Fitting MHs to hood

Discussion in 'Metal Halide Aquarium Lighting' started by catchprj, Apr 28, 2011.

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  1. catchprj

    catchprj Astrea Snail

    Joined:
    Apr 17, 2011
    Messages:
    65
    I have a tank similar to this, except quite a bit wider:
    [​IMG]
    Where the hood is made from metal with wooden panelling on the front for aesthetics. The roof of the hood is 10" from the water.
    I wish to install some metal halides as I am not happy with the light output from the CF bulbs currently installed.
    I was looking at something similar to this (I know they are not flash, but neither is my bank account):
    [​IMG]
    Do you think I would be able to just cut a round hole in the top of my hood and sit the MH light on top? That way at least some of the heat would dissipate into the room rather than being enclosed in the hood. Or would the MH let out too much heat and heat the metal hood that the light casing is resting on? I've never actually seen a metal halide in operation so I am unsure how hot they get.
     
    catchprj, Apr 28, 2011
    catchprj, Apr 28, 2011
    #1

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  2. jonjonwells

    jonjonwells Great Blue Whale

    Joined:
    Dec 9, 2008
    Messages:
    2,835
    Location:
    SE Kansas
    The answer is yes, you may do that. I have seen several setups that have them done that way.

    Hot.... Very Hot. You will probably still want a fan in the canopy to draw heat out of it and another small one blowing on the fixture itself would not hurt.

    Awesome tank BTW.
     
    jonjonwells, Apr 28, 2011
    jonjonwells, Apr 28, 2011
    #2