[aaron]

Here's the DIY light pendant, It has quick disconnect cords, 1 x 175W MH, 1x 55w CF actinic and two moonlights. The ballasts are in a metal box with fans. pictures of that next week
I build the lights in a pendant style to avoid the heat buildup in an enclosed hood. Also I dont like the proportions of a big hood on a smaller tank.
Cost of these lights:
MH ballast and parts : $70
Reflector and CF bulb: $40
Moonlights: $8
Assorted electrical stuff : $12
Fans: MR freebie (thanks jhale)




Total for lights - $ 130

	Manhattan Reefs Manhattan Reefs, the best aquarium community on Planet Earth!

	MH Metal Halide Lighting, typically used for high intensity light demanding corals such as SPS. Bulbs come in varieties of spectrums (7k, 10k,20k), and intensity (175W, 250W, 400W).

[inline6]

Looks Good.
How do you paln on resting it on top of the tank?

Let me know how your lights work out with the cross brace on the 36g blocking some of the light.

Am interested in possibly setting one up in the future.

[aaron]

I'm going to use some legs made for a coralife fixture and if that turnes out to be not successful i will hang it from the ceiling.
As for the brace, i'm not sure how that's going to work out but I'll keep you posted.

EDIT
Turned out to be totally unsuccessful, i'm having to construct an open top hood to rest the lights on and to block the extra light from spilling into the room.

[aaron]

Well it was quite a productive weekend, I managed to make the overflow box and stated to assemble the DIY skimmer. Next weekend its starboard and plumbing time.
I'll post some pictures of this weeks work as soon as i can reclaim my living room from the friends that are camped out there.

[jenniebutterfly]

looking good

[gil716]

Love how your pendant turned out. Could you give some more details on it? Is it just finish nails holding it together?

[Tonyscoots84]

aaron we should talk some time.. im actually thinking about doing my new 75 gallon tank pretty much diy and u no what you are doing. im looking to make my own overflow and skimmer maybe you can help me out it would be greatly appreciated man. let me no... i also own a pizzeria in bk were im there once in a while in bensonhurst so hopefully ill talk to you soon..

[aaron]

Gil716, The pendant is just 3/4" ply ends and the bulk of it is 1/2" ply held together with finishing nails, glue and a lot of epoxy filler. I painted it will two coats of oil based primer and then finished it with 2 coats of oil based heat proof enamel.
The reflector is a standard reflector from hellolights that i had to bend to fit
I routed the 1/4" vent holes in the top to help get the heat out of the pendant.
Here are a couple of pictures of the ballast box with the quick disconnects and fan ventilation

[aaron]

Tony, the overflow is pretty easy, just a matter of making up a jig to rout the teeth for the overflow. Skimmers are a little more difficult, the design is quite critical and there are a lot of other people on this site with more expertise than me. I have made quite a few dud skimmers so far, I am hoping this one will work out.

Here is a picture of the tank with the vinyl background stuck to the backglass and the overflow box in place. I also have some pieces of homemade live rock in the tank.

[nanoreefer22]

Aaron,
I'm gonna have to come check out this set up . Looking good so far. Think we could get some closer shots of the rocks??
-Kris