Ohio Reef

Reef Discussion => Do It Yourself => Topic started by: lightningfront on February 16, 2009, 02:32:36

Title: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: lightningfront on February 16, 2009, 02:32:36

Thought I would share my first attempt at a canopy. It's nothing fancy, just functional.

Lights include 6 x 80W T5 bulbs running on workhorse 7 ballasts and using Icecap encaps and SLR reflectors, also 3 12" strips of blue LEDs for moonlights.

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7015.jpg&hash=e27188b7bdcc298c0a55fc7b788e5fbb7f5531b0)

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7016.jpg&hash=2c9ef98030a3c000ee11f684ca71334dd20e2c10)

I put the light rack on cabinet sliders so I could slide it back out of the way for when I need to reach into the tank.

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7017.jpg&hash=693b03b4a7b659f12662adb7a38fd1045b10ab40)

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7029.jpg&hash=8d7ec174830842e33c3c8121734d6c608b427b88)

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7030.jpg&hash=8b663df557b4882800fa8a76ee4d33073a45a391)

(https://ohioreef.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi96.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fl169%2FJSchwab45212%2FCanopy%2FDSCF7013.jpg&hash=23164a69b249512c78855b907d1bcf6bf8b05d41)

Title: Re: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: Arcade_Guy on February 16, 2009, 02:37:16

very nice as usual man, you deffo go all out lol

what thickness plywood did you end up using?
can't wait to see the tank up and running

Title: Re: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: lightningfront on February 16, 2009, 02:42:46

Used the 3/4 inch cabinet grade plywood. The light rack is 3 1x6 planks joined together though.

Ya I was being dumb toward the end of the night trying to get the cabinet hinges lined up right and still had the bulbs in the sockets from when when I tested it to see if they all worked, and managed to break one of the bulbs in half.

Skimmer gets here tomorrow, after I put it in the stand the tank will be ready to go back on the stand.

Title: Re: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: Blown76mav on February 16, 2009, 15:56:36

whats the length on the bulbs?  Looks great btw.

Title: Re: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: lightningfront on February 16, 2009, 17:40:14

The bulbs are 60" bulbs. They do not make T5s any longer so it was use 6 bulbs and reflectors of these and have a little low light areas on the ends of the tank or spend the extra money to have 12 bulbs and 12 reflectors on 36" bulbs.

So I decided to do the 60" bulbs with 6" on each end of the tank with low light where I will put mushrooms and other low light corals.

Title: Re: My first attempt at a canopy
Post by: jake on February 16, 2009, 17:54:56

Or just buy halides.lol. Looks good man. I like the ballast set up the best. Nice and handy if they ever need messed with.