roktsintst
New member
can you show more detail on your lift?
8Ball_99s 310 upgrade
- Thread starter 8BALL_99
- Start date
8BALL_99
New member
When I install it for this canopy sure. Right now its in the attic till setup for the old canopy.. If you want to see how I did it the first time click my red house for info and pictures. I have to get the light shaft in place for the skylight before I redo the lift system since now it wont be able to lift the canopy from the center.
Wil
8BALL_99
New member
Well we have a small bump in the road. I got the frame for the light shaft built and installed. Marked the corners went in the attic to make a list of what wood I needed for the framing. Well while taking a closer look at what cables need to be moved, ect. Low and behold while I was moving the insulation a nice big 3" pvc line right in the freaking way. Don't know how I missed it when I first checked above the tank for any obstructions. Its the Drain to my sons bathroom upstairs.. It connects to a toilet and a sink. I think I can move it But that means I have add 4 90 degree bends in the line.. I'm a little concerned that this could effect the drain. The deal is I need to move it over about 6" run 6-7' of pipe then move it back. Its either that or have a nice 3" pvc pipe run across the back of my light shaft 
Any plumbers out that with opinions on this?
Any plumbers out that with opinions on this?
8BALL_99
New member
Small update. I couldn't figure out a good way to get around the pipe in the attic I could have moved it over but I wouldn't have been able to keep the same fall on the pipe. So figured at that point I'd be better just leaving it and going with 3 14" solar tubes. I ordered them 9/22 and was told 1-2 weeks before I could get them.
When I drove up the drive way yesterday I got a nice surprise
3 Boxes stacked infront of the garage.
Now I just need to get them installed!
Here is what the stand looks like now.. The canopy is also stained but I didn't tank a picture of it
A little OT I guess but it still has to do with the fish room. The Tv and stand in the room has always looked bad to me since it sits infront of the window. But its either that or no TV so it stayed haha.. Well since the new stand sticks out another foot it really made the TV look more packed in there.. So the simple fix was for my son to get the Tv for his room and replace it with a LCD. Since we have sat receiver and a PSII in there also. Sticking the Tv on the wall left that stuff either on a shelf or on the floor. So I built a small cabinet to match the fish tank stands. Since its no where near as deep I can put it beside the window and still have plenty of room for the closet door to open.
The Problem
And the Fix
Will
When I drove up the drive way yesterday I got a nice surprise
3 Boxes stacked infront of the garage.
Now I just need to get them installed!
Here is what the stand looks like now.. The canopy is also stained but I didn't tank a picture of it
A little OT I guess but it still has to do with the fish room. The Tv and stand in the room has always looked bad to me since it sits infront of the window. But its either that or no TV so it stayed haha.. Well since the new stand sticks out another foot it really made the TV look more packed in there.. So the simple fix was for my son to get the Tv for his room and replace it with a LCD. Since we have sat receiver and a PSII in there also. Sticking the Tv on the wall left that stuff either on a shelf or on the floor. So I built a small cabinet to match the fish tank stands. Since its no where near as deep I can put it beside the window and still have plenty of room for the closet door to open.
The Problem
And the Fix
Will
Northside Reef
Premium Member
That’s first rate carpentry skills 8 Ball.
Wish I could have put solar tubes over my aquarium but just no way to do it with where it’s going. Not sure how effective they would be in the MN winter anyhow. I guess any amount of free light is better than none.
I do plan on using a few for free light for the macro algae though.
Wish I could have put solar tubes over my aquarium but just no way to do it with where it’s going. Not sure how effective they would be in the MN winter anyhow. I guess any amount of free light is better than none.
I do plan on using a few for free light for the macro algae though.
8BALL_99
New member
I got the sola Tubes installed! Took all day lol but they are done. Well I say done I'll probably still add extensions to the ends of them to bring them down closer to the tank. I'll wait to do that when I get the inside of the canopy buttoned up. They seem to pickup light pretty good. I don't even have lights in my canopy yet and the domes light up just from the light in the room. I CAN'T wait till tomorrow to see how they do. I figure worse case they will atleast help. I really hope to get by with the tubes and a few T5s though.
8BALL_99
New member
Haha well Tech I posted at 1am so its still today This morning at around 9 they were pretty bright. I stuck my par meter up about 20 inches away from the oulet and got around 80 Par. I think insted of just extended the tubes down I'm going to slope the walls of the upper canopy and line them with Reflective metal. The biggest issue I see with the tubes is that when light reaches the ends its going every where. But the light is there it just needs a little direction. I plan on checking them when I get home. Should be around 4:30. I'll take a couple pictures too.
This morning at around 9 they were pretty bright. I stuck my par meter up about 20 inches away from the oulet and got around 80 Par. I think insted of just extended the tubes down I'm going to slope the walls of the upper canopy and line them with Reflective metal. The biggest issue I see with the tubes is that when light reaches the ends its going every where. But the light is there it just needs a little direction. I plan on checking them when I get home. Should be around 4:30. I'll take a couple pictures too.
8BALL_99
New member
I took some pictures this afternoon around 5. I also checked the par. At the end of the tube I was getting anywhere from 500-800 par. But you move the par meter down 15" or so and it drops to 200 or less. When the light exits the tube it seems to shoot side ways and where else. I think if it was directed down the light output would be much better.
Will
Will
8BALL_99
New member
Small update. I've got some extensions ordered for the tubes to bring them down closer to where the tank will be. I'm pretty sure I got the whole lift thing figured out. I put everything in place tonight and took my measurements. I'm going to try and get the lift installed and working this weekend. Once thats done all I have to do is finish out the inside of the upper canopy and paint the outside of it. Once the extensions get here and I get them installed I'll be ready for the tank I also got the TV stand finished and installed.
Will
I also got the TV stand finished and installed.
Will
8BALL_99
New member
Thought I'd post an update. I got the lift installed and working last weekend. Once I had it all working I took the canopy back off and painted the inside. I also Painted the outside of the upper canopy to match the room. I covered the inside of the upper canopy with FRP and trimmed it all out with PVC Trim. I put door sweeps where the cables come through the ceiling. I got the Tube extensions installed and put covers on the ends to keep the moisture out of them. All I did was take the light distibrator apart and use the inner part along with some weather stripping to seal the ends of the tube. So now I'm ready for the TANK! :rollface: I plan on trying to move it in in the next couple of days.. Just got to get some helpers together lol
I Tried to take some pics of how the lift works. Little hard to tell since its in the attic and all. I have one cable on each side of the canopy. They come up through the ceiling to pulleys. The first pulley on each cable changes the direction of the cable from vertical to horizontal and directs both cable to the middle then the 2nd set of pulleys turn the cables to the linear actuator where they both connect to one motor.
Will
I Tried to take some pics of how the lift works. Little hard to tell since its in the attic and all. I have one cable on each side of the canopy. They come up through the ceiling to pulleys. The first pulley on each cable changes the direction of the cable from vertical to horizontal and directs both cable to the middle then the 2nd set of pulleys turn the cables to the linear actuator where they both connect to one motor.
Will
8BALL_99
New member
And here it is running. I speeded up the video a little. It takes about 1 min in real time. Not the best video but you get the idea. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77wU8tIt1iw
Will
Will
That canopy is definitely special! You're doing some top class work there! And those Solatubes - what can I say - jealousy comes to mind.
Friend has two of them in his living room and, even here in Florida, they produce almost zero heat. High tech stuff. Anyway congrats on a great build so far.
Friend has two of them in his living room and, even here in Florida, they produce almost zero heat. High tech stuff. Anyway congrats on a great build so far.
8BALL_99
New member
Thanks so far I'm pretty happy with how everything is turning out. I'm pretty excited to see how the tubes do. We don't get as much sun year round as you guys do, But so far they seem to do pretty good even though summer is over.
Got my T5 racks built and installed. I went ahead and built them so they mount onto the canopy that way they lift up and out of the way when working on the tank. I've got to say I'm pretty happy with the color. The 4 ATI blue plus bulbs along with the Tubes have a great look. I can't wait to see how it looks in the tank. I took some par readings today with pretty good results. With Tubes alone I get about 73par on the top of the stand and about 230 where the top of the tank will be. With the T5s on the par on the top of the stand goes up to about 165 and about 360 where the top of the tank will be. Not to bad. Of course once the tank is in place the par will go down on the bottom. But my 20k 250 mh only had 70 on the bottom on the sides and 120-130 in the middle. So I should be able to keep those levels with only a couple hundred watts of T5s. I also plan on sticking a couple of my Mh bulbs back up in the middle of the tubes to run a couple hours at night.. During the summer it doesn't get dark till pretty late.. But in the winter it gets dark pretty early so I'd like to have some lights for nighttime viewing besides the blue T5s. I really think a couple of 10k 150s along with the blue T5s would be plenty just to view the tank.. But since I already have 3x 250mh and 1x400mh sitting on the shelf I'm just going to use a couple 250watters.
Par on the bottom just tubes
Tubes plus T5s
Tubes only at top of tank
Tubes plus T5s at top of tank
I still plan on adding some reflectors on the ends of the tubes cause of this. A ton of light exits the tubes and shoots straight out the sides.. I think if this light was reflected down I'd get a ton more light.. I get par levels as high as 900 at the ends of the tubes :eek2:
Here shots of the T5 racks
Will
Got my T5 racks built and installed. I went ahead and built them so they mount onto the canopy that way they lift up and out of the way when working on the tank. I've got to say I'm pretty happy with the color. The 4 ATI blue plus bulbs along with the Tubes have a great look. I can't wait to see how it looks in the tank. I took some par readings today with pretty good results. With Tubes alone I get about 73par on the top of the stand and about 230 where the top of the tank will be. With the T5s on the par on the top of the stand goes up to about 165 and about 360 where the top of the tank will be. Not to bad. Of course once the tank is in place the par will go down on the bottom. But my 20k 250 mh only had 70 on the bottom on the sides and 120-130 in the middle. So I should be able to keep those levels with only a couple hundred watts of T5s. I also plan on sticking a couple of my Mh bulbs back up in the middle of the tubes to run a couple hours at night.. During the summer it doesn't get dark till pretty late.. But in the winter it gets dark pretty early so I'd like to have some lights for nighttime viewing besides the blue T5s. I really think a couple of 10k 150s along with the blue T5s would be plenty just to view the tank.. But since I already have 3x 250mh and 1x400mh sitting on the shelf I'm just going to use a couple 250watters.
Par on the bottom just tubes
Tubes plus T5s
Tubes only at top of tank
Tubes plus T5s at top of tank
I still plan on adding some reflectors on the ends of the tubes cause of this. A ton of light exits the tubes and shoots straight out the sides.. I think if this light was reflected down I'd get a ton more light.. I get par levels as high as 900 at the ends of the tubes :eek2:
Here shots of the T5 racks
Will
8BALL_99
New member
Wow thanks. Now,, If I can ever get the tank under it lol.
The plan so far is to move the tank in saturday. I would like to do it sooner, but trying to get 4 or 5 guys together at the same time can be an issue. That and I got a buddy that weighs about 250 and can squat over 1100Lbs But can only help during the day on weekends
I really don't think moving it will be that bad. I built a cart out of the shipping crate to move it on. I also have 7 suction cups to help grip it. I rather have to much help then not enough though.Will
Mr. Brooks
MASVC Member
Tagging along on this build for sure.
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