stand off piece of wood and mounted the sockets horizonally to that! Ever think of putting your MH going the same way as the sides of your tank. i think you will get a better spread!

[willra]

bump. Do I need fans? (look up 2 posts) Thanks. -Will

[texasreefer]

You will probably need a couple to help get the air circulating out of the canopy even w/ the vents.

[willra]

how about 2 of these on the ends? (one on each end)

http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog%5Fname=CTLG&category%5Fname=CTLG%5F011%5F002%5F007%5F002&product%5Fid=273%2D238

And should I do one blowing in, one blowing out? -Will

[willra]

... OR should they both be blowing in w/ vents in the back.

[texasreefer]

I would have both blowing in and mount the vents in the top of the canopy. By mounting the vents in the top the hot air will naturally rise to the top and out the canopy. W/ the vents mounted above the reflector you won't have any light escaping through the top. You need to put about a 1" spacer between the reflector and the top of the canopy to provide and air space. I have mine mounted like that and even w/ a 400W MH I don't have any light escaping.

[willra]

Thanks, sounds good. I'll probably put some vents in the back too. Do I need to run these fans all day? Also deciding on how high it will be. It think I want the VHOs about 4'' from the water line, so the canopy itself will be around 8'' tall? I am also planning on getting egg crates to prevent water splashing and future fish from jumping out. Thanks.

Will

[AFEICA]

The fans should be on anytime the lights are on and then for 15 minutes after the last light goes off. Mine are on a timer, so the lights are never on without the fans running. (I have VHO's only)

[AFEICA]

Texasreefer is right on. The fans (2) should be blowing in, and the vents (multiple) should be on the top. Several evenly spaced slots cut into the top will work also. (but you still need the fans)

[MarksReef]

Still need pic's of v.h.o. install ? Hope this helps.
http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=16872&papass=&sort=1&thecat=3265

[willra]

Thanks

[willra]

I just got my URI VHO 4x95 watt plug n' play retrofit from hellolights with 2 super actinics and 2 actinic whites ($240) I love the color! Its just sitting on top of pieces of wood on the top of my tank, and I stuck 2 fans in the back. I can't wait to build my canopy. The only downside is that there is only one ballast (so no dusk/dawn) so I plan to add some moonlights in the canopy. So what is the bulb life for URIs, like 8 months? -Will

[RARZILLO]

I replace mine every 6-7 months even tho I think they last longer.
Bulbs can be flakey......once the spectrum of light changes (from it becoming slightly old) expect some hair algae growth....NOOOO!!!:eek: