Mounting LEDs under flip top canopy

[DVal]

Anybody have any recommendations or ideas on the best way to mount LEDs under a flip top canopy on a 125? I'm not totally ruling out other light sources.

 

[Diesel]

That's going to be tough.
Most LED's need to have some good ventilation.
I would adjust your canopy and hang your LED's over the tank.
What LED's you thinking of getting?

 

[DVal]

Not sure just yet. I'm still looking at what would work with this particular setup. The entire back of the canopy is open with a vent hole across the length of the canopy. I could cut additional vent holes if needed. I've considered ditching the canopy but I like the look of it...I'd get rid of it though if nothing else worked.

 

[DeepBrew]

I have a similar canopy on my 75 and ended up getting a 48" Current Marine Orbit Pro. It sits on top of the tank under the canopy with no problems. I like the light itself OK, but I don't think the colors I get are all that great with it. It seems like if the whites are on at all everything looks brown, even with the blues turned up.

I have a 40 breeder with a pair of Radions mounted using the rail system. I think it might be possible to attach the rail to the inside top of the canopy and use the regular sliding mount for the lights to the rail. I've though about trying it and it my case it looks like the lights would end up about the same height above the water as they are when the rail is mounted on the tank.

 

[Roy 9121]

I cut a hole in the top of my canopy and hung my LEDs with a couple of hyco bars (you can get them at home depot in the plumbing section) it worked great.

 

[DVal]

I've thought about doing that as well with Radions. I also thought about using Kessils with the goose neck mount since the entire back of the canopy is open....BUT I guess that would depend on how flexible that mount is. I don't have alot of experience with those.

 

[Roy 9121]

The good thing about the hyco bars is that you can bend them how you want them

 

[DeepBrew]

I looked at Kessils too. As I recall the height above the water was a problem in my case. Kessil recommended them higher above the water and the cans are deep enough that I would have had to drill out big holes for them so they could stick out the top of the canopy. I love the way Kessils light a tank but that would have looked pretty bad.

 

[DVal]

I'll have to check out the hyco bar idea

 

[jsker]

What brand of lights? some have the fan on top and some have the fan on the bottom. Either way I would use a hole saw and drill a hole above each light so that the lights heat can rise and if the fan is on top, bow out the heat to cool the lamp. Depending on the light if there is a way to suspend the lights there are screw holes in the top of the light. If so I would find a long enough screw the would go through the hood and also give a inch or two clearance from the wood

 

[Flippers4pups]

Looking at your canopy, it looks like you have NO room for adjustment height wise. Most of the led options out there (depends on what your thinking of keeping coral wise) would be very difficult to light the tank properly. Lots of shadowing. If this is to be a fish only tank, there's a few options out there that are thin fixtures. If this is to be a coral tank, boy, that's a tough one and I would build a new canopy with enough room to work with, IMHO.

 

[Roy 9121]

I'll have to check out the hyco bar idea

Heres a picture of what i did

 

[DVal]

Looking at your canopy, it looks like you have NO room for adjustment height wise. Most of the led options out there (depends on what your thinking of keeping coral wise) would be very difficult to light the tank properly. Lots of shadowing. If this is to be a fish only tank, there's a few options out there that are thin fixtures. If this is to be a coral tank, boy, that's a tough one and I would build a new canopy with enough room to work with, IMHO.

It's going to be coral. There's about 8 inches between waterline and lowest part of the canopy

 

[Flippers4pups]

Here's a pic of mine right after I installed the fixtures. I started out at 8" above the water line and the shadowing was a bit much. Raised them to 13" and it helped tremendously. I even pulled 80% of the lenses and it helped even more.

 

[DVal]

Nice! What's the height of that canopy?

 

[Flippers4pups]

18" tall.

 

[GoVols]

Not sure just yet. I'm still looking at what would work with this particular setup. The entire back of the canopy is open with a vent hole across the length of the canopy. I could cut additional vent holes if needed. I've considered ditching the canopy but I like the look of it...I'd get rid of it though if nothing else worked.

If you went Kessil would these mounts work? I dont know the height of your canopy
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/articulating-led-mount-kessil-leds.html

 

[DVal]

Do you have any build plans for that?

 

[DVal]

If you went Kessil would these mounts work? I dont know the height of your canopy
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/articulating-led-mount-kessil-leds.html

Canopy height is only about 8 in above water line. That mount would probably put it too close. But it's possible. Thanks

 

[Flippers4pups]

No, unfortunately. It's 1" pine strips wood glued and screwed as a frame. 1/4" plywood skin glued and nailed. Made my own doors. White epoxy paint inside and black enamel semi gloss outside.