Quote:
Originally Posted by Myka
I hope this means you're upgrading to MH, and not downgrading to LED.  
What are you using to hold the bottom down? Just the weight of the rocks? Is it actually ABS or is it HDPE? I got a bottom made out of 3/4" HDPE once - I figured I would use the weight of the rocks to hold it down, and put a silicone bead around the edges to keep detritus out which was a good idea in theory, but silicone + HDPE = no good. Doesn't stick AT ALL - as soon as it dries it pulls back. |
Hey Myka long time no talk....It's abs plastic not hdpe! checked with the guy at the store he was nice enough to cut a sample piece and stick it in a bucket of tap water and the abs sank like a dollar bill swaying to the floor of a Vegas strip club, that's when I knew I was in bidness💦
The young fella also said it would bond to silicone as long as you rough up the smooth side. Abs is one side rough and the other smooth, at first I thought I would use the smooth side up but after carefull consideration and seeing my friends hermits go glass gliding on the their BB tanks I decided to use the rough side up. Also I think it gives it a more real texture and when the coraline covers the bottom it should give it a more real textured look.
I siliconed the bottom alot but should've saved abit for around the corners because when the tank was custom built the silicone was quite thick around the glass and not symmetrical so now the abs sits on the silicone as oppose to the glass eurobracing on the bottom of the tank. It's not perfect but I am not that picky so I am sure this should work. Also the tank was siliconed with black and Jl only had clear in stock....oh wells.
As for lights I wanted to do an 8 bulb Ati dimmable with 2 led strips but no one in town is selling one anytime soon. So I will have to wait. For now I am going to do 1 400w MH SE with led strips and maybe some T5...
I plan to run the MH 5 hrs from 12am to 5am and run led t5 combo from 9pm to 8am, with summer around the corner the reverse light cycle will help offset the heat in my garage because my car is also parked inside and puts out a ton of heat after being driven. I have some fine tweeking to do and not even sure if I will run a controller, still need a skimmer as well.