Added MH, DIY Canopy

[Scoot]

Here are pics of the canopy I built last week for my new (used) MH lights. I didnt' do any step-by-step photos, once I knew my MH lights were on the way, I was in a hurry to get the canopy done.

I spent about $60 on wood, paint, screws, a piano hinge, sand paper, the front handle. Could have gotten it done a lot cheaper with less expensive plywood, but I *was* planning on staining the canopy to match the tank, but later I decided to just paint it a dark brown. I bought roof flashing to craft some quick and dirty reflectors. $5. MH lighting off eBay - $118. Total cost of canopy with 2x175W MH - just under $200. The bulbs are a little old, but I'll consider that a maintenance cost

Home Depot did almost all the cuts. That was a mistake. Most of the dimensions were off by at least 1/4".

I'm NOT a wood worker, nor a craftsman of any sorts, and I don't have a table saw or anything like it. I wanted straight edges, and figured they could do better than I.

There's another coat of paint coming, whats on there now is just primer/sealer. I also need to route some of the wires a little better. I was anxious to get it on, so I'll take it down some night after lights out to add the final coat of paint.

I ended up using 3/8" ply, framed with 2"x2" pine.

I used to have a glass top over the tank, which I know wasn't good. With just a single 4" cooling fan in the canopy, the temperature has actually DROPPED a degree with the canopy on (and with the MH lights on). I have another cooling fan in there, in the middle, which isn't even on, so I should be able to handle warmer days easily. Plus there's a hole cut for a 3rd cooling fan, in case I need it.

So far I've only had to use one of the two fans, and I actually had to add a heater to the sump - the MH and canopy are much cooler than a glass top and PC lights over it.

I was able to gut my previous primary light, a Jebo 48" 4x65 CF fixture. It was extremely easy to re-wire a pair of lights to run, so I mounted that in the front inside of the canopy, adding 65w of actinic 03.

I replaced one of the MH bulbs with a new 14K - its too violet for my tastes, I'll probably stick with 10K.

Next up I want to find a 5V transformer to get the moonlights from the Jebo fixture in there.

[melosu58]

Great job, Scoot

[roka64]

Looks pretty sweet!