My NEW DIY hood - Page 3

DaBird · 05-15-2007, 11:34 PM

Oh man, now I'm gonna have to go and get all bloody just to hang...

sasquatch · 05-15-2007, 11:39 PM

yup! no blood no good!!

rDr4g0n · 05-16-2007, 09:52 AM

i dunno what happened, but i didnt bleed on this project. im really sorry i let you guys down. *cuts arm off* there we go!!

OH OH OH GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?! one of the lfs employees is going to GIVE me a 250w MH ballast and reflector! for free! can you freakin believe that?!

sasquatch · 05-16-2007, 09:54 AM

NICE!!! grow ops are illegal!! use it on the tank ok

rDr4g0n · 05-16-2007, 11:05 AM

oh ya... the uhh.. tank....

also i swapped one of the actinics out for a regular daylight bulb. the 2 actinics made the display too blue for my taste. i really like the color of just the PC (12000k), but i guess i need some actinic lighting.

rDr4g0n · 09-01-2007, 11:41 AM

well its been a few months, and there is one small problem with the light. the end caps are not waterproof, and that is becoming a problem (as mps9506 predicted). the actinics turn off sometimes because the corrosion of the non waterproof connectors causes them to lose connection. the metal casing itself shows no sign of rust or decay. i think the paint that was used on it by the manufacturer is adequatly salt water resistant.

the fixture stays nice n cool with that one fan on it, the lights are bright, and the corals are happy.

zimboy · 09-02-2007, 10:46 PM

If you can replace the end caps with standard ends, you can use a BMX inner tube to slide over the very end of your bulbs and over the end caps. Slit the inner tube if needed and use zip-ties to secure it. This will prevent corrosion and can be done very inexpensively. (do I avoid the caulerpa whipping now?)

flricordia · 09-03-2007, 12:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mps9506

Just an FYI. I used a similar lighting setup when I first got into the hobby. It lasted about a month before rust started showing up all over it. Also the lack of water proof endcaps proved to become troublesome as the pins on the bulbs became corroded from the moisture.
I ended up trashing everything and going with a pendant system designed for use over marine tanks and have been happy ever since.
You may want to consider throwing a few coats of rustoleum over it before using it. and maybe seing about switching out endcaps.

Same for me. Rusts fast. How about the vinyl gutter? It makes a decent light hood with tight fitting endcaps. I used them for my FW tanks years ago. Don't have any pics, but a 10ft peice is less than $10 I think. Been some time since I bought any. Takes heat pretty well too. Never had one warp on me due to VHOs.

rDr4g0n · 09-03-2007, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flricordia

Same for me. Rusts fast. How about the vinyl gutter? It makes a decent light hood with tight fitting endcaps. I used them for my FW tanks years ago. Don't have any pics, but a 10ft peice is less than $10 I think. Been some time since I bought any. Takes heat pretty well too. Never had one warp on me due to VHOs.

well like i said, the hood itself has shown no deterioration whatsoever. its just the metal contacts in the end caps taht are corroding. the idea of using a vinyl gutter is a very good one. i had never thought of it, but it seems quite feasable...

05-15-2007, 11:34 PM	#31 (permalink)
DaBird Smart Alec with feathers Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Spring Branch, Texas Posts: 1,042 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood Oh man, now I'm gonna have to go and get all bloody just to hang... __________________ "When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging..." Will Rogers 75 gal Oceanic started in 2001 30 gal fuge/sump 125 lb. LR, 100 lb. LS 2x 250w Reflux MH 12,000k pendants Remora pro skimmer W/1200 mag. Hydor Korlia #4, 6 assorted PHs. 1 pair of Ocellaris, Powder Blue Tang, Yellow Tang, Regal Tang, Scooter, Lawnmower, Red Mandarin, Flame Angel, 2 chromis, Copperband, 1 Emerald, 2 Blue legs, 1 Zebra hermit... Acros,Rainbow Monti, Leathers, Zoos, Zoos and more Zoos, Shrooms...

05-15-2007, 11:39 PM	#32 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood yup! no blood no good!!

05-16-2007, 09:52 AM	#33 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood i dunno what happened, but i didnt bleed on this project. im really sorry i let you guys down. cuts arm off there we go!! OH OH OH GUESS WHAT?!?!?!?! one of the lfs employees is going to GIVE me a 250w MH ballast and reflector! for free! can you freakin believe that?! __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

05-16-2007, 09:54 AM	#34 (permalink)
sasquatch Brunt of all Jokes~ Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: the very farthest west coast of canada Posts: 8,981 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood NICE!!! grow ops are illegal!! use it on the tank ok

05-16-2007, 11:05 AM	#35 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood oh ya... the uhh.. tank.... also i swapped one of the actinics out for a regular daylight bulb. the 2 actinics made the display too blue for my taste. i really like the color of just the PC (12000k), but i guess i need some actinic lighting. __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

09-01-2007, 11:41 AM	#36 (permalink)
rDr4g0n Elegance coral Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: south texas Posts: 1,169 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood well its been a few months, and there is one small problem with the light. the end caps are not waterproof, and that is becoming a problem (as mps9506 predicted). the actinics turn off sometimes because the corrosion of the non waterproof connectors causes them to lose connection. the metal casing itself shows no sign of rust or decay. i think the paint that was used on it by the manufacturer is adequatly salt water resistant. the fixture stays nice n cool with that one fan on it, the lights are bright, and the corals are happy. __________________ I know there are quite a few typos in this post. It's not that I'm stupid... it's more like... I'm lazy. - John My 29 Gallon tank of AWESOME My DIY Projects: My $50, 150watt lighting • 10 gallon tall tank • Hood for my 10gal. tall my r0xx0r DIY protein skimmer • 2 cheap strip lights into 1 • Grow cyano!?

09-02-2007, 10:46 PM	#37 (permalink)
zimboy Tuxedo Urchin Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Canada Posts: 296 View Gallery Karma Komment Add yours!	Re: My NEW DIY hood If you can replace the end caps with standard ends, you can use a BMX inner tube to slide over the very end of your bulbs and over the end caps. Slit the inner tube if needed and use zip-ties to secure it. This will prevent corrosion and can be done very inexpensively. (do I avoid the caulerpa whipping now?)

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