Lighting Heating Viv / getting too hot

[HappyHippos]

Any suggestions on lowering the temp in my viv ?

I've got two 2 x 55 watt bright kits from AH Supply lighting. Used with 5000k bulbs. I've noticed that with the lights on all day the temp in the viv is anywhere from 80F-84F. Is this way too hot for darts? The tank is a standard 55 gallon so the two bulbs spread the whole length of the 48 inch tank (no overlapping of light).

Also my thermometer is about halfway up the glass of the tank so I would assume the bottom of the tank isn't as hot. The lights are already suspended about 5 inches above the lid. I've thought about installing fans for the canopy, would that make a big difference? Thanks.

About fans. Do they need to be in a viv? I've also had a small problem of mold? Would the air movement clear this up?

[§lipperhead]

Do you have good ventilation? Fans can blow some breezy air in there to get that hot stuff out(My fans are outside of the viv). Also, is your viv near a window or in direct sunlight? Any aquarium will just soak in those rays and make your viv increase in normal temperature. No more than 80-82*F is ideal. I got legs for my lights to get some space between the glass and my top soil layer. Increase in space if its still hot.

Goodluck :wink:

[Dancing frogs]

Do you have good ventilation? Fans can blow some breezy air in there to get that hot stuff out(My fans are outside of the viv). Also, is your viv near a window or in direct sunlight? Any aquarium will just soak in those rays and make your viv increase in normal temperature. No more than 80-82*F is ideal. I got legs for my lights to get some space between the glass and my top soil layer. Increase in space if its still hot.

Goodluck :wink:

Good advice...

What is the room temp? With any lighting at all, you're tank will be warmer than the room is.
Raising the lights up will help, and if you don't already have a vent in the tank, creating a screened vent in the front inch or so of the tank will help keep the glass clear, without dropping the humidity too much, and will also let some heat out.
If you're temps are still getting too hot, consider something else for lighting, like an el cheapo shoplight, or if you must have high tech, a 54 watt T-5 would fit the tank well.

[§lipperhead]

If you dont have a fan in your viv room, here is a site that you can make one inside or on top of your cage:

http://www.diyvivs.com/articles/how_to-fan-1.htm

[carlos]

let me know if you go the pc fan route - what it running... I have 6 different ac/dc converter pacs that I'll send you one if you can use it, no cost. They are all extras...

Very easy to rig up these fans.... using one on a timer on my 35gal. Clears the glass in 5 min Helps increase airflow as well.

[Quaz]

coralife is making some pretty cheap aquarium fans now 3 and 4 inch. I would put a fan between the light and the top of the tank so that the hot air just doesn't sit there. that'd probably help a bit if not a lot.