Light rack

[Coralfreak]

Well, I decided I was tired of the old wood shelf I had been using to hang my lights from and needed something that would work better with the Lumenarc III reflectors, so today I built a lighting rack out of aluminum.

With this the Lumenarcs sit nice and neat in the tracks, I also raised the whole thing about 3" which gives a very nice spread from the halides. Heres how it used to look:

And with the new rack in place:

Its much more "open" than it used to be and will be easier to move air around in and help keep the temp down, not to mention safer than having wood around 400W halides.

 

[Atticus]

Very Nice!!!

 

[Double-J]

Awesome Allen, Where did you get the aluminum

 

[Coralfreak]

I got the aluminum at the local True Value, probably paid to much for it, as they tend to be a little on the high side, but it came out nice so oh well

 

[Chrisrush]

Did you rivet the aluminum together?

How easy was putting the rack together? I'm going to model mine after yours. You used the regular LA3 reflectors, right, not the minis.

Have you seen any temp decrease after you installed this rack?

Chris

 

[Coralfreak]

Hi Chris,

Yeah, the whole thing was put together with rivets. Since aluminum is a somewhat soft metal, I also used rivet washers to prevent them from pulling through and help strengthen up the structure.

It was very easy to build, I did not have a real good way to cut the aluminum, I used a hacksaw, that part sucked a bit but I couldn't justify buying a blade for my compound miter saw to cut it. I'd say it maybe took 2 hrs to build.

They are the regular LA3's(19.5x19.5). I have seen a remarkable decrease in temp, not maybe directly, but by redoing the lights I was able to use fans more effectively than before, the added circulation has really helped out.

HTH

Allen

 

[Chrisrush]

Thanks Allen, that really helps.

That's for your 225, right? What are the dimensions?

How did you install the VHO bulbs/end caps underneath the rack?

I'm debating on whether to buy the minis or the LA3 w/ ac kit. You didn't go with the a/c kit, right?

Thanks for the tip of the hacksaw and rivet washers, I'll remember that.

Chris

 

[Coralfreak]

The aquarium is 72"L x 30"W x 24"H, the rack is also 72x30. Another thing I did was to put in braces to keep it square and/or prevent twisting, since a picture is worth a thousand words....

I basically just used scrap pieces to make these, I forgot to get a pic of it when it was completely done.

The VHO's are simply attached with standoffs made for 3-piece VHO endcaps, I ran another piece of aluminum for this since the bulbs are not actually 72" long.

No I did not get the ones with the A/C option, and to be quite honest, I'd spend your money elsewhere, they dont get very hot at all, barely warm. As long as you have fans moving some air around, the reflectors dissipate heat very easily. I also have glass panels directly under the LA3's to keep water from splashing up into them, still no heat issues inside the reflectors.

 

[Chrisrush]

Thanks for the pictures, those help out a ton.

My 120 measures 48 x 24 (l x w), do you think that I would have enough room for a pair of the LA3s or would it be better to go with the minis (14.5" x 14.5" for the mini's).

Did you buy the glass from PGS or did you pick it up from a local source? Is it low iron or regular glass?

Chris

 

[Coralfreak]

My personal opinion would be to go with the minis if you are planning on also running VHO's. The problem you'll run into with the full size LA3's is that you'd almost have to run them under the halides, I just dont think there will be enough room. I do know a local reefer who has the minis and they are, aside from being smaller of course, exactly the same design and work just as well and I think on the same size tank as yours if I am not mistaken.

I purchased the glass from a local shop, I debated on the low iron vs regular plate glass, ended up going with regular glass. IMO, when you are talking about 1/8" thick glass, I am not sure you would really gain that much with the low iron to justify the extra cost.

 

[Covey]

I pretty sure Icecap has released the T-12 SLR by now if your intersed in getting a little more kick you of the VHOs.

 

[Coralfreak]

It would be nice if they were to make those, I see no info on them on the IceCap website, it only refers to the T-5 SLR's. Where did you hear they were making them for T-12's? Not that I dont believe you, I am just very interested in finding out about these.

Allen

 

[Chrisrush]

I would be very interested in finding out more info on the T-12 SLR. I was thinking about buying a flat reflector for each of the VHO bulbs, but an Icecap designed SLR would be much better.

Thanks for the info about the glass and the mini. The only reason that I would like to go with the regular LA3s is because in the future if/when I upgrade, I would like to use them on the next tank. Plus, even if the VHO bulbs block a little of the light from the reflector, it would be the outside edges of the tank, where I'm unlikely to have any corals.

Thanks,
Chris

 

[Covey]

They where talking about them in the Icecap forum
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=32

IC had pictures but maybe they hadn't released them yet. I know they exist.

 

[Coralfreak]

Covey,

I'll definitely keep my eye out for those.

Chris,

I completely understand keeping your options open for future upgrades, since the cost is the same and you arent going to lose that much light, I can see going with the LA3's.

Allen

 

[Chrisrush]

That's kinda what I was thinking. Thanks for all the help, I'll post some pics when I get it completed.

Covey,
Do you have a specific thread from the IC forum?

Chris