Sinistard's 68.8 Acrylic Tank Journal [Photo Intense]

[Sinistard]

I got some work done on my "hood"

Here is the frame of the hood. I plan to stick the crown molding on the bottom.

I added a 2x2 to both end on the inside of the hood and cut 2 pieces of angle aluminum that sit on the 2x2s.

Next I cut 2 pieces of 2" flat aluminum to use as plates for the 2 aqua-medic pendents. I drilled holes to match the mounting holes on the pendents, the spacing was different on the 2 pendents. I used machined #10-32 1" screws that fit in the holes for the hanging kit that come with the pendents, matching nuts, #10 washers and 1/4 lock washers to connect the plates to the lights

Here is the arrangement of washers and nuts that I used.

I stuck the 3 washers under the plate as spacers and the nut, washer and lock washer above the plate to lock the screw in place. Basically I screwed the screw in around 1/3 inch careful not to bottom it out and then tightened the nut while holding the screw in place. The nut and lock washer will keep the screw from coming loose.

The plate slides in between the 2 pieces of angle aluminum. This way I will be able to slide the lights left and right easily.

Once I get the lights where I want them as far as front to back I will stick screw though the angle aluminum into the 2x2s. This will keep the plates for falling out of the channels.

Next I need to add the crown molding and the hinge. For now I plan to keep the top open. Eventually I plan to add a couple t-5 lights to the hood.

 

[asnatlas]

Cool, I like how you mounted your MHs...

 

[Sinistard]

Thanks.


----------


I am working on my lights and was wondering how high over the tank my MHs should be. I was thinking 9". This is one thing I will not be able to change very easily so I need to get it right the first time. It's 2 x 250 hqi MHs.

 

[tfetter]

I love your tank!!!
Your stand and tank is well thought out (Simply Awesome). I just might have to copy your stand design Great thread and keep the updates and pic coming.

 

[rdmpe]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6599759#post6599759 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lunchbucket
glad you got water running to test. bet taht was scary when you fired it up. if you are like me i would be running up to the tank and down to the basement quite a few times to make sure everything was running right

Lunchbucket

LOL especially if his occupation reads anything like yours - you must be ready for all that running! I'm not in bad shape or anything, but I'd have my wife upstairs with her left hand holding a phone to her ear (talking to me) and her right hand on a valve! "OK Honey, I'm going to turn the pumps on !!!" :eek1:

 

[rdmpe]

That is a great idea for creating a sliding MH mounting system! Good job! That is one that I imagine people will be copying. Are the angles stiff enough that they don't want to rotate due to the weight of the MH fixtures? Come to think of it, you could even use something like small aluminum tubing too if the angle turns out to be too flexible. You'd just need longer machine screws and more washers...

 

[rdmpe]

Are the screws and such zinc plated or stainless? I have an ace hardware down the street and they have an amazing assortment of stainless hardware...

 

[Sinistard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6627968#post6627968 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by tfetter
I love your tank!!!
Your stand and tank is well thought out (Simply Awesome). I just might have to copy your stand design Great thread and keep the updates and pic coming.

Thank you.

If you decide to copy my stand design and you have any questions just post here or shot me a PM

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6628461#post6628461 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by rdmpe
That is a great idea for creating a sliding MH mounting system! Good job! That is one that I imagine people will be copying. Are the angles stiff enough that they don't want to rotate due to the weight of the MH fixtures? Come to think of it, you could even use something like small aluminum tubing too if the angle turns out to be too flexible. You'd just need longer machine screws and more washers...

Thanks.

The angles are more then stiff enough. I got the 1/8th inch thick aluminum and it does not rotate at all. Also the aluminum plate is the same thickness as the space between the plate and the light so it's very stable. To be safe I will stick screws in the ends to keep the rails from moving at all.

I would guess that angle would be much stronger then tubing or even solid aluminum dowels. I could bend a piece of tubing and its very hard to bend the angel aluminum.

The screw and washers are all zinc plated. I don't think Lowes had any stainless hardware.

 

[Sinistard]

Finger update :eek2:

Here is the finger I smashed drilling a hole in my overflow after around 2 months.

When I drilled a second hole I used my 9.6 volt cordless instead of the AC drill. I would definitely recommend this, you don't need the speed or power that the AC drill can put out to cut a hole in acrylic.

 

[roper512]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6628805#post6628805 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Sinistard
Finger update :eek2:

Here is the finger I smashed drilling a hole in my overflow after around 2 months.

When I drilled a second hole I used my 9.6 volt cordless instead of the AC drill. I would definitely recommend this, you don't need the speed or power that the AC drill can put out to cut a hole in acrylic.

Yikes man.. It's gotton worse over two months? Or was it worse than that before?

Painful or no?

 

[Sinistard]

It never really hurt that bad and it stopped hurting after a weeks or so but it has looked worse and worse as time goes on. I think it's starting to get better now.

 

[Sinistard]

Here are a couple more pictures of my hood in progress.

I just need to fill the gaps and nail/screw holes sand and paint it. I hope to get that done tomorrow as well as get the plumbing finished and run some wires. Then I can start filling the tank

 

[melev]

That's a great light setup. I'd like to see you screw the angled metal brackets to the 2x2s, or at least create some stops to keep them from shifting.

 

[Sinistard]

Thanks.

I planned to screw into the aluminum once I figure out how far forward it has to be.


-----------

Here is a picture of the hood mounted on the wall. It's not painted yet I just wanted to make sure it will stay and where I need to cut a whole in the wall..

I really like how it turned out and with the crown down it looks great.

The wires for the lights will be run back through the wall. Is it ok to cut the wire and extend the cord that goes from the ballast to the light.

 

[melev]

Yes, you can but usually they are so long you don't have to cut anything.

 

[Sinistard]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=6636772#post6636772 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by melev
Yes, you can but usually they are so long you don't have to cut anything.

I'm putting the ballasts in the basement and the cords are not quite long enough plus the ends will be hard to get though the wall.

Is it ok to use a thicker gauge wire. I have 12 and the stock wire is 18 gauge. I'm pretty sure it would be ok but I wanted to make sure.

 

[melev]

Thicker gauge wouild be better, but I'm not an electrician.

If you are putting them in the basement, can you put them up very high in the floor trusses area, so that you don't have to modify the cords?

 

[Lunchbucket]

looking good!

Lunchbucket

 

[Kinetic]

wow! this is amazing! Thanks for giving me the link to this thread. I hope I can pull off my basement plumbing as well. I'm gonna ready all the pages!

thanks

 

[Kinetic]

wow! this is amazing! Thanks for giving me the link to this thread. I hope I can pull off my basement plumbing as well. I'm gonna read all the pages!

thanks