Heat protection

[brncsfns5621]

Just installed two 250 watt MH in a new hood and am curious as to what you guys use for heat protection. I used metal flashing from home depot as a reflector, but the lights get extremely hot and you can smell the heated wood. Is this due to the new wood and will go away or will I come home to a burnt out tank?

[Flamehawk]

Do you have fan(s) installed on two sides of the canopy move cooler air into the canopy?

how tall is your canopy?

go buy a reflector. Screw it on to the ceiling of your canopy than screw your MH onto the canopy through the reflector.

That's how my is done. The reflector I have is just a sheet of polished metal.

good luck

[Dakota]

Definetly buy some fans if you don't have any. As for reflectors, a DIY is fin. The flat sheets of metal do a terrible job reflecting light as compared to a curved one.

[brncsfns5621]

Are you guys using aquarium fans like I see all over the net or are you using DIY fans like computer fans? Anyone have any fans for sale?

[Flamehawk]

I have 2 Toyo 4" AC fan installed and I have them for about 2-3 years. You can purchase them from Fry's. They are about 15-20 dollars each.

[brncsfns5621]

Picked up a fan set up from Yolo (thanks again), but have spent 2 days searching for a basic 12" reflector for each MH light I have with no luck. I keep seeing ones for $30 a piece, but don't have the $$$ for that. Anyone know of a place where I can pick up some cheap yet effective ones?