My DIY Hood

[Meric]

I built my own stand last month for my new 125 Gallon aquarium. It was quite a joy, but I forgot to document it somewhere. So this time around I decided to document the building of my Hood, which is not as much joy as it is hard work

I have attached some pictures of the progress of my hood. I'm about 25% finished. I intend to have (6) 96W PC's and (6) 5500MCD 470NM LEDS for moonlight.

Please let me know what you think and if you see any problems with my setup. I know HID is better, but I kinda built the hood too shallow for the temps HID creates. I will probally upgrade to HID in a year, after the tank has established itself.

I also used PC, because I was able to get those Ballast for $34.00 each and they power (2) 96W PC lights. SO it was a good deal.

[Meric]

Here are more pictures for my hood in progress.

I hope to have the hood finished by Sunday.

[Poseidon]

Looks like a good start. Judging by the picture those LED's are going to need some sort of reflector to spread the light better. Maybe point them up at the Canopy and light the light reflect back down into the tank? Otherwise it looks like you end up with 6 "spot lights" on your sandbed.

[Meric]

1st thank for the advice. I am working on building a few custom Prismatic Diffusers that I will put in front of the LED to disburse the light better.

So I had one minor set back, I dropped my cordless drill on my Light Bulbs. Managed to break 3 of them. I guess I shouldn't have been keeping the bulbs so close to the work zone. There's a $100.00 mistake

[Poseidon]

Sorry to Laugh, but I have made those boneheaded mistakes BEFORE!!! Like the time I deleted a whole afternoons worth of digital pictures BY MISTAKE!

[robvia]

What kind of light bulbs did you break? I might be able to get some replacements for you for a lot less than that. I am looking at the GE F40T12/AR series. Haven't worked out all the details, but let me know what type you are looking for. I am still open to look for some different types.

It looks like you have a reflector behind the bulbs. What is that and where did you get it?

Rob

[Meric]

What kind of light bulbs did you break? I might be able to get some replacements for you for a lot less than that. I am looking at the GE F40T12/AR series. Haven't worked out all the details, but let me know what type you are looking for. I am still open to look for some different types.

It looks like you have a reflector behind the bulbs. What is that and where did you get it?

Rob

I have (had) (4) 96W Power Compacts Lights in the rear half of the hood. The reflectors are CSL (2) bulb Reflectors, I got mine from reefgeek.com. The front half of the Canopy, which is not completed will have (2) more CSL 2 bulb reflectors, but each reflector will only have (1) bulb for now. I will increase it if I need more later.

The best price I can find for 96W PC bulbs is $33.95 from reefgeek.com for 10000K's and 03 Atinic's.

[robvia]

What length are the 96W bulbs? Who makes them and what is the part number? If you can wait until next week, I will see if I can help. Is there a GE equivalent? I know I can get GE bulbs. I am still learning about the light thing. I have been reading about the GE aquarium lights and they seem pretty good to me. I have talked to a couple people in the lighting business and they seemed to think they would work just fine. Messages here have agreed that if I don't want to spend the money for metal halides that these will work for me. I haven't really gotten a good explaination of what PC lights are. I'll take any education on them if you'll give it.
Thanks,
Rob

[Meric]

I've just about completed the job. All that is left is cosmetic stuff, like Handles and some cleanup of the wiring. I will take it down and flip it over so you can see the guts later tonight.