condensation problem

[BradVincent]

I have a sealed aluminium and wood canopy with nothing between my LEDs and water. This works great when the lights are on. When the lights are off, the aluminum cools and condensation forms. I believe this is shortening the life of my LEDs.

 

2 possible solutions, either I add a splash guard, or I hear the canopy at night.

 

I splash guard would probably be 4' x 4' plexiglass but I don't how thick to buy. I would be supported on all edges, and I can build further supports. How much PAR would this cost?

 

Any ideas how to heat the canopy if I go this route instead?

 

I've thought about raising my lights as well. This would cut down on salt, even though I don't have much. The lights would still get flooded with fresh water.

[WibblyPig]

How about putting in a small fan in that kicks on when the lights go off? It will not only help the condensation but help with air exchange in the tank.

 

The cover is going to be a real pain as you would have to constantly clean salt creep and the condensation that forms on it will cut your PAR by quite a bit.

[BradVincent]

A fan will cut condensation but not eliminate it and would raise humidity in the house.

 

Cleaning the cover is a large part of why I didn't include one. Raising it higher above the water might help.

[evilc66]

If you add a splash guard, you really need to use it to seal off the area between the water and the LEDs. If there is a gap around it, there will still be a place for humid air to get to the LEDs and the heatsink, and the condensation issue will still persist. If you don't want to, or can't seal off the LEDs from the water, then you will have to add a fan to bring circulate the humid air away from the LEDs, and to bring the heatsink temperature closer to room temperature (and below the condensation point).

[WibblyPig]

Raising the cover? No, it's still going to get the same amount of condensation on it which will cut down the PAR.

 

If you want to keep it fairly moisture proof (I assume you have a sump someplace with a skimmer etc to help with O2 exchange?) then the only thing i could see would be to put in a piece of acrylic over the lights at an angle so that as the condensation collects, it slides down to one end and drips back into the tank. Or, do the same thing but put a fan in it and weepers at the bottom so it will be sucked into the top of the cover, collect and then drip back into the tank away from the lights.

[BradVincent]

Yes, I have a large sump and equipment area, so limiting airflow is not an issue.

 

Condensation won't happen with the lights on.