Will having a canopy over my reef tank reduce my evaporation? Will it damage my lights?
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Canopy reduces evaporation?
- Thread starter Athleticfisherman
- Start date
Sure it will reduce evaporation. Any kind of barrier will keep evaporation down. The extra heat buildup will shorten the life of the lights some, but if you have some air circulation in the room it won't be too bad. You can install a computer fan in the canopy to help keep it cool. Wire it in with the light power switch.
Good idea. Should I go with the t5's or metal halide bulbs?
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It depends on the depth of your tank and what corals you would like to grow. T5HO will support most soft corals and LPS but if you want to have SPS then MH is definitly recommended to get a high enough wattage to support them.
The tank depth is 21" and the canopy will be about 8" tall
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Should I varnish the inside because of all the evaporation? Or will it be fine as is
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Having a canopy reduces evaporation immensely! I was surprised by the difference. Water flow, and heat also are factors, but I saw a difference within a week. As for the lights. I would not worry. I havent had any problems even with the water only a few inches from the bulb. My friend however had rust on his light fixture, but I figure it due to poor maintenance.
How tall should I make it? I'm thinking possibly 12" should be enough. And should I varnish the interior? What did you do so the wood doesn't rot or have mold grow?
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