Halide canopy on wall?

[captexas]

I have always thought about building a light rack that was suspended from the ceiling and could be raised up and down to allow for working on the tank.

Seems like you could just build it like a regular canopy and mount it to the wall instead of sitting it on top of the tank. That way the canopy will match your stand. The canopy I built for my 75 sits on top of the tank and is open on top and on the back. I used a 1x12 board to mount the lighting to it and the board simply rests on top of the inside edges of the canopy so I can remove the lights separately from the canopy if needed.

[captexas]

Hey Josh -
If you want my help building something let me know. I'll be glad to build something for you if you come up with a design you like. I work for beer :-)

[captexas]

LOL, no problem. I have a few tools, not much, but I have a more from work I can use and another friend that could give Tim Allen a run for his money! If it wasn't for spending my money on fish stuff I would have a nice table saw and miter saw in my garage. I've been working putting a new camera system in a Sears all week and drool every time I walk through the tool section! lol

[Nano_Steve]

hey josh, im thinkin i might end up doin somethin like this if and when i get a metal halide setup but im having some troubles visualizing it.....what sorta thing did u have in mind like a swing arm pendant type of thing or somethin different???

steve

[Tim Marvin]

Put a couple shelf brackets on the wall from Home depot and build a standard light box. You can cut some holes through the back of the box so it will slide over the brackets to suspend it over the tank.

[Nano_Steve]

this is what i was thinking about when i was brainstorming

steve

[Nano_Steve]

http://reefcentral.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=1029&papass=&sort=1&thecat=582

just found this when i was cruising reefcentral.com this is what pretty much got my idea from. it looks like itd be pretty shpiffy to have and it would make tank work a breeze.

[manny]

What about somethin like this?

[manny]

Got bored.
Heres a side view.

Had to add a little more detail...
Edited for Josh's and everyone elses enjoyment. 8)

[manny]

:lol: Yeah, decided to add some "realism" to the pic ny adding the fish.

[Nano_Steve]

LOL!!! the things we do when 1.) we cant go to sleep or 2.) we wake up too early!!!

manny thats awesome! i didnt even think about that.....my only concern for that would be if the canopy was too high to push it all the way against the wall by just standing or would u need to use a draw string or something??? urs is more structurally sound too.....it distributes the weight over at least two studs while mine would just consantly wear on one which would prob in time make it bow at least :?

steve

[manny]

HAHA Yeah, my case was the second. Woke up a liiiittle tooo early today.
You could easily fix the opening the canopy prob. Might even be able to automate it somehow. I dunno. When I get bored later today and don't have anything to do I'll come up with somethin!!!

[GeoB]

I recommend designing it so that you can access the tank without the lights shining in your eyes. My canopy has a hinged lid and the lights are attached to the bottom of it. I'm gettting tired of being blinded everytime I open it. And that's just T5s without reflectors. When I install the reflectors I may need to get some welding goggles.

[Nano_Steve]

LOL!!! i can see it now. ur girlfriend walks into the apartment and finds darth vader scrounging around inside the tank!!! :D that was my biggest concern when i was comin up with a plan(or at least trying to) and then when i saw the rc post i was like "yeah, that would make it to where i wouldnt have to get a suntan everytime i want to move a piece of live rock!"

i would end up putting some sort of structural hinge clip on the end that doesnt have a hinge that way when u go to close the canopy it snaps into a little holder until u push it to make it open again.

im really likin this post alot!

steve

[manny]

LMAO bout Darth Vador!!!!!

[manny]

This is kind of a crazy idea but what do you guys think? Theres a jack connected in the middle with two telescoping poles supporting the sides. I found a jack that's operated with the push of a button and you could maybe use it.
Told you I'd get bored later on.

[Nano_Steve]

im gonna go ahead and take the cake for boredness :-D oh this is so saaaaaaddddd!!!!! :P

hope yall like it, steve

[manny]

Hey Xien, I've never been able to add animation. How the heck do you do it?

[Nano_Steve]

**shakes fist in the air** ooooooh curse u josh!!! CURSE YOU!!! how could you fuel my boredom like that? he's spoiled enough as it is without u givin him treats like that......pshaw.....where's the clownfish he says.....now look what you get!!! a clownfish, anemone, AND a blue tang

shame josh, shame :-D

steve

[Edit]Manny, i use Macromedia Flash MX for my animations like this.....it was completely done up in Flash but sometimes i use Photoshop, Corel Painter, and GraphicConverter to get neater results.....this is just a quick cheapy animation.....the other drawing was made using GraphicConverter(a program EXTREMELY similar to Irfanview for pc's)

[oceancube]

hey nice percula there, and how dare you add a dead peice of bleached coral in that tank :-D , cool pic!!

[Nano_Steve]

**laughs** what's an insomniatic bored college kidd living in a country he doesnt speak the language of to do??? answer: practice his Flash skills!!! blah......i just want everyone here to know, you guys are sooooooo lucky to be in TEXAS right now.....i miss home sooooo much. relish every moment for me folks! :D :D :D

steve

ps hey chris id love for you to see what is possible with some plans for this setup with the swingarm if it's at all possible when i get back. ive been scribblin designs for this for a few weeks now and i think ive come up with some pretty sound plans but id definitely like to get a second opinion(especially from someone who knows how to work with woods better than i do) so naturally i would ask u to look over them if u have time :)

[prof]

Fun thread...

I am going to picture frame my 150 into the living room wall sometime in the future. The tank will reside in the utility room. I am planning on hinging the hood on the wall. I am going to use old window counterweighs to make it easy to lift the hood and keep it open. The weights would be hidden in the wall. All you would see is the support lines.

Sorry, I have no flash skills...

Dave

[daffynmark]

I like your counterweight idea. My MHs are suspended from the ceiling at the moment. I like this situation since I can raise & lower the lights as needed. I even have them at different heights. I think I may modify my hanging system to add counterweights though. Sure would be a whole lot better than standing on a stool, with an arm nearly shoulder deep in the tank, while holding the light to the side and getting the shock of your life! :shock: