Hi all. I have a mounting/ position type question. I purchased a 65 gallon tank with canopy (that my my wife likes) and actually due to my space and no sump yet. I kinda like the finished look as well. The tank canopy was custom built by a carpenter. The original builder made the canopy with cutouts on each side that was designed to nestle a fluval marine and reef light.
I knew that I didn’t want that light at all and also had to come up with a way to get good lighting without destroying the canopy aesthetic
I decided on 2 prime 16 ( as the tank is only 36”) and I cut out with a hole saw two holes big enough for the light and placed the primes on top the canopy.
It has worked ok but I always was concerned that some light was being wasted because there is a crossbrace in the canopy that cutoff some of the light. See pics.
What I have come up with is to take 2 aluminum u channel tubes and sit them inside the old fluval cutouts and then rest the primes on top all inside the canopy.
Pros
Light closer to the water
No light being wasted on the canopy
Tank looks way better and shimmer is not as bad
Cleans up the top of the tank a bit
Cons
Heat concern
Harder to remove when having to take canopy off
My BIG question/concern are the primes staying put just resting on top of the aluminum bars. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Do the fans cause enough force to move the light all? They have never moved just sitting on canopy but I was never concerned about that cause there was no way on them going thru the hole. But now although I think unlikely if they were to shift they would be in the drink.
I did think about perhaps using a modified version of a hanging kit and trying to attach it inside that way but I don’t want to make it too difficult to have to remove when I do have to remove the canopy
Any thoughts/ suggestions??
I knew that I didn’t want that light at all and also had to come up with a way to get good lighting without destroying the canopy aesthetic
I decided on 2 prime 16 ( as the tank is only 36”) and I cut out with a hole saw two holes big enough for the light and placed the primes on top the canopy.
It has worked ok but I always was concerned that some light was being wasted because there is a crossbrace in the canopy that cutoff some of the light. See pics.
What I have come up with is to take 2 aluminum u channel tubes and sit them inside the old fluval cutouts and then rest the primes on top all inside the canopy.
Pros
Light closer to the water
No light being wasted on the canopy
Tank looks way better and shimmer is not as bad
Cleans up the top of the tank a bit
Cons
Heat concern
Harder to remove when having to take canopy off
My BIG question/concern are the primes staying put just resting on top of the aluminum bars. Has anyone ever done anything like this? Do the fans cause enough force to move the light all? They have never moved just sitting on canopy but I was never concerned about that cause there was no way on them going thru the hole. But now although I think unlikely if they were to shift they would be in the drink.
I did think about perhaps using a modified version of a hanging kit and trying to attach it inside that way but I don’t want to make it too difficult to have to remove when I do have to remove the canopy
Any thoughts/ suggestions??