Fans For The Lights. Are They Required?

[EliteFishy]

Im looking to buy a hood for my acquarium and there are some that comes with the options of fans. Are the fans really required??? If they are recomended, why??

 

[modernhamlet]

Im looking to buy a hood for my acquarium and there are some that comes with the options of fans. Are the fans really required??? If they are recomended, why??

Fans dissipate heat on high output lighting fixtures. Without a fan, many fixtures will contribute to heat fluctuations in the tank. Also, some fixtures actually need the fan to cool the balasts so they don't overheat themselves.

 

[andywg]

If you start using bigger lights (like Metal Halides and the like) then it is often necessary to stop the temperature of the water going too high. And as mentioned, if the ballasts are in the hood then it prevents them overheating too (not such a problem on newer electronic ballasts as opposed to older magnetic ones).

 

[Lateral Line]

Modern electronic starters for fluorescent lamps don't generate a lot of heat, so will not need cooling. Older ballasts do waste a lot of power as heat and if enclosed, may need cooling depending on their size and the size of the enclosure. Hot lamps like halides are often fan cooled, although again, whether or not this is necessary depends on the construction of the enclosure.

So, no standard answer I'm afraid.