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Canopy versus open top

J

junk

Looking for either some guidance or wisdom here please.

I recently purchased a used 120g with stand and it came with a fugly canopy. I’m not sure which direction to take, open top or canopy and here are my thoughts.

Originally planned on using a canopy because I wanted either MH or T5 lights and figured the canopy would help hide them. We also have a kitten that manages to get everywhere and the canopy would help keep him out (hopefully I’m not being too naïve here). Now that I realize just how much of a piece of crap this canopy is, I’ve decided to either buy a new stand with matching canopy or go open top.

If I go open top and use T5’s, I’m hoping I wouldn’t have to use any fan. Even if one comes with the fixture, I could maybe disconnect it. With MH though, I’d definitely need use the fan in the fixture buy maybe I could replace the internal fan with a quieter one.

If I go canopy, then I’ll have to use fans, but at least I can get the most quiet ones I can find and maybe by putting them in the canopy it would help reduce the noise.

Do I really like the looks of an open top? Dunno. Haven’t seen many in this size range with an open top, but I have liked the canopy versions that I see. Most folks, when showing FTS only show the tank, so it’s hard to see who uses a canopy and who doesn’t.

Grr. Anyone have any thoughts or wisdom to share on this?

Thanks.


Of course the one drawback of using what I have means I can start trying to set it up asap.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

i have a 120 with open top. Main reason for that is because our house tends to get very warm in the summer and I wanted the additional openness for evap. Also because I'm relatively short it was a real pain to get on a step ladder to do anything in the tank.
 
redfishbluefish

redfishbluefish

Officer Emeritus
Officer Emeritus
I think some of what you are asking boils down to personal preference.  To go canopy or no canopy.

Now, for my random thoughts:

To quote you, your current canopy is “fugly.”  Is there a chance you could re-work that canopy by adding new doors, some molding, a new paint job?  You already have a box that fits on top of the tank.  What could you do to spruce it up and use it?  How handy are you in building your own?

Retrofit T5’s are ugly if not put into a canopy.  Sit-on-top T5’s that come “prepackaged,” such as the Nova Extreme or Outer Orbit, don’t need to be in a canopy.  They have that finished look, which is….OK.  One note of caution…you mentioned disconnecting the fans on these units….don’t do it.  They are closed up and hold a lot of heat.  If you disable the fan(s), the ballasts won’t last long and the bulbs probably won’t be far behind.  The little fans on these lights aren’t that noisy.

I’ve seen MH’s hanging from cable down to the tank that I think look pretty cool.  It looks Art Nouveau…however that looks?  To me it has a clean look and I’m ok with that.  If you put MH’s into a canopy, you will most likely need fans and a relatively high canopy to boot.

That’s my two cents on the canopy.

As far as the cat, get rid of it. :eek:
 
J

junk

Hawkeye said:
i have a 120 with open top. Main reason for that is because our house tends to get very warm in the summer and I wanted the additional openness for evap. Also because I'm relatively short it was a real pain to get on a step ladder to do anything in the tank.
Click to expand...

Thx. You don't by any chance have a shot showing everything you could post do you? thx.
 
J

junk

redfishbluefish said:
I think some of what you are asking boils down to personal preference. To go canopy or no canopy.

Now, for my random thoughts:

To quote you, your current canopy is “fugly.” Is there a chance you could re-work that canopy by adding new doors, some molding, a new paint job? You already have a box that fits on top of the tank. What could you do to spruce it up and use it? How handy are you in building your own?

Retrofit T5’s are ugly if not put into a canopy. Sit-on-top T5’s that come “prepackaged,” such as the Nova Extreme or Outer Orbit, don’t need to be in a canopy. They have that finished look, which is….OK. One note of caution…you mentioned disconnecting the fans on these units….don’t do it. They are closed up and hold a lot of heat. If you disable the fan(s), the ballasts won’t last long and the bulbs probably won’t be far behind. The little fans on these lights aren’t that noisy.

I’ve seen MH’s hanging from cable down to the tank that I think look pretty cool. It looks Art Nouveau…however that looks? To me it has a clean look and I’m ok with that. If you put MH’s into a canopy, you will most likely need fans and a relatively high canopy to boot.

That’s my two cents on the canopy.

As far as the cat, get rid of it. :eek:
Click to expand...

Thanks. Can't get rid of the cat lol.

Yeah, the personal pref of open vs canopy is what makes this so tough. I can rework a stand/canopy if it's rough built, but this stand is finished cherry and that's a tough one for me to match up with. Now I could weld something or do a skin on a 2x4 stand .... maybe that's the route I should've gone. Uhg. There really are too many choices in this dang hobby lol. Thx.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

junk said:
Hawkeye said:
i have a 120 with open top. Main reason for that is because our house tends to get very warm in the summer and I wanted the additional openness for evap. Also because I'm relatively short it was a real pain to get on a step ladder to do anything in the tank.
Click to expand...

Thx. You don't by any chance have a shot showing everything you could post do you? thx.
Click to expand...

i will try and post a pic up tonight.
 
R

reeferwanabe

my 150 is open top I like it for the same reasons. but I can't put jumpers in there and just last night one of my fish jumped. luckily I was close and got him back in.
the next tank is going to have a canopy!
I may just put one on this tank too.
 
Hawkeye

Hawkeye

that's true. But I have a jawfish and a firefish - both considered carpet surfers in my tank - and it's been fine for 3 months now. Hardly a scientific sample but just pointing it out. I think if i put in a (pugnacious) pseudochromis - i'd have two fish on the floor in 2 seconds flat.

that stated -if you read my tale - you will know i had TWO jawfish...but one committed hari-kari in the first night. That was my fault...but I won't detail it here. Anyways - back to this thread. No canopy means that there is definitely a risk for more deaths. Not something you want if you buy a really expensive jumper (wrasses or say a blue-headed jawfish).
 
D

ds4x4

carpet surfers tend to do so when frightened especailly when new to the tank. don't startle them for a while you should be ok.. my firefish when startled Dart (hence Dartfish) to their hole in the blink of an eye
 
C

chaoscat

I wouldn't worry about the cat. I've had fish tanks and cats for 20 years. They like to look and I had one that would leap at the front glass on a low tank (those poor fish were traumatized forever, always swim in the back side of the tank now), but I've never had one show the slightest interest in climbing on or fishing in the tanks.

Does your tank have internal overflows? If so, a full canopy helps a lot at muffling the sounds coming out of the overflows.
 
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