[jgb23]

Well, the stain job on my stand is completed, so now I am moving onto my canopy. I decided to build my own because I did not like the one that came with the stand. In building this, what distance should the light source be from the glass tops of the aquarium?

Thanks,

Joe

[charlie]

What are you using for lites? That will help us out a bunch.

[jgb23]

MH and VHO

[charlie]

Originally Posted by jgb23

MH and VHO

That helps.......................
Let's just say you are using 250W MH, I would start off at at least 8-10 inches off the surface of the water. My 400W halides are 13" off the surface, and I could probably raise them.
are you going to have fans and vents in your canopy.

[jgb23]

does this take anything away from the VHO's. If there was only VHO's, would they be closer?

[charlie]

I don't think it takes anything away from the VHO. I get great coverage with my actinics up at 13"
If you are just going to run VHO, I would think that a 6" height would be good. Alot depends on what corals you plan to have in your system, but that is another discussion.

[jgb23]

Great, thanks for the help Charlie. Still debating the MH and VHO combo versus the full VHO setup. I realize I am limited to LPS and softies using just VHO, but I probably could get away with some SPS at the very top of the tank.

[charlie]

Originally Posted by jgb23

Great, thanks for the help Charlie. Still debating the MH and VHO combo versus the full VHO setup. I realize I am limited to LPS and softies using just VHO, but I probably could get away with some SPS at the very top of the tank.

You could get away with some Montipora digitata at just about any level, depending on how many VHO you had. They grew for me with just PC's before I set up the monster. I'm sure if you did enuf searching around, you could find alot of people that are growing sps with just VHO setups. Good luck, and let us know what happens and what you decide.

[jgb23]

thanks man, will do.

[jgb23]

Well, here is the finished product. I spent a whopping 64 bucks in material, beats the 160 price tag on the basic canopy offered at the LFS. Took me about 2 days for full completion.

Here are some photos:

[charlie]

Very nice!!!!
Ya wanna come out and build one for me???

[Holly]

OMG that's a gorgeous canopy. If you're that skilled at woodworking, why didn't you just build the stand too? It all looks GREAT together!

[jgb23]

I am really not that skilled at it. Just took my time and forced myself NOT to rush. I have a tendancy to want to rush through most things. I am forcing myself not to on this whole reef project. The parts list was pretty simple and I tried to stick with standard sizes to reduce cross cutting (I hate table saws!):
1X8 for the sides (2 5ft sections
1 2X12 and 1 2X10 for the top
1 8 foot section of quarter round (bottom edge
1 8 foot section of half round (right about the quarter round)
1 8 foot section of window moulding (around the top of the tank
1 8 foot section of IDKWUCA (I don't know what you call it) moulding that I put around the the window moulting
2 decrative brass hinges
1 can of Classic Oak-Glossy PolyShades from Min-wax. I used this since the entertainment center in my room is the same color. I would have picked a darker color to match the floor, but the interior designer (the wife) said no. I also did not like the way it stained and poly'ed at the same time. A real pain.

As far as the stand goes, I contemplated with the idea and decided not to. In hindsight, I probably could have and probably will on my next tank....several years down the road.

[rjs5134]

Wow, Joe, Great job... keep sending the photos. Keep in mind you will need ventilation, especially with MH. Might want to cut 1/2" wide slots in the top.

[jgb23]

I was thinking of top ventilation. From a fan perspective, I thought of putting to inlet fans on the sides and an exhaust fan on the top. Would this work? instead of a cross ventilation where you have inet fans on one side and exhaust fans on the other side. Any one tried this?

[Dazza888]

hihi mate ... may get a tad hot with the mh ... maybe u can consider t5s... the ati tubes really rocks....

[charlie]

Originally Posted by jgb23

I was thinking of top ventilation. From a fan perspective, I thought of putting to inlet fans on the sides and an exhaust fan on the top. Would this work? instead of a cross ventilation where you have inet fans on one side and exhaust fans on the other side. Any one tried this?

I don't see why it wouldn't work, hot air normally rises, doesn't it. If you do try it, take some pics!!

[Poseidon]

Great job!

I think a T5 kit is what you should be looking at as well. I keep my 250W halides, 7-8" off the water, and it that is in a 12" tall canopy. I think by the time you mounted the reflectors and sockets, your bulbs would be much to close to the water.