Enclosed Canopy

[Jtleland]

Good day everyone!

I'm looking to replace my old (and basically antique) lights on my 90 gal, however, I have a wood canopy that covers the top of my tank that hides feeders, etc. Currently I have my lights attached directly to the canopy and there are no issues.

So here's the million dollar question. Could I install some more modern lights and attach them directly to my canopy in the same way? My biggest concern is airflow and heat with these new lights (red sea, ecotech, etc.), and am I creating a fire hazard?

 

[Fish Styx]

Most of the "newer" lights have heat syncs and fans that blow out of the top of the fixture, and without proper airflow you'd be shortening their life span, IMO. I'll refrain from commenting as to whether or not you'd be causing a fire hazard, but will say that, if you're asking the question, you already know the answer.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Is the canopy 100% closed?

Some LED lights say they are OK inside a canopy.

My canopy is partly open back, and when I had 2 x 250 w metal halides (plus other lights) in it, I cut an additional round hole in a back corner of the top and mounted a very quiet fan there to exhaust air.

Now I'm reusing the same canopy with 4 AI blades inside the canopy. They use less electricity and I strongly doubt I will use them at 100% intensity, maybe not over 50%, so heat will be less. I don't plan to reinstall a fan inside the top opening unless I determine a need.

But I agree that heat degrades them and shortens life, and will do so if it seems to get too hot inside. I certainly do not want to shorten the life of expensive lights if just adding a very quiet fan will help.