New lighing system.

[StirCrazy]

well sence I am getting new lights I decided to make a new rack system for them. This whole light rack will slide out the end of the stand inorder to make work easyer on the lights and also to make more room when I am working on the tank.

here is the base after I finnished sealing it up.

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/diy/lights/newlights/rack_base.jpg

I am curently mounting the new reflector system (anyone looking for 36" single tube reflectors? :wink: )

I will have more pics later.

Steve

[Bryan]

Interested in what you are doing, please get the pic or design plans uploaded when you can.

[StirCrazy]

ok so I am almost done.. just got to mount some lighting now..

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/diy/lights/newlights/halfway.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/diy/lights/newlights/side.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/diy/lights/newlights/done.jpg

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/diy/lights/newlights/end.jpg

Steve

[Canadian Man]

looks really great Steve!
What's going on the sides?

[Delphinus]

Looks neat. Did you make the reflector yourself too?

[StirCrazy]

looks really great Steve!
What's going on the sides?

I am going to squeeze in my VHO's and my PC's somewhare.. might not keep the PC's if I decide I don't need them.

Delphinus, I kinda made the reflectors.. I bought 3 different reflectors and cut them to size, both length and width and put them togeather.. so ya I guess I 1/2 made them..

Steve

[GregJ]

Steve, where do you get your reflectors from. I saw a few at hydroponics stores but they were bigger and kind of expensive

Greg

[StirCrazy]

I got a wholesaler that I buy from for reflectors now.. I used to buy the sheet and bend my own but this is easyer and only a little more.

good reflectors are not cheep, but they still are one of the cheepest parts of your lighting system. the good thing is they don;t burn out :wink:


Steve

[ldzielak]

How much a foot from your supplier? Maybe I should get a 5' and a 1' if it's cheap enough. I just don't have a break to make my own, did fine with a 48" ruler for the NO's but not going to try a MH system.

Lee

[StirCrazy]

they only have them in 48" lenghts Lee, and the middle one is a little shorter..

each chunk I used worked out to 25.00 after tax (so 75 bucks to buld a 3 or 4 foot reflector system that is 20" wide (that doesent include the wood and such) just the reflectors.. the advantage of thease ones is they are spectral silver (the most reflevtive type of spectral aluminum aprox 97.2%) I didn;t know which coating was on the bulk stuff I bought last time.. but I am suspecting a nickel base) and they are computer bent to design.

Steve

[ldzielak]

So could I get a 2 foot and a 3 foot? Or did you have to cut your own down?

I will most likely sitck with my box and just mount it in the canopie. I should be done today or tomorrow with the whole stand and canopie enclosures.

Lee

[StirCrazy]

you can get a 4 foot and cut it down to 3 foor and another 4 foot and cut it down to two 2 foots :)

ya I had to cut them down.. I have a couple chunks in my closit now :?

Steve

[ldzielak]

To rich for my blood right now. Maybe when I go nuts later and put 2x400 and 2x175 and 2x110 VHO on my system. But I will really need a chiller before all that.

Do you have a 12" piece left over that I could maybe get off you for my refugium?

Lee

[StirCrazy]

Do you have a 12" piece left over that I could maybe get off you for my refugium?

Lee

what kinda light you puttimg in there?

Steve

[ldzielak]

I have another 175 ballast just sitting arround. Figured I would use the old bulbs, when I rotate them out of the main box. But my PC (55x2) are doing great. I f I put the 175 in I could use it as a frag grow out area. Always thinking of how else "improove"

Lee

[StirCrazy]

Well, I got my Ballast yesterday, and got a box for them this morning so now they are assembled and tested.

I am Verry impressed.. they are more blue than white and very very bright, the mail man did a double take when he was dropping of the mail :wink: I ran them for 20 min and the ballast were still cold to the touch. the start up was nice.. no flicker or anything.. just like turnning on a normal light in your house.. I will do a PAR test on them later after I get them installed on the tank but I am expecting a numb er that is quite high.. I can look at my 175 watt bulb with out to much squinting.. thease I can't it starts to hurt after 2 seconds :shock:

oh if the lights in the pic look a little different it is because the one on the right was on for 10 min and the one on the left only 3 min when this picture was taken..

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/temppics/running.jpg

Steve

[Aquattro]

I wonder what those ballasts would do for Rachel's 250w radium? If she still has it!

[StirCrazy]

I wonder what those ballasts would do for Rachel's 250w radium? If she still has it!

Good question, Rachel, do you still have it? if so could I borrow it for a day in the next couple weeks to try it? (after I get this on the tank of course)

Steve

[Delphinus]

Indeed very nice Steve! 8)

Were you thinking of running Radiums as well over this tank? Or was that just for something else. I thought you were looking for Son Agros too (or am I just confused again ... :? ;) )

[StirCrazy]

Indeed very nice Steve! 8)

Were you thinking of running Radiums as well over this tank? Or was that just for something else. I thought you were looking for Son Agros too (or am I just confused again ... :? ;) )

i was thinking if they wern't blue enuf a radium in the middle might be cool :wink:

Steve

[Delphinus]

I can't wait to see pics of your tank with these new lights. Keep us posted please!

cheers

[EmilyB]

That is awesomely good news !!! :D Yes, I will love to see them over your tank too.. :D

[StirCrazy]

Well I built the last part of my light rack tonight.. I just put the second coat of urathain onit and tomorrow I should be able to mount the new system.. this is the part that will be screwed inside the frame and will hold the extensions that will allow me to putt the light rack out when I want it out.

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/temppics/mounting.jpg

Steve

[StirCrazy]

well, I managed to get it installed by myself today (well a little help from the wife to actualy conect the sliders.

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/temppics/installed.jpg

and here is how the tank looks with it all running

http://members.shaw.ca/s.l.s/temppics/result.jpg

now all I have going is the two MH and the two VHO actinics I have not put the PC's back in and I don't think I will at this point.

Steve

[Aquattro]

Make sure you don't bake the critters!!

[StirCrazy]

ya.. I was thinking of letting them run 3 or 4 hours a day for a couple days...

Steve

[StirCrazy]

Brad call me at home...

Steve

[EmilyB]

(well a little help from the wife to actualy conect the sliders.



At least you gave her one day off to have the baby....... :roll: :P

[StirCrazy]

At least you gave her one day off to have the baby....... :roll: :P

I'll have you know I gave her 2 days off.. I sent her grocery shopping today after we finnished the tank! :wink: hmmm i wonder what she is making for supper :wink: 8)

Steve

[Delphinus]

Looks great. I espescially like the sliders. Clever.

Hey, is that Blues Clues in the background?? :)

[StirCrazy]

lol, yup.. how can ya tell who has kids :wink:


Steve

[GregJ]

That looks really good Steve. i love the ideas that you come up with. Now i can steal, i mean borrow them 8)

[Mak]

Did you give your fish a day off too? :shock:

Looks good as usual :wink: .

And congrats on the new Reefer :D

[BC_Grl]

Very nice Steve. 8) I especially like the idea you have to remove the lighting when you need to.

Is that Steve from Blue's clue's? I was looking at the guy trying to figure out who that was. He looked familiar... long time ago.

[sea gnome]

Hi Steve, yes i still have the mh bulb and you are welcome to try it out, I could bring it to the meeting on Sat. if you like??? Rachel

[sea gnome]

What ballast are you running Steve???

[StirCrazy]

I am running the M80 ballast.. so it would be the same as having the PFO HQI 250 watt ballast.

Steve