Anyone built a pendant/canopy that doesn't hang?

[Anonymous]

I'd like to make a horizontal pendant with a 250W MH bulb, and I want to make it small. Basically I am just going to have the bulb, a very small reflector, and a wood casing. I want the open topped look, so this is going to be elevated above the tank, but I don't want to hang it from the ceiling. Are there any premade canopies like this for MH bulbs? Any ideas that are elegant looking, not built out of PVC or something? This is an example of what I'm looking for, except I need it to fit an MH bulb.

 

[Anonymous]

Nice picture Wandell!!! 8)

What size tank are you looking to fit? Every once in a while someone is selling their Via Aqua hood so they can add MH. You could get this exact hood/tank and retro a HQI fixture, or even 2xHQI. Uchiha on nano-reef.com did a 150W conversion. I'm contemplating the same mod down the line, but all my dinero's going to corals right now.

http://www.nano-reef.com/forums/sho...73746c64e47&threadid=38819&highlight=via+aqua

 

[Anonymous]

You could build one for under $50 It looks like the edges of your stand are maple. Just get some maple 1x4 (it's 3 1/2 ")

Cut to the dimesions you want, miter edges, biscuit together. You could also Rabit out the top inside edge to accept 1/4" maple ply Or even 3/4" maple 1x6.

I wish I had a table saw and half a day. I'd build you one for the cost of the matereals! If I had a router table, it would be down right sexy!

/missing working with real wood.

B

 

[Unarce]

The company that made my hood could do it. They're local for us. They could pretty much do any length and the hood would be 11" wide. The legs are 14" wide if installed normally, but would easily fit within 12" if inverted. The hood allows for IceCap fans to be installed at either end.

Check them out:

www.petsupplyliquidator.com

 

[Anonymous]

Well my tank is 24" long by 8.5" front to back. What I'm actually thinking would look best is to have the Iwasaki bulb go front to back, rather than side to side. Because of the slim little Iwasaki, it would only be about 4" wide and would stick out the back of the tank. This make sense? I think it would take up the least amount of space and allow for easier 'from the top' viewing. I just have to design a tiny little hood that can rest on the tank lip (it has no brace) yet keep the bulb off the water.

 

[Anonymous]

Now I'm thinking I may just buy some of these little legs:

...and build the canopy itself out of wood and paint it black. I'll post pics when I finish.

 

[UnderGrad]

Matt,
If you want some help give me a ring. I've built all the canopies we've got on our tanks and I've got all the tools you'll need. The canopy over our 65g in Manteca is very similar to what you want. If you want pics, I can post some later (I'm in Manteca right now) and let you know how I put it together.

Arlan

 

[Anonymous]

That'd be great Arlan. They actually have some boards at Ace for small hobby projects that I think I can use. Should work to just glue them together I would think. Then just drill in these little brackets.

Thanks!