Canopy fans good or bad?

[Hitman]

With everything else I have going on I took a break and installed 2 Reef Brite 60” Actinic XHO’s and ATI 6x80 watt 6 bulb ( 4 ATI Blue Plus, 1 ATI Purple Plus, 1 ATI Coral Plus ) fixture on my 100 that is holding what corals I’m able to salvage from my big system crash from our power outage the last few days and all the Acro’s I bought Sunday on the WWC lightning sale. I removed the 2 48” T5 retrofit fixtures and the 4 AI Sol Blues for this setup hoping for better par & pur.

Now to the point of the post after 4 hours of the new lighting being on and running my tank temp has rose 1.3 degrees so I was thinking about adding a fan or 2 to my canopy. The ATI fixture is just resting on top of the canopy as I cut the top off and the fixture is 1” longer the the tank is.
I have a floor fan blowing over the sump now which seems to help temporarily.
Let’s hear the pros and cons of installing fans in the sides of the canopy and should they push air in or suck it out, or one each way?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I use and recommend to reduce heat which increases life of the light

 

[Hitman]

I use and recommend to reduce heat which increases life of the light

My canopy is 12” tall so I have plenty of room for fan on the sides what would you recommend? Should they blow air in or out or one of each?

 

[Billldg]

I installed a 4 fan setup from saltwater aquarium and control it with my apex, It keeps my tank temp from rising no more than .6 degrees while my t5 lights r on for 6 hours.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Without question, fans always blow IN. Just make sure it's not a totally closed canopy and there is an opening to allow moist hot air to escape. The reason you want them blowing IN is because of the moisture. If blowing OUT, that moist hot air passes over the fan and potentially causes premature failure.

And never consider one fan IN and the other OUT. You basically have one fan with this configuration....think about it!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Most reefers use computer style fans and used to exhaust (pull hot air out of canopy outwards) expelling the heat from within housing

 

[pledosophy]

I use the SilenX fans. They work great. Dead silent.

On my 4 foot ATI I had one blowing in the canopy and I had two other mounted to the top of the light unit with magnets.

The fans directly on top of the light really help to bring the temperature of the fixture down.

If your light is resting on your canopy make sure you are not blocking the vent holes in the light. You should be able to feel the air coming out of the sides of the light. If you block them, they get really hot and it will cause the unit to fail prematurely.

 

[Jay Z]

Any chance you can get them in the top of the canopy pointing up?

 

[Hitman]

Most reefers use computer style fans and used to exhaust (pull hot air out of canopy outwards) expelling the heat from within housing

I use the SilenX fans. They work great. Dead silent.

On my 4 foot ATI I had one blowing in the canopy and I had two other mounted to the top of the light unit with magnets.

The fans directly on top of the light really help to bring the temperature of the fixture down.

If your light is resting on your canopy make sure you are not blocking the vent holes in the light. You should be able to feel the air coming out of the sides of the light. If you block them, they get really hot and it will cause the unit to fail prematurely.

Splash shield is off, fan is on 12v ( doing this as I saw it on the BRS video on this light ) I think doing this is blowing the hot air into the canopy then kind of trapping it as I only have 3 small 1” holes for cables to come in.
I like the computer fan idea. I’ll run to Best Buy in the morning and see what they have to do a temporary DIY setup until I find moisture resistant ones.
Thank you both

 

[Hitman]

Any chance you can get them in the top of the canopy pointing up?

Yes I have 4” of room behind the fixture the hole length of the tank. Would that be better then the sides?

 

[Jay Z]

Tank that size I would go with 4 noctua 140’s on a speed controller. Would mount all 4 in a pull configuration (blowing out). When blowing out it will pull fresh air around the light then over the top of the water and then out.

If you go with a push system (blowing in) you will get a heat pillow in the middle of the canopy, plus what ever contaminates are forced in.

If installed inside the canopy (no access to outside air) your just spinning hot air inside.

My main has 2 5” ducts running up to a stove hood that vents outside.

 

[Hitman]

@Jay Z ive spent some time in your neck of the woods. Spent several weekends on Lake St Clair on the Baja tours as well as a few Jobbie nooners. I remember going to everyone and have to look at pictures to remember the island though! Lol

 

[Hitman]

Tank that size I would go with 4 noctua 140’s on a speed controller. Would mount all 4 in a pull configuration (blowing out). When blowing out it will pull fresh air around the light then over the top of the water and then out.

If you go with a push system (blowing in) you will get a heat pillow in the middle of the canopy, plus what ever contaminates are forced in.

If installed inside the canopy (no access to outside air) your just spinning hot air inside.

My main has 2 5” ducts running up to a stove hood that vents outside.

Completely makes sense! I like your set up. I’ll have to look that up.

 

[Jay Z]

4 in the top blowing out will get rid of any temp spikes. Top middle blowing out is always the best bet. Pulls the cool air in the sides and takes the fixture heat out before it can get to the water.

This I can actually back up. Thermal YouTube video incoming!

 

[Jay Z]

Now I do keep my house at 69-70 through the summer and around 72 in the winter. Right now we’re at 70. First pic is my actual water temp. Hair over 78.

Video is of the thermals in my canopy. Notice my temps inside as I pan around. I’m running a ati t5 hybrid. 4 t5’s and led.

 

[Jay Z]

@Jay Z ive spent some time in your neck of the woods. Spent several weekends on Lake St Clair on the Baja tours as well as a few Jobbie nooners. I remember going to everyone and have to look at pictures to remember the island though! Lol

Lol. I went a couple time too. So I’m told. Float down was awesome this year.

 

[Hitman]

Now I do keep my house at 69-70 through the summer and around 72 in the winter. Right now we’re at 70. First pic is my actual water temp. Hair over 78.

Video is of the thermals in my canopy. Notice my temps inside as I pan around. I’m running a ati t5 hybrid. 4 t5’s and led.

Per my apex mine jumped up from 77 to 78.3. Heaters are set for 76.8 on 77.0 off.
That thermal camera video is cool!

 

[ca1ore]

You may find that a hole in the top of the canopy will be enough to vent the hot air without running a fan. Hot air rises after all. I did this on a small tank canopy and it worked just fine.