Custom canopy help...

[mie]

Ok i am going to be building a custom hood with vho's and 1 halide, still debating on wattage problably aound 350 to 400 range.
Anyway's tank is a 75 gallon bowfront and i was wondering on bulb placement, should i put the vho's on each end and the halide in the middle?
The concern is the middle of the tank has the plastic support that the glass lids are on, will the halide be ok over that? Do i remove the plasic? Do i put the halide on one side of the plastic piece?
Thanks for your help.

 

[jrthomas40]

if you put the halide on the side you will have to use 2 (1 for each side)....but whatever you do...dont remove the center brace

 

[mie]

So will i have to put in two halide's? as well as two vho's

 

[acrylic51]

What's the length of the tank? They recommend 1 halide for every 2' of tank......I would center the MH's over the tank and the VHO's 1 on front and other on back of halides.....

 

[groupergenius]

1 MH over the center brace is not a good idea. Not only will the brace shade the MH, but the MH will dry out the brace and end up cracking it.

 

[saltn00b]

how about a nice reflector on the MH to up the area of light to 3' x 3' ?
then perhaps two perpendicular smaller actinic bulbs if necessary?

 

[mie]

Originally Posted by saltn00b
how about a nice reflector on the MH to up the area of light to 3' x 3' ?
then perhaps two perpendicular smaller actinic bulbs if necessary?
Can you explain a little better? i.e lightbulb placement, this is my first diy.
The tank is 48 inch.

 

[mie]

Also trying to keep bulp replacement cost down..

 

[mie]

bump.

 

[blackaero1]

use 2 halides- you can drop the wattage down to 175-250. center them above the openings, this will prevent any issues with the center brace.

 

[mie]

Ok i am thinking on one 250 watt halide with a reflector over one side,
Two 150 watt vho's on each side (one on each side).
Going to use 1/2 inch plywood and fir strips for the lumber also a piano hinge for the lid.
How much weight can th top of the tank support? I do not want to overload it.

 

[jrthomas40]

why would you do just 1 250 on 1 side of the tank??? the growth is going to be off and makin your tank kinda lop sided because you have a bunch of high light corals on 1 side and a bunch of smaller low light coral on the other....if you are worried about bulb replacement then go with the 2 175w...it will end up much better for you and you will be much happier in the long run than trying to cut corners

 

[mie]

Just trying to explore ALL my options, it was an idea. I did not think it would look lopsided, I figured on high light stuff one side and lower light stuff on the other side torwards the middle. Also any thoughts on the weight of the canopy?

 

[groupergenius]

I don't think canopy weight would be an issue. Unless your stacking bags of sand on top.
As far as lighting, I think you might not like the look of the two different sides being lit differently. A MH on 1 side and VHO on the other are going to look like 2 different tanks. And I don't think there is a 150W vho unless it's 6' long.
A 48" VHO is 110w.

 

[jrthomas40]

i built my canopy out of aspen wood from lowes its probably about 50lbs with the lights in it but like grouper said as long as you are not stacking sand on it you will be fine and it shouldnt get to heavy....but definitely for uniformity go with 2 halides

 

[mie]

Gonna go to lowes today to look for the wood and will start building the wood portion on monday. Still gotta find the lights ballast's etc..

 

[jrthomas40]

when you go to lowes look for that aspn wood....they come in perfect sizes and you can have lowes even rip it for you down to size...i bought an 20" wide piece had them rip it to 16" and 4"...and it comesin a 48" or 50" long piece i think so then really all you have to do is some sanding, and scr-ewing...

 

[mie]

Well i have the facilities at my disposal to build it as my dad is a woodworker.
Thanks for the pic, i like the look of the aspen. Only problem is my stand is soild oak and aspen does not match. Maybe stain will work.

 

[jrthomas40]

heres the finish...if you pops has the place and tools then you will be better off than me...lol....i want to rebuild it and make it better and i want to redo the stand

 

[mie]

Yah it's kind of hard to match exsiting wood with new stuff.
Most always have to refinish it.
Is there a good type of sealer to use to protect against water and salt creep?