Canopy?

OK I know what they are but what do they do really and how do you work on your tank with it on. I have a glass lid and I am thinking of going topless and don't want dumb people doing dumb stuff. When it is set up {not till next week- shipping problems] I will be running a strip light but at the end of the cycle I will be buying a T5 light. Thanks in advance.

 

This is a good alternative to a canopy, which is what I ended up doing. Much cheaper, quicker, and allows air flow.

http://www.3reef.com/forums/reef-aquarium-articles-how-tos/light-friendly-clear-mesh-screen-cover-open-top-tanks-standard-rimless-w-pictures-74334.html

 

They hide your lighting basically, most have fans in there as well to keep metal halides cool as well as add surface agitation to the water. Plus makes it look like nicer, just depends on the eye of the beholder. some choose to have lights showing, others like me, dont becuase i literally needed shades just to look at my tank it was overwhelming. anyone can build them on any budget and you can do just about anything to em. Note: the back should be open to allow proper air flow in and out of it. Mine retains little to no heat from my 4x24w t5 in their. with it closed itll be a sauna haha. hope this helps

 

I recently grappled with this topic - how would I install one on a running tank? Would it be putting too much added weight/stress on the tank? Will it cut down my gas exchange? Will it make access to the tank limited if I have to get to a "hard to reach spot?".

So what I ended up doing is either super-ghetto or ghetto-fabulous - make of it what you will but I'll tell you - for about 10 min of effort and less than $1 worth of hardware (a few push pins and some adhesive squares+1 old bedsheet I already had) and I have a solution that serves my purpose to a T (and then some) all the while adding no weight or complications with maintenance issues.

 

a little bump

 

Bumpty bump