How can I block light from escaping?

[Retired_AF]

I have a set of hanging lights over my saltwater tank. Now the wife is complaining that they are too bright for the room and wants me to come up with something decent looking to block the light from illuminating the whole living room.

My light fixture contains 2- 250w metal halides, 4- 54w actinics and 6 LED moon lights (760w total). I REALLY dont want to build a top if I dont have to and I am afraid a heavy curtain from the light to the top of the tank will hold in too much heat and humidity; plus I have no idea how I would hang it and make it look good.

Anyone have any ideas?

 

[54seaweed]

could always build a hood but be sure you vent it a old computer fan works great ,
just don't want the tank to get too hot

 

[Retired_AF]

I dont want to build a hood. I hate the way they look.

I found a solution. Some rubberized shelf liner with lots of mesh
blocks the majority of the light into the room but lets the light
into the tank be unhindered. No back piece plus the mesh lets
the heat out (so far). I got the idea from a LFS and I like the
look of it. So far, the wife likes it too.

Cheap and effective! SCORE!

 

[mrwizard]

I dont want to build a hood. I hate the way they look.

I found a solution. Some rubberized shelf liner with lots of mesh
blocks the majority of the light into the room but lets the light
into the tank be unhindered. No back piece plus the mesh lets
the heat out (so far). I got the idea from a LFS and I like the
look of it. So far, the wife likes it too.

Cheap and effective! SCORE!

Could you post a pic of how you have it please? I have a feeling my gf will start complaining about my halides lighting up the whole living room when I get round to hanging them lol.

 

[JokerWx13]

you could add something to the sides of the lights so that its concave and the light comes straight down instead of outwards

 

[Retired_AF]

Ok... Here's a pic... I think it turned out ok...

 

[mrwizard]

Ok... Here's a pic... I think it turned out ok...

Looks like it does the job, gonna have to look into this if I don't change to LEDs. Thx for the pic.