Canopy Trouble

[ellebelle]

So, I've finally set myself to actually properly working on my upgrade since I have all of the parts now. I've almost got it all plumbed and ready to go except ....

I HATE the canopy I have. The BR is too short to look really aesthecially pleasing with a 12 in. high wooden canopy with a stand as short as mine is. I like the stand height okay though.

My MH are not in a fixture - it's a blueline dual ballast with mogul sockets. Is there any way I can wire that into some kind of lighting fixture that either sits on top of the tank or hangs from the ceiling in some way?

 

[bigbris1]

Go somewhere & get a bendable metal sheet. You can either fashion a rectangular pendant fixture yourself & chain it from the ceiling or do what I planned, get the same bendable metal, bend it in increments like a spider reflector, but also long like a pendant & chain that from the ceiling.

You may want to use some high-heat black spray paint to paint the outside. I'll try to do a drawing for you.

 

[KathyC]

You don't have a reflector? Someone had a couple up the other day for a good price..maybe one of these?
http://www.manhattanreefs.com/forum...ecap-spider-reflectors-mh-w-mogul-socket.html

 

[bigbris1]

This guy made a reflector out of stainless steel. Same concept, you would just close off the ends, install fans if you'd like & loops for the chains to the ceiling.

Also, check out this thread

There's a link which highlights this place who sells spectral aluminum for DIY reflectors at these prices:

Spectral Aluminum Standard Sizes

12"x24" $14.00
12"x36" $21.00
24"x24" $28.00
24"x36" $42.00

They'll even bend it to your specs.

 

[ellebelle]

I do have a reflector - I have a PFO parallel reflector, but I don't think it would be strong enough on its own to hang from the ceiling. What if I screwed it into a plank of wood, sprayed the whole outside black and hung it from the ceiling? I think that would look similar to your concept, Bristol.

The other issue I have is that my ceiling are really high, so the chains will look very long. .

 

[KathyC]

What about suspending it from an 'arm' above the canopy..or perhaps from something behind the tank instead of the ceiling?

 

[ellebelle]

I was thinking about that - sort of like the set up that Randy has on the long tank over at Pratt.

 

[KathyC]

Didn't notice how the lights are hung at Randy's..aside from bumping into them. Are they on a metal bar from the floor or wall? Could always cover the metal bar with the cheap plastic round things they sell to disguise shower curtains (I used them on the white PVC that was inside my 75 back when I had an OFB..worked like a charm!)

 

[cali_reef]

How about something like this

 

[ellebelle]

That's a great idea for a way to suspend it! And it just so happens I have plenty of extra wood laying around. Plus, if I pained that black it would look very unobtrusive against my black background. Thanks Pierce.