dzeadow
11/09/2007, 03:48 PM
Well, I didn't get as many pictures of this process as I would have liked. It didn't turn out as "professional" looking as I would have liked either, but oh well, it surves it's purpose. I purchased the IceCap 4x24 t5 retro kit for my tank w/ intentions of buying another 2x24 so I could keep anything I wanted in the tank.
First I started with some 3/4"x3/4" aluminum angle iron. For my 45g cube it's 24x24 and my usable area was about 24x20. I made the sticks 2 @ 24" and 2 @ 19". Then I took and cut some 3/4" square tubing (also aluminum) and cut it to be 19". The square tubing was used to attach the end caps w/. Here's a pic of the pieces before starting:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood1.jpg
Her'es a pic of the first set of pieces put together, it's hard to see it on the table saw, it's the square lookin thing:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood2.jpg
Here's where I skipped a few steps in the photo process. Basically I made another square with the 3/4" angle aluminum and then attached the two squares together using more 3/4" aluminum that was 3 1/2" tall. So I have a box type thing now:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood3.jpg
Then I stopped taking pictures again until it was done :( I'm so forgetful. But I took aluminum flashing and rivetted it in some places and screwed it together in others. I made the top and one of the short sides w/ one piece, and then both long sides were seperate, and then the other short side I put on last so I could take one side off and do whatever it is I need to do in there. I painted the whole outside w/ krylon fusion and then added a piece of plexi as a splash guard. I also added some 2x1/8 strips (4 altogether) and attached those to some more 3/4" in angle as rails to sit on the tank. Here's the finished product on the tank:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood4.jpg
As you can see the thin aluminum flashing leaves some "wrinkling" effect, I'm sure if you used something thicker it wouldn't do that. I was going for as light weight as possible so I don't mind it. And in the next picture you can see the bulbs. I centered the 4 in there so I'd have room to put 2 more on the outsides, but it's hard to see in this picture:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood5.jpg
That's all I got. Looks pretty good to me (knowing I'm not a professional in any way with metal), and it's light weight which was the ultimate goal. Thanks for looking!
First I started with some 3/4"x3/4" aluminum angle iron. For my 45g cube it's 24x24 and my usable area was about 24x20. I made the sticks 2 @ 24" and 2 @ 19". Then I took and cut some 3/4" square tubing (also aluminum) and cut it to be 19". The square tubing was used to attach the end caps w/. Here's a pic of the pieces before starting:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood1.jpg
Her'es a pic of the first set of pieces put together, it's hard to see it on the table saw, it's the square lookin thing:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood2.jpg
Here's where I skipped a few steps in the photo process. Basically I made another square with the 3/4" angle aluminum and then attached the two squares together using more 3/4" aluminum that was 3 1/2" tall. So I have a box type thing now:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood3.jpg
Then I stopped taking pictures again until it was done :( I'm so forgetful. But I took aluminum flashing and rivetted it in some places and screwed it together in others. I made the top and one of the short sides w/ one piece, and then both long sides were seperate, and then the other short side I put on last so I could take one side off and do whatever it is I need to do in there. I painted the whole outside w/ krylon fusion and then added a piece of plexi as a splash guard. I also added some 2x1/8 strips (4 altogether) and attached those to some more 3/4" in angle as rails to sit on the tank. Here's the finished product on the tank:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood4.jpg
As you can see the thin aluminum flashing leaves some "wrinkling" effect, I'm sure if you used something thicker it wouldn't do that. I was going for as light weight as possible so I don't mind it. And in the next picture you can see the bulbs. I centered the 4 in there so I'd have room to put 2 more on the outsides, but it's hard to see in this picture:
http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n43/dzeadow/hood5.jpg
That's all I got. Looks pretty good to me (knowing I'm not a professional in any way with metal), and it's light weight which was the ultimate goal. Thanks for looking!