Canopy Ventilation Options That Don't Leak Light

[Fish Fan]

Hi guys!

I'm trying to come up with a design for a new tank I've ordered, and I think I'm leaning towards a full canopy that covers the top Eurobraced edge of the tank and extends right up to the ceiling of the room.

I know with a fully enclosed canopy I need to consider ventilation. I'm thinking mostly about venting off hot air, but I would think moisture would be a concern too.

Would there be any option for some vents or fans that can exhaust the canopy, but not leak light horribly into the room?

To me, in a perfect world I'd like the canopy full enclosed, with no light spill, except what comes from the tank itself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! Pics of how you did your canopy very, very much appreciated!

Thanks everyone!

 

[JTP424]

I'd say some type of offset louver situation... one layer slanted one direction, then a secondary offset and slanted the other? A baffle of some sort.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'd say some type of offset louver situation... one layer slanted one direction, then a secondary offset and slanted the other? A baffle of some sort.

Yes, I had similar thoughts.

I'm wondering if I should be considering some muffin fans or some other type of fan.

 

[Reef By Steele]

If it is a custom build, design it with a raceway to have the fans mounted inside the canopy and the air move up or down the side to an opening. Could cover the opening on the inside with black storm window screen to cut out even more.

Sorry don’t have a drawing so on my phone, but could sketch something later.

 

[Fish Fan]

If it is a custom build, design it with a raceway to have the fans mounted inside the canopy and the air move up or down the side to an opening. Could cover the opening on the inside with black storm window screen to cut out even more.

Sorry don’t have a drawing so on my phone, but could sketch something later.

Thank you, I appreciate the suggestion! I give it some thought.

EDIT: But if I'm reading your reply correctly, you're suggesting that you have fans inside the canopy blowing out? I actually thought the most efficient design was to have fans blowing cool air into the canopy, which then goes out an exhaust vent.

 

[Reef By Steele]

Thank you, I appreciate the suggestion! I give it some thought.

EDIT: But if I'm reading your reply correctly, you're suggesting that you have fans inside the canopy blowing out? I actually thought the most efficient design was to have fans blowing cool air into the canopy, which then goes out an exhaust vent.

Could mount the fans possibly either way. Back in the day when I had metal halide I had fans on the back of the canopy. I believe blowing the hot air out but possibly one blowing either direction. They were like 4-5” black fans.

 

[Fish Fan]

Could mount the fans possibly either way. Back in the day when I had metal halide I had fans on the back of the canopy. I believe blowing the hot air out but possibly one blowing either direction. They were like 4-5” black fans.

Thank you again for your reply!

I'm no expert here, but I actually think it's most efficient to have two fans blowing in, and passively exhausting out, versus having one fan blowing in and one fan blowing out. The later situation is really only moving the same amount of air as one fan.

I should have mentioned that this tank will be a peninsula build. As you said, in the past I have always left the back of the canopy wide open for air flow. I can't do this on a pininsula build, and it also spills light badly.

I also know I can do a floating canopy with an open top or open bottom, but if I do a canopy at all I'm really liking (in my head at least) the ideal of an enclosed canopy. In my head, I think it will give the tank something of a "built in" look, without making any drastic changes to our house.

Thanks again for your time and suggestions!

 

[Reef By Steele]

Sorry quick drawings but basically a box inside the canopy with the fan either top or bottom and the vents opposite. Could draw in on one side and exit on the other for cross draft.

 

[Fish Fan]

Thanks again! I have been thinking of something similar, maybe some internal baffles that would allow (reduced) air flow, but keep the light spillage to a minimum.

 

[DaScubaSteve]

I built my own, I use a large computer fan plugged into my apex to kick on and off depending on temp. I use black foam filter sponge in the back and you can place some on top. Allows it to breath but keeps light from escaping. I have it hanging on shelving brackets with those circle rings. This is so I can completely remove it if need to take large rock structures out. I wasn't comfortable letting it rest on the tank glass even with it being euro braced.

Check out my build thread

 

[Fish Fan]

I built my own, I use a large computer fan plugged into my apex to kick on and off depending on temp. I use black foam filter sponge in the back and you can place some on top. Allows it to breath but keeps light from escaping. I have it hanging on shelving brackets with those circle rings. This is so I can completely remove it if need to take large rock structures out. I wasn't comfortable letting it rest on the tank glass even with it being euro braced.

Check out my build thread

Thank you for the suggestions and pics!

In my case, I'm doing a pinisula, so I can't have my back open.

That black foam is a good idea, I had forgotten about that stuff!

And my canopy wouldn't really be restnig its wieght on the tank, I'd fully secure it to the ceiling. I was just saying that the canopy would run from the top of the tank to the ceiling (if I do go with this design).

Thanks again!

 

[DaScubaSteve]

Gotcha, Yea put some baffles in and use some cheap computer fans, Cut a usb cord and wire them to the fan for use with the low voltage adapter, put some black filter sponge behind them and your good to go.

or get these from amazon they are cheap.
Amazon product

 

[Fish Fan]

Gotcha, Yea put some baffles in and use some cheap computer fans, Cut a usb cord and wire them to the fan for use with the low voltage adapter, put some black filter sponge behind them and your good to go.

or get these from amazon they are cheap.
Amazon product

Something about R2R lately, the links are not posing like they used to. Unfortunately, that link only takes me to the Amazon home page.

I have started to use "Smart" wifi power strips on my tanks, and the one I like has some USB ports right on it. If I can find a 5v fan, that might be ideal.

I also know that it's quieter to run a larger fan more slowly, than it is to run a smaller fan more quickly. So even if I used a large 12v fan, but only gave it 5v (which is what the USB ports supply), it may work and be quieter as well. <<Hashtag, not an electrical engineer lol!

 

[ScottD]

If it’s hanging from the ceiling you could make it slightly over sized from the tank so you have a gap all the way around for air to enter and then vents towards the top to exhaust the air. It wouldn’t take much of a gap all the way around to give you enough sectional area. 1/2” should be plenty and any light would blend in with the tank lights. Maybe even give it a nice accent.

 

[DaScubaSteve]

Yea the large 10 Inch computer fan is silent. The radion fans are more noisy.

 

[DaScubaSteve]

is it going to be wooden canopy up to the ceiling or some drywall at the top. If drywall i would use a hole saw and some white soffits at the top to let it breath. but even wood you can use a drill and make a nice pattern.

Make sure you take pictures and document it, I want to see how it comes out!