So I finally have a job and can easily build my own hood for my 180 gallon. I would like to make it a normal hood, made of wood and enclosed. My only question is, for the T5 lighting fixtures I will be putting in it, will I have to worry about water condensation collecting on the lights? Should I just leave the top open with plastic egg crate on top to release heat from the lights and prevent condensation? Or should I put a piece of plexiglass between the lights and the water and leave the top open? Or is a closed top acceptable with no plexiglass between the water the and fixtures? The light fixtures will probably sit about 6-8 inches above the tank inside the hood. Thanks in advance for any help you can give!
Questions for a DIY Hood
- Thread starter DMasker
- Start date
Put a plexiglass between the lights and the water. You can cover the top but leave the back open. That's what I did and its been almost a year with no condensation issue. I drilled 3 inch holes in my plexi cover for feeding.
Thanks for the advice! Because of the glass center brace for my tank (72x24 standard 180) I think I could just get 4 12x24 inch sheets from home depot so I could make it for easy removal to add driftwood and feeding, because my eel will only eat from my hand. What I'm looking at getting.
That's the right one. Like Bryan said you can leave the top open. The only reason I covered the top is to be able to put the food and conditioner high enough so my 4 yr old boy won't be able to reach it. Good luck.
You can also add computer fans into your hood to get rid of the humidity. It would be easy enough to alter the power plug to accept a standard adapter. Would cost you no more than $40
True, I have plenty of extra lying around so it wouldn't really cost me anything. Thanks for the idea!