Building a Canopy

[wrightme43]

Hey Jiddy I have a thread showing the build of a canopy and new doors for a 150 g tank. If you want to search under my name or canopy and doors for a 150g you should find it. It starts from straight wood to complete. I post some pics on the other thread and here is one of it installed.

 

[CarlaW]

Don't forget room for some fans. Gotta keep them boys cool, you know!

 

[Jiddy]

Thanks Steve!

And Charlie, thats the part im scared about, if i have to buy 3 400w setups, i wont have money for a chiller, lol

all i found was this steve http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12655&highlight=150g

 

[wrightme43]

nope thats not it. Let me look and see if I can find it. I just dont know how to link. I will give the search parameters.

 

[Jiddy]

Hey Steve, can you bump it

 

[wrightme43]

Cool I bumped it. Little late though huh? LOL

 

[CarlaW]

Thanks Steve!

And Charlie, thats the part im scared about, if i have to buy 3 400w setups, i wont have money for a chiller, lol

all i found was this steve http://www.reeffrontiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12655&highlight=150g

Has your house got AC Jiddy?

 

[Jiddy]

Yea, ill just crank it down to 50'

 

[JasonD]

If you are looking at the XM 20K's, go with a M59 ballast. They were designed to run on it. The XM 20K's do not perform very well with the icecap ballasts. The Radium 20k performs well with the PFO HQI ballast. If you go with the icecap ballast, check into other bulbs, (aquaconnect 14k...).

Compare two bulbs:
http://www.reeflightinginfo.arvixe.com/select2lamp.php

A good M59 ballast (runs two 400w bulbs):
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104248.html

Another Refector Option
http://reefgeek.com/products/categories/lighting/104273.html


Jason

 

[Jiddy]

So which bulbs do you rec for the IceCap 400w.

And once you put in the two bulbs to be compared, what are you looking for? A certain wavelength?

 

[JasonD]

So which bulbs do you rec for the IceCap 400w.

And once you put in the two bulbs to be compared, what are you looking for? A certain wavelength?

I think, I will let someone a little more qualified answer that question. I am running PC's

You mentioned running 400 watt icecap ballast. I also read someone suggesting 20k XM's. Using Sanjay Joshi's plot, it only puts out 99 PPFD. That is not a lot of PAR for 400 watts. XM 250 watt 10K bulbs with M58 ballasts putt out 137 PPFD. With the M59 ballast it is a little better, 128 PPFD.

IMO.. that looks like it is not the best ballast/bulb combo? Hopefully someone more experienced can help out.

 

[wrightme43]

Here you go Jiddy.

 

[wrightme43]

Just a couple more.

 

[spongebob lover]

That's really neat Steve

 

[wrightme43]

Thanks Gabby. I will take pictures of the stands and canopies I am building right now. Not a lot to see yet. Just tons of fun.

 

[Jiddy]

Thanks Steve for takin the time to take those shots.

What do you rec for wood? and what do you seal/stain it with?

 

[spongebob lover]

Thanks Gabby. I will take pictures of the stands and canopies I am building right now. Not a lot to see yet. Just tons of fun.

I guess that's why you haven't been on line that much.
Hey is that gonna be MH only? because i don't see anything for like actinics, VHOs or anything...

 

[Scooterman]

Nice hood design Steve, I like it so much I may rod some of your design for mine

 

[wrightme43]

Scooty You are welcome to it. I owe all you guys and gals here more than you will ever know.
Jiddy. I use red oak called 3"x1"x length. Reality 2.75"x.75"x length. I also use 3/4" red oak plywood for the stand, and 1/4" red oak plywood for the canopy. I use just plain old crappy minwax natural stain, and helmsman outdoor uv resistant polyurathane. 3 coats sanded between each coat.
If you plan on building it yourself, go ahead and pay the 75-150$ for the good saw blades. Its worth it. I am taking a break to eat, I will probley have more pictures for you guys tommorow. I had a really cool idea for the base of the stands. It came from Carrol Smiths Engineer to Win (or how to build winners that dont break) racing book. Just made out of wood instead of metal.
Thanks again you guys.

 

[wrightme43]

Sorry Gaby yeah just 14000K or 20000k mh bulbs. Screw a bunch of crazy supplemention and having all the required equiptment. People crap their pants when they see how much it costs to begin with. LOL