+capty99 Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I've googled and just not found anything a) seemingly new or b) well made (haha) so I'm just seeing if you guys have one in your bookmarks that might help me out. So far I've DIY'ed my entire tank so why not go ahead and do the lighting / canopy as well. I have my MH already set up in a pendant that I can easily move to the hood I believe, but as far as T5's go I have never worked with them so need help there. Your help is appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 I looked as well and just didn't see much. I assume you're using a T5 retro kit versus a pre-built fixture. Having just finished my canopy (2 48" T5 54w, 2 250w Single End MH), I can tell you that it was fairly easy. The most difficult part was having the bulbs in the endcaps so that I could space them properly. Take a look here and you can see the canopy on top: My tank blog I can take more detailed pics later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+capty99 Posted November 9, 2009 Author Share Posted November 9, 2009 yeah, lemme know when you take more pics, maybe i should be the one to make a tutorial of what to do and what not to do.... and then get millions of reefer's hits and make billions of dollars off advertising. your canopy seems tall - is that normal? what distance are you aiming for off the water? thanks those do help - and yes i'm gonna retro. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted November 9, 2009 Share Posted November 9, 2009 My canopy is 16". Yes, it's tall, but I was worried about heat being a problem. With that height and the 250MH the halides are about 12" over the top of the tank. The T5s are about 4" closer, around the 8" mark. Will take more pics tonight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted November 10, 2009 Share Posted November 10, 2009 I also built mine 16" tall. I built a frame for the fixtures and the wrapped it with finish materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+capty99 Posted November 12, 2009 Author Share Posted November 12, 2009 how do you set the canopy on the top of the frame? do you just sit the base flush with the top, and then use the finishing wood that drops over the outside down to water level to brace it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muddybluewater Posted November 12, 2009 Share Posted November 12, 2009 I built the frame work 14 1/2", the finished wood is 16" so it hangs down the side of my tank 1 1/2". I built the frame then built the cabinet to go over it. I then set the frame inside of the cabinet and attached them together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+capty99 Posted November 13, 2009 Author Share Posted November 13, 2009 gonna sound dumb but for my tank, which is 48 " long I do want 48" bulbs right? should i build that extra length into the canopy? it looks like the ones posted the lights and their fittings fit without any extra space? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+capty99 Posted November 14, 2009 Author Share Posted November 14, 2009 nvm, measured a set. built the main part of the hood today, gonna finish the rest this weekend hopefully. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+capty99 Posted November 19, 2009 Author Share Posted November 19, 2009 question about my lighting : i picked up a t5 set yesterday from the selling section but I have no experience wiring these together or playing with them and am having some trouble with just one of the bulbs. I'm assuming its dead but there maybe something with t5's I don't know. Just for testing purposes I just set up one connection instead of putting them in parallel, one bulb works and lights up from the start, the other one, in the exact same setup doesn't turn on. Does this mean its dead - or s there anything I can do for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NonSequitur Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 It sounds to me like it's dead, but I've never worked with t5 lamps, just t8 and t12. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mFrame Posted November 19, 2009 Share Posted November 19, 2009 My guess is dead as well, different bulbs in same fixture. Guess you could always take it up to aquatek and see if they'll try it for you there. I had to get bulbs a few weeks ago and they had the best prices in town and had stuff in stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonyx Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 My current tank I DIY - just about everything including the skimmer and Calcium Reactor. I wanted something different than the std hood and went with a pendant, it houses 2x DIY Lumenarcs w/250w HQI's Oshio 20k's, 2x sctinic VHO's and 2x super actinic's VHO and 2x PC fans No heat issues and it's adjustable and comes off eaisly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemonyx Posted January 10, 2010 Share Posted January 10, 2010 haven't decided if i will paint this black of just leave it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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