270 Gallon SPS tank for JBNY

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10940984#post10940984 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
I've been planning to upgrade my lightrack and want to use Tee tracks as well, as that gives me a little more space under the reflectors to work in the tank. It is nice to see more people are using them.

I'd like to see more close ups of how you connected the MH rack to the Tee track. I can't quite make out what you did in the one picture.
http://www.cnidarianreef.com/G270/images/dscn/DSCN2364.JPG

I was thinking about using some type of teflon screw instead, as I thought it might slide more easily in the track and not be affected by saltwater creep. Did you lubricate the track with anything? Since it is anodized aluminum, is it impervious to decay or oxidation?

I didn't lubricate the track at all, the ss bolt on the track sticks a little but it's still not too much trouble to pull the rack back and forth.

That's a good idea on using nylon screws, I don't know why that didn't click with me. I think I have a whole bag of them in my fish room. I'll have to try them and see how it goes.

I can take a picture tonight when I get home to give you a better idea. But basically it is a 1/4 hex bolt that fits in the track, then you just put the nut on to pull something tight against the track.

here are some pics for the site I bought them from
http://www.woodpeck.com/ttrackmain.html

 

[bleedingthought]

Joe, I wanted to accomplish something similar but vertical. I'm hoping to come up with something that will let me raise and lower my lighting in order to be able to get in there. Got any suggestions? I'm stumped....

 

[Vinny Kreyling]

Lumenarc Reflectors

Lumenarc Reflectors

Joe,
If there is any splash from fish these reflectors will spot & you will have problems trying to clean them.
I spoke to Sanjay & he put glass on his, I did the same.
Local glass shop leary of the heat so he suggested tempered glass. Only $50.00 each! What the he** we drop alot more & I didn't want to pick glass out of a coral. Just a heads up.
Vinny

 

[ReefingBuddha]

First of all... wow, great build, looking forward to more.

secondly, bleedingthought, I have seen another persons canopy that had a series of wooden blocks at different heights so that they could raise or lower their lights as needs. The lights were on a solid metal frame that could be moved up or down as needed using the wooden blocks for support. It provided a secure, even, and perminent mounting point for their lighting system. That way you would not have to worry about it sliding down or being lopsided at any time. Just a suggestion, hope it helps.

 

[bleedingthought]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10944857#post10944857 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by thirschmann
I have seen another persons canopy that had a series of wooden blocks at different heights so that they could raise or lower their lights as needs. The lights were on a solid metal frame that could be moved up or down as needed using the wooden blocks for support. It provided a secure, even, and perminent mounting point for their lighting system. That way you would not have to worry about it sliding down or being lopsided at any time. Just a suggestion, hope it helps.

Thanks for the tip.

I was thinking something similar. Perhaps a mixture between your suggestion and what Joe's doing here. T-Tracs rows along the sides of the canopy. Then, I can slide the rack out, like Joe, and put it up higher where/when necessary. Only reason why I wanted to go a different route is because I'm sure the light rack is going to be pretty heavy.

 

[melev]

If the light rack is made of aluminum and only holds reflectors, sockets and bulbs, they are surprisingly light. I think the one over my 280g is 20lbs.

 

[ReefBum]

Re: Lumenarc Reflectors

Re: Lumenarc Reflectors

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10944771#post10944771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vinny Kreyling
Joe,
If there is any splash from fish these reflectors will spot & you will have problems trying to clean them.
I spoke to Sanjay & he put glass on his, I did the same.
Local glass shop leary of the heat so he suggested tempered glass. Only $50.00 each! What the he** we drop alot more & I didn't want to pick glass out of a coral. Just a heads up.
Vinny

No concern about the intesity of the bulb being reduced by having it covered by glass?

 

[shyland83]

I think sanjay uses starphire glass because it's more clear and blocks less of the light, also very thin glass.

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10942469#post10942469 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bleedingthought
Joe, I wanted to accomplish something similar but vertical. I'm hoping to come up with something that will let me raise and lower my lighting in order to be able to get in there. Got any suggestions? I'm stumped....

You could do the same thing I did just mount the t-tracks vertical. They make stop blocks that fir in the track so you could be sure that the light rack would not fall down. As melev wrote, the aluminum is very light.

 

[JB NY]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10944771#post10944771 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Vinny Kreyling
Joe,
If there is any splash from fish these reflectors will spot & you will have problems trying to clean them.
I spoke to Sanjay & he put glass on his, I did the same.
Local glass shop leary of the heat so he suggested tempered glass. Only $50.00 each! What the he** we drop alot more & I didn't want to pick glass out of a coral. Just a heads up.
Vinny

Thanks for the tip Vinny! I'll have to pull my notes from when I was testing MH lamps. I remember speaking to a guy who worked for a lighting company that just testing other companies lamps. He talked to me about putting glass on reflectors. I remember being told to use low E glass, but I don't remember being told it needs to be tempered. I'll check it out though.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10945459#post10945459 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by shyland83
I think sanjay uses starphire glass because it's more clear and blocks less of the light, also very thin glass.

Thanks Scott, I'll send an email over to sanjay and see what he thinks as well.

 

[fishdoc11]

Still enjoying watching the progress

Please report back on the glass. I've suspended glass under my lamps for years with no seeming ill effects as far as coral coloration etc... I'm pretty sure it's not tempered and it is 1/8". It's not starphire or low iron though...... I called around to a few local glass companies at the time and couldn't find any that was.

Chris

 

[JB NY]

Update,

So after painting the inside. I caulked all the inside seems with silicone to keep any light from escaping any gaps. Then I added a strip down the sides of the bottom of the canopy to cushion the canopy against the tank as well as cut down on any vibration. I used some of the left over neoprene.

I attached the neoprene with some 3M spray on adhesive, the stuff works great. I let that sit for the night and the next day I had a friend help me move the canopy onto the tank. I have not made the front door for the canopy yet, it will have to be open for a few days.

Then I wired up the MH. I'll wired the VHO later.

Bam!

The right side gets full sunlight for about 5 hours in the day. I let the tank sit with just water and rocks for two months so there is a little algae on that side of the tank. But not bad for two months and no snails or crabs and no water changes. I just put the snails in about ten minutes before I turned the lights on.

I was super happy to see coralline algae growing on the side of the glass already!!!

 

[bleedingthought]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=10948829#post10948829 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by JB NY
You could do the same thing I did just mount the t-tracks vertical. They make stop blocks that fir in the track so you could be sure that the light rack would not fall down. As melev wrote, the aluminum is very light.

Well, how would I go about adjusting the height, though? That is what I wanted to do, something vertical. But I can't figure out what the best way is.

Let's say I wanted to raise the rack 6". Or maybe I wanted to raise it all the way. You're saying to raise it to what I want, hold it there, and tighten the wing nuts?

I will have 3 lumenarcs, obviously the 3 sockets and 3 bulbs, and 2 five foot VHOs on a aluminum rack. Might be a little heavier.

 

[bleedingthought]

Looks good, Joe! Everything is falling in place really nicely!

When is the expected start of corals/fish again?

So, what you're saying is that you won't use the MH over the right side?

 

[ReefingBuddha]

yes there is... my tank is 60"x60"30" with 8 holes in the bottom and it is tempered. The first attempt at tempering cracked the bottom but the second attempt went off without a hitch and it should be completely solid now.

 

[ReefingBuddha]

sorry.... posted in the wrong place and I can't delete... love the progress!

 

[crab0000]

I know you have to be excited to have light. Everything looks great! I can't wait to see some coral in there.

 

[JB NY]

There should be some fish and some non sps coral in today. I am going to go out later today to pick up a few things that are still being baby sat for me.

 

[melev]

Nice progress. I'm looking at the current pictures with the MH lights on, and the previous pictures where the VHOs were installed for the test run. It doesn't appear to have a lot of room to move them out of your way, since they aren't able to slide under the Luminarc reflectors. Or did you work out a solution to that?

 

[meschaefer]

I like the hood and light rack that you built. Just so I am clear, is the goal of the set up to be able to pull the light out and leave the hood on the tank?